BANGALORE: Magma Design Automation Inc. recently announced the availability of a patent license that allows electronic design automation (EDA) software developers to implement power-aware EDA tools based on concepts and claims in a Magma patent application that describes automated design of ICs with multiple voltage domains.

This royalty-free, non-reciprocal license provides EDA developers and their end users with open access to fundamental low-power design technology.

Magma filed provisional patent application No. 60/783,425 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office more than a year ago for a method and system for automatically designing a chip with multiple voltage domains, which are commonly used to manage and reduce power consumption in advanced, complex ICs.

These voltage domains are identified via characteristics related to signal potential, sleep mode and other factors. The identification of voltage domains is used for automated insertion of isolation blocks, level shifters, retention flip-flops and other power-optimization-related components.

The concept of using multiple voltage domains to reduce power consumption is well understood and there are many ways to implement this technique. This license allows EDA tool developers to implement low-power design formats and standards using these techniques.

"By offering this licensing agreement so early in the patent approval process Magma is demonstrating full support for the development of a low-power design standard – especially one that is developed in an open and inclusive environment such as IEEE, which has a well-rounded policy on intellectual property," said Kam Kittrell general manager of Magma's Design Implementation Business Unit. "Magma recognizes the importance of creating and facilitating innovation while at the same time protecting differentiating IP."