( ESNUG 452 Item 5 ) --------------------------------------------- [02/17/06]
Subject: Questions for Atul Sharan, CEO of Clear Shape
For Atul Sharan (Clear Shape):
There is no standard modeling for litho simulation today. With different
tools in the same process and for the same design we get different errors.
What is the relevance of these "hot spot" errors which are tool dependent?
Is InShape generating the same errors as LFD from Mentor or LFL from
Synopsys? If not how can we use these tools as sign off tools?
If the results generated by InShape are "questionable" in terms of accuracy
how can we do timing sign off with InTime?
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DFM is flooded right now with at least 40 start-ups. Which ones will still
be standing in 2 years? Which will be dead? Give specific names.
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What's the exit strategy for the few DFM companies that do succeed?
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Do you think players like KLA and AMAT will let EDA vendors take DFM or will
they jump into the fray?
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Why do you think success in the DFM area will come from start-ups like yours
versus the big established EDA guys? Why would foundries trust tiny start-
ups like you with their proprietary information?
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How are you going to survive when the Big 3 start giving away their DFM
tools as part of FAM deals?
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Doesn't DFM stand for "Desperate For Money"? Or as Cooley says "Design For
Marketing?" Why should end EDA users care one iota about DFM issues; it's
the fab's problem.
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Didn't Gary Smith just say that he is going cut DFM as a market segment; that
existing tools will just add functionality to be more manufacturing aware?
If this is true, why are there so many DFM start-ups?
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Isn't DFM really Design for Yield? Is leakage power also a DFM issue?
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Do you think Cooley is right that this area is still mostly vaporware? Clear
Shape hasn't even announced product yet!
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Gary Smith says foundries will become like ASIC vendors and do the complete
physical implementation as a solution to DFM problems. Do you agree?
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