CIE SEPT09 P30:Layout 1 09/09/2009 14:12 Page 30
EDA & Development l News
University of Southampton receives
Get your
Charles Babbage Grant from Synopsys
The School of Electronics and Computer
Science (ECS) at the University of Southampton
copy every
has become the first Western European
university to receive the Charles Babbage Grant
from Synopsys. Through the grant, named after
month
the British mathematician and inventor Charles
Babbage, who designed and built mechanical
computing machines over 150 years ago, ECS
will receive licenses of Synopsys’ comprehensive
electronic design automation (EDA) software
and intellectual property. The grant, worth
$25,000, will also enable the University to set
up a brand new laboratory for virtual learning.
The Virtual Learning Environment focuses on
integrated circuit design and also involves a
Professor Mark Zwolinski, from ECS, receives the
new range of courses on advanced system-on-
Charles Babbage Grant from Synopsys’ John
chip (SoC) design, with support and faculty
Chilton
training from Synopsys. The grant has enabled
IBM, Qinetiq, National Grid and Nokia, access
ECS to install new computer hardware in the
to industrial design tools for advanced research
virtual learning laboratory to support up to 20
and microelectronic design is a common
students.
challenge facing universities today. These kinds
Synopsys software will provides students and
of grants and awards are being used to help
researchers with the opportunity to utilise
provide select universities with design software
industrial tools for logic and physical synthesis,
for modern electronic design flows and leading
circuit simulation, nanometer device modeling
IC fabrication processes. Previous grant
and fabrication process modeling. Synopsys
recipients in the USA include Case Western
software serves as the foundation for an
Reserve University, Purdue University and
if this isn’t your
industry design flow where students get real-
Syracuse University.
world, hands-on experience building and
John Chilton, Senior Vice President of
testing their designs.
copy register online
Marketing & Strategic Development at
“The School of Electronics and Computer
Synopsys, formally opened the lab during an
Science is the largest of its kind in the UK with a
August 17th ceremony at the University of
www.cieonline.co.uk/freesub
long tradition of research in electronic
Southampton attended by students and faculty.
engineering and computer science. This grant
“Synopsys selected the University of
enables us to continue that tradition with the
Southampton because of its global reputation
latest leading-edge commercial tools,” said Dr.
for leading-edge research and its academic
Matt Swabey, electronics teaching fellow at
focus on engineering and computer science,”
ECS. “We can now give our students real
commented Chilton. “Through this grant, the
quantitative experience in modeling SoCs,
University will be able to further its reputation as
enabling them to modify and try out designs to
a leading academic institution and to give its
achieve defined goals. This ability will be
students access to the latest tools and
enormously valuable to our students.”
equipment, supporting their educational
While ECS currently has long-term
experience and preparing them for future roles
partnerships with companies such as: Philips,
in industry, academia or government.”
First remote access test facility launched
TÜV Product Service, a product testing and A key benefit of the new service is that if
certification company, is launching the UK’s any problems do arise during the test, the
first product testing remote monitoring service. customer does not have to travel to the TÜV
The new ‘Remote Monitoring Service’ facility to rectify them. They can simply log on
means that TÜV customers will be able to to the Remote Monitoring Service via a highly
significantly reduce costs traditionally secure network and speak directly with the
associated with testing, such as environmental TÜV engineer running the test. The customer
and EMC, to increase time to market for new can then review the statistics and control the
products. camera to work with the test engineer to
The system uses a high definition camera adjust the test level and re-start activity.
which the user can control from their own For many users of the service, costs will be
office via their desktop to zoom in and out and further reduced as they will not have to attend
direct it to any points of interest within the test the initial test set-up, because the TÜV
facility. They can also access test statistics in engineer can set up the test under the
real time to monitor the product’s test customer’s guidance via the remote link. For
performance, as if they were at TÜV’s premises. more complex equipment, fewer staff from
Quake Global, a leading manufacturer of the customer will be required at the TÜV
satellite communicators based in California, facility to support the set-up phase.
has worked with TÜV Product Service in a Jean-Louis Evans, Managing Director of
pilot to test the new Remote Monitoring TÜV Product Service commented: “Product
Service. Sergio Ramos, Quake’s Chief testing can prove extremely time-consuming.
Technical Officer, said: “There is great value in That is why we are focused on developing
a service such as this, whether you are UK- innovative services for our customers to help
based or an international company. them run their compliance programmes more
“Tests can take-up a lot of valuable time for effectively. Now the pilot phase is completed,
our engineering staff, who often need to be I hope that more customers will realise the
on site during testing. By using TÜV’s Remote benefits of this unique service in reducing
Monitoring Service we were able to save both both travel and management time, whilst
on travel costs and man-hours, and we were delivering the same end result.”
able to focus our staff on more productive
TÜV Product Service
activities within our business.”
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30 September 2009 Components in Electronics www.cieonline.co.uk
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