Asynchronous
Commercialization Efforts
Commercialization Efforts
CE-653 - Introduction and
Fundamentals
36
}Fulcrum Microsystems (www.fulcrummicro.com)
}Fabless semi-conductor company
}High-performance computing and networking markets
}Uses high-performance async design as secret sauce
}Founded out of Caltech in 2000; Bought by Intel in 2011
}Achronix (
}High-performance async FPGA core with synchronous
interfaces
}Founded out of Cornell research in 2006
}TimeLess Design Automation
}ASIC Flow for Asynchronous Design
}First target – high-performance – GHz+ silicon in 65nm
}Founded out of USC in 2008
}Sold to Fulcrum Microsystems in 2010
}Tiempo (www.tiempo-ic.com)
}IP Cores and ASIC Flow (Power/Performance Tradeoff)
}Lower performance than TimeLess Design Automation
}Numerous failed start-ups
}Handshake Solutions, Silistix, Elastix, Nanochronous