Released on: July 15, 2008, 11:13 pm

Press Release Author: Magma Design Automation

Industry: Semiconductors

Press Release Summary: Magma® Design Automation Inc., a provider of chip design
software, introduced significant enhancements to Knights CamelotT, the
industry-standard CAD navigation system, including an option making Camelot the
first CAD navigation tool that enables failure analysis engineers to perform design
rule checking (DRC) in the fab. Camelot\'s new options tighten the link between
design and manufacturing, and drastically decrease time to high-volume yield and
manufacturing costs of advanced ICs.



Press Release Body: Bangalore , July 16 , 2008 : - Magma® Design Automation Inc.
(Nasdaq: LAVA), a provider of chip design software, today introduced significant
enhancements to Knights CamelotT, the industry-standard CAD navigation system,
including an option making Camelot the first CAD navigation tool that enables
failure analysis engineers to perform design rule checking (DRC) in the fab.
Camelot\'s new options tighten the link between design and manufacturing, and
drastically decrease time to high-volume yield and manufacturing costs of advanced
ICs.



\"The enhancements and options we\'re announcing today enable semiconductors to go
from concept to reality much faster - this is the direct result of intense R&D
efforts over the last 18 months,\" said Ankush Oberai, vice president of Magma\'s Fab
Analysis Business Unit. \"After nearly 20 years of providing industry-leading failure
analysis, CAD navigation and yield management tools, Knights\' incorporation into
Magma enabled tight integration of IC implementation and fab analysis for true
design for manufacturability.\"



The new On-Line Search Analyzer option speeds and simplifies the search function for
failure analysis. One such application improves focused ion beam (FIB) modifications
by automating the traditionally manual task of searching for \"FIB-able\" regions. In
this case, the On-Line Search Analyzer performs a three-dimensional search of the
layout file for areas where an FIB system can drive a beam through the circuitry to
a point of interest that does not intersect or impact underlying geometric
structures. This new option integrates Magma\'s DRC capabilities, making Camelot the
first and only CAD navigation tool that enables failure analysis engineers to
utilize DRC functions in the fab. With these new capabilities, users can now define
applications for a variety of failure analysis and device debug techniques. This
flexibility allows them to shorten cycle time for device debug and repair, and to
reduce scrap.



The new Hot-Spot Analyzer option analyzes multiple regions in the layout and finds
netlist segments that are close to or intersect with these regions. Typically, the
regions define photon emissions (emission spots), and the nets in each hot-spot
region and number of hot spots for each net are then displayed. This capability
shortens the diagnostic process time with Emission Microscope (EMMI) tools.



The new Live Image Overlay option dramatically improves the accuracy of fab tool
stage mechanisms that align to layout. To address the potential stage inaccuracy of
many high-magnification review, analysis, probe and scanning electron microscope
(SEM) tools, the Live Image Overlay option captures an image of the device under
inspection and overlays the image onto the design layout. Using advanced mapping
technology, it then determines key common features to both the image and layout and
then aligns those features. This alignment between the image and the layout
compensates for any stage inaccuracies and enables a tool to accurately utilize the
design layout to drive to exact coordinates.



\"This integration has multiple business benefits,\" Oberai said. \"Because yield loss
is reduced, chips that had to be discarded because they didn\'t function can now be
sold, so lost sales can be avoided. The link between design and failure analysis
means designers can spend more time designing and less time verifying that their
designs are manufacturable. And the shortened turnaround time means you can get to
market faster, which is the most significant advantage of all.\"



About Magma

Magma\'s software for designing integrated circuits (ICs) is used to create complex,
high-performance chips required in cellular telephones, electronic games, WiFi, MP3
players, DVD/digital video, networking, automotive electronics and other electronic
applications. Magma\'s EDA software for IC implementation, analysis, physical
verification, circuit simulation and characterization is recognized as embodying the
best in semiconductor technology, enabling the world\'s top chip companies to \"Design
Ahead of the Curve\"T while reducing design time and costs. Magma is headquartered in
San Jose, Calif., with offices around the world. Magma\'s stock trades on Nasdaq
under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on the Web at
www.magma-da.com.



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Magma is a registered trademark and Camelot and \"Design Ahead of the Curve\" are
trademarks of Magma Design Automation Inc. All other product and company names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.


Forward-looking Statements: Except for the historical information contained herein,
the matters set forth in this press release, including statements that Knights
Camelot can reduce the failure analysis cycle, time to volume and manufacturing
costs, and provide increased accuracy, and statements about the features and
benefits of Magma\'s software are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the \"safe harbor\" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially including but not limited to the
ability of Magma\'s products to produce the desired results and the company\'s ability
to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. Further discussion of these and other
potential risk factors may be found in Magma\'s public filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Magma undertakes no additional obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.



LAVA-G







Web Site: http://www.magma-da.com

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