GigOptix announces low risk component obsolescence replacement program

PALO ALTO, USA: GigOptix Inc. has announced its Sunset Rescue Program, a service that provides replacements for obsolete ASICs and FPGAs utilizing a proven methodology owned by GigOptix through its acquisition of ChipX in November 2009.

The “Sunset Rescue” Program’s proven low risk methodology insures that the replacement ASIC is a drop-in-replacement and will meet the original component specifications and operate reliably in the customer’s system regardless of the original component’s process and geometry.

GigOptix uses an industry standard ASIC flow to port ASICs in the “Sunset Rescue” Program. Whether the original component’s design libraries are available or simply a library data book, GigOptix can convert the design to GigOptix Structured ASIC or standard cell and port the original test vectors to work on a GigOptix tester. ASIC timings are accurately mimicked on the new ASIC.

Component obsolescence costs the industry hundreds of millions of dollars annually, especially in markets with long product lifecycles such as optical communication, military, avionics and industrial equipment.

“The experienced ASIC team at GigOptix has a rigorous methodology within the Sunset Rescue Program to insure the functional equivalency, footprint compatibility and timing adherence required for the ASIC to work seamlessly in the customer’s system,” said Anil Chaudhry, director of ASIC marketing.

He added that GigOptix had successfully converted 8 ASICs to date from 0.8 micron to 0.18 micron saving customers $100K to $500K per year. One of the ASICs was originally designed with 3.3V Core, 0.35 micron Embedded Array technology in a 352BGA package and it was successfully converted into GigOptix 3.3V Core, 0.25 micron Standard technology with the same package and footprint.