( ESNUG 467 Item 6 ) -------------------------------------------- [07/26/07]
Subject: ClearShape in TSMC Ref 8.0 is an empty marketing trick, not real
> But I was floored when I saw ClearShape's TSMC press release this morning.
>
> It said that TSMC had qualified ClearShape's InShape for the TSMC 45 nm
> DFM Data Kit (DDK) and the TSMC Reference Flow 8.0.
>
> "We have now qualified InShape for all layers for 45 nm technology
> and included it in our Reference Flow 8.0 to deliver litho-aware
> routing to our customers," said Kuo Wu of TSMC.
>
> That's waaaay cool for the ClearShape guys, but when you step back and see
> the bigger picture you'll understand why I was floored.
>
> - from http://www.deepchip.com/wiretap/070627.html
From: [ Chicken Little ]
Hi, John,
Please keep me anon.
I felt compelled to comment on this announcement you referred to. First,
TSMC is announcing *everyone* to be qualified in Ref 8.0, *everyone* in the
field. Some companies do not even have some capabilities in the flow. So
TSMC announces partnerships formed to address some features. For example
Cadence/ClearShape for LPC and fixing, and Mentor/Sierra before their
acquisition. TSMC announced *everyone* when their 45 nm process is not even
ready yet (announced to be in production in Sep. 2007). How could TSMC
qualify a tool to predict silicon contour accurately when the contour is
still changing? This is just a marketing scheme. ClearShape being in the
Ref 8.0 is yawn news if you ask me.
On the other hand, ClearShape keeps announcing customer engagements, but has
there been one case where there has been actual yield improvement numbers?
- [ Chicken Little ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
> This year ClearShape was looking for $12 million; Nangate for $20 million;
> Tesla (an ESL company) for $2 million in first round; and Pintail (a test
> company by Taylor Scanlon, who found Virual Silicon, Inc.) for $5 million
> in growth financing because they already have a cash flow.
>
> - from http://www.deepchip.com/wiretap/070624.html
From: [ The Cheshire Cat ]
FYI, anonymously speaking.
If you combine Pallab's comment about ClearShape looking for $12 million at
the investor's conference and your guess about the Cadence acquisition, one
could speculate that ClearShape has or is expecting a term sheet and set a
deadline based on the need to close one deal or the other.
They don't want to take "new" money at unfavorable terms and further dilute
the shares of the founders just before selling out... er, I mean "realizing
their exit strategy."
The TSMC DFM Reference Flow just means that TSMC has certified the results
of a DFM tool are acceptably accurate. It is, of course, a highly sought
after endorsement, but not spendable like a Purchase Order. There are a
lot of products in the TSMC 45 nm 8.0 Reference Flow.
- [ The Cheshire Cat ]
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