Neterion Renews Tensilica Xtensa LX Configurable Processor License

Neterion renewed its license for Tensilica’s Xtensa LX configurable processor. Neterion is the market leader in the 10-gigabit Ethernet adapter market, and is using the Xtensa LX processor for next-generation designs.

"Tensilica’s automated configurable processor design approach gives us the speed we need with lower power and smaller die size,” stated Dennis Shwed, Neterion’s vice president of hardware engineering. “Tensilica’s Xtensa LX processor delivers the performance levels required for demanding 10-gigabit Ethernet in high-speed server and storage networking applications.”

For more information, see http://www.tensilica.com/news_events/pr_2006_05_31.htm

New Books Showcase EDA and IC Design Methodologies

The new “Electronic Design Automation Circuits Handbook,” edited by Grant Martin, Tensilica’s chief scientist, Louis Scheffer of Cadence Design Systems and Luciano Lavagno of Cadence Berkeley Laboratories, is a 2-book reference that provides a comprehensive overview of the design automation algorithms, tools, and methodologies used to design integrated circuits. Several of the chapters in this authoritative work were contributed by experts at Tensilica. Find out more about these exciting books at http://www.tensilica.com/news_events/pr_2006_05_30.htm

Tensilica granted 8 new patents

Tensilica has been granted eight new configurable processor technology patents. Tensilica now holds a total of 10 patents on configurable processor technology as well as several fundamental patents on processor architecture, Tensilica also has several other patents pending.

“In all, Tensilica’s 10 patents make nearly 450 claims of inventions in the rapidly evolving field of configurable-processor technology,” stated Tom Halfhill, senior analyst for In-Stat’s Microprocessor Report. “Although judging the strength of a patent portfolio by counting claims is like measuring microprocessor performance by counting megahertz, the large number of claims does indicate that Tensilica is staking out a great deal of territory.”

For more information, see http://www.tensilica.com/news_events/pr_2006_05_22new.htm

Key Tensilica Configurable Processor Patent Strengthened

Tensilica's US patent number 6,477,683, “Automated processor generation system for designing a configurable processor and method for the same,” issued in November 2002 and anonymously challenged in May 2003, has not only withstood the challenge without modification, but 102 additional claims were also accepted into the patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This broad patent has been confirmed against the best-known prior art, creating an unusually strong foundation for Tensilica’s Xtensa configurable processor product line.
“The challenge has largely backfired,” stated Tom Halfhill, senior analyst for In-Stat’s Microprocessor Report. “The anonymous challenge has almost certainly strengthened this key patent. Having survived a lengthy reexamination and emerging with almost twice as many claims, it is unlikely to be challenged again.”