Tag Archives: Codasip

Electronics, News

Codasip adds Veridify secure boot to RISC-V processors

Firmware authenticity verification enhances security of embedded systems

Embedded World 2022 – Nuremberg, Germany – 22 June 2022 – Codasip, the leader in customizable RISC-V processor IP and processor design automation, today announced that quantum-resistant secure tools from Veridify Security Inc. are now available to support Codasip’s RISC-V processors with a secure-boot function. Veridify’s secure algorithm validates firmware as it loads onto the Codasip processor to reassure RISC-V developers that embedded systems are secure.

Veridify’s secure boot functionality is based on an algorithm that runs faster than traditional encryption methods; only requiring a small code space and ultra-low power making it well-suited to Codasip’s family of low-power embedded processors. Using Veridify’s methods, Codasip customers can now easily verify the authenticity of the firmware.

Since Veridify’s methods are also quantum-resistant against all known threats, they also support customers implementing Codasip processors in long-life embedded applications such as remote monitoring systems, surveillance cameras and smart meters. In addition, Veridify’s tools can be used to enable additional security features like secure firmware updates, authentication, and data protection.

Last year, Codasip and Veridify agreed to partner to bring this secure boot functionality to Codasip’s RISC-V processor IP. Following trials between the two companies, Codasip’s IP has now been proven on the Veridify platform – reassuring customers and developers using Codasip processors that they will be utilizing a fully-compatible, widely-used and highly-trusted source of boot security for verifying firmware on its processors.

Zdenek Prikryl, CTO at Codasip commented, “Using Veridify with Codasip Cores provides our customers with an even greater reassurance that in choosing Codasip processors and tools, they are not only using the highest quality processor IP in the industry, but their embedded firmware is free of malware.”

“We are pleased to have been chosen by Codasip to provide future-proof secure boot functionality on its low-power RISC-V processors,” added Louis Parks, Veridify Chairman, and CEO. “Codasip customers can now trust that their firmware is authentic during the boot process and have confidence that their Codasip processor is safe and secure for the life of their device.”

News

Codasip Studio Mac extends potential to design for differentiation with RISC-V

Munich, Germany, 21 June 2022 — Codasip, the leader in customizable RISC-V processor IP, today announced that its Codasip Studio platform is now available to support Apple macOS Monterey (the current major release of macOS). Codasip Studio is an automated platform for customization of Codasip’s leading RISC-V processor IP, enabling designers to quickly and easily tailor their processor designs to achieve the highest performance in domain specific applications.

Codasip Studio is used to create Codasip’s best-in-class RISC-V processor cores and to help designers evaluate microarchitectural alternatives. Application software can be profiled using the instruction accurate description of a core. To address performance bottlenecks, custom instructions can be added and analyzed. Once the instruction set is stable, firmware and drivers can be developed helping time-to-market.

The cores are created using the CodAL hardware description programming language, so customisation can be undertaken in Codasip Studio by modifying the CodAL source. Codasip Studio automatically generates a full software toolchain (compiler, assembler, linker, debugger, etc.), RTL and a UVM verification environment from the CodAL description. Finally, help with verification is provided by automatically generating testbenches, a UVM environment, and random assembler tests.

“The potential to design for differentiation lies at the heart of the Codasip ecosystem of processors IP and tools,” said Rupert Baines, CMO at Codasip. “But it is Codasip Studio and the underlying CodAL description language that not only makes customization possible, it makes it easy, quick and cost-effective for customers of any size and scale to customise Codasip RISC-V cores in order to design innovative and marketing-leading products. We are delighted to now extend this capability to developers working on the Apple Mac OS.”

In October 2021, Codasip Studio was upgraded to version 9.1, giving users access to additional bus interfaces and enabling the development of more powerful application cores and multi-core systems using Codasip Studio.

Electronics, News

Codasip adopts Siemens’ OneSpin tools for formal verification

Higher-quality verification to drive adoption and build momentum for RISC-V IP

Munich, 3 May 2022 – Codasip, the leader in processor design automation, has expanded its adoption of formal verification solutions for comprehensive and thorough processor testing with the addition of OneSpin IC verification tools from Siemens EDA. Codasip has continually invested heavily in processor verification to underpin the company’s ability to deliver the industry’s highest quality RISC-V processor IP.

Siemens EDA’s OneSpin tools provide an advanced and incredibly robust verification platform to tackle critical IC integrity issues. The highly advanced OneSpin formal verification tools for automotive and other high-integrity processor applications verify the implementation with minimal set up and runtime.

The quality of Codasip RISC-V processor IP sets it apart from competitors. With 2 billion cores of Codasip processor IP already in use, mostly with tier one customers, it is essential that Codasip continues to offer processor IP that is consistently of the highest quality

Neil Hand, strategy director for the IC Design Verification division of Siemens EDA, “We are pleased to collaborate with Codasip to help ensure the high quality of their RISC-V Processor IP, as well as to establish optimized solutions for our mutual customers. The world-class technology of our OneSpin formal verification tools including the OneSpin RISC-V verification solution, together with Codasip’s innovative RISC-V IP, is key for IC designers to deliver high-quality products to market quickly.”

Rupert Baines, CMO, Codasip, commented, “The poor verification of some RISC-V IP is frankly shocking. Developers have legitimate concerns about the quality of RISC-V IP that’s holding back its adoption. Higher quality and formally proven RISC-V IP will help it to cross the chasm and massively increase its adoption.”

Codasip’s Director of Verification, Philippe Luc, added, “We are very proud of our own rigorous approach to verification with a strong in-house verification team – our own extremely thorough internal testing methodologies, combine with best-in-class third-party tools. As part of this, we’re delighted to use OneSpin technology from Siemens EDA, which is a key partner for Codasip – we look forward to a closer and productive relationship.”

Codasip uses Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics) as its primary EDA tool flow.

Codasip is presenting on its experiences with the OneSpin tool at Siemens EDA User2User2022 conference at Santa Clara on May 4th and in Munich on May 12th.

News

Codasip appoints Jaime Broome as its Automotive VP

Codasip presents car makers with a breakthrough in innovation and ownership of differentiation

Munich, Germany – 21 April 2022 — Codasip, the leader in customizable RISC-V processor IP, today announced it has appointed Jaime Broome as its new VP Automotive. Broome brings over 20 years of experience in semiconductors and complex IP, SoCs and the automotive supply chain, having recently led Imagination Technologies’ Automotive Business unit dealing with the entire industry, from manufacturers to tier 1 suppliers and ecosystem partners.

Broome brings significant experience of the ecosystem, industry contacts, as well as strategic insights into the market, technology innovations, opportunities, and the trends – all of which are ideally suited to Codasip’s technology and its ability to support and enable exactly the innovation the industry needs in 2022. The automotive market is arguably the hottest market today for developments in electronics and semiconductors. In the face of growing competition from new tech giants the ability to differentiate in this market is the key to success, or even survival.

Broome explains, “There are some rapid shifts taking place in the car market – a new marketplace forming in automotive innovation and technology, with a battleground between existing pillars, technology giants and new businesses and business models. The companies in this market are big and small, new and old, but all are crying out for what RISC-V is offering: the ability to easily innovate rapidly at the design level by reducing the complexity, cost and speed.

“Where Codasip stands out, is that we provide the access to rapid innovation, ownership of the ability to Design for Differentiation, and cost reduction. We deliver that straight into the hands of the players experiencing the pains from the entry of new tech giants into the market. Additionally, being centered in Europe, we are best placed to avoid geopolitical ‘challenges’ and we are surrounded by the world’s greatest concentration of automotive innovators and manufacturing giants.”

In Europe, Broome joins forces with Codasip European VP, Emmanuel Till-Vattier and recently appointed VP Functional Safety (FuSa) Dave Higham, both recent recruits from Imagination. Drawing on Higham’s significant experience, the team will ensure Codasip delivers on the automotive industry’s need for rapid innovation while ensuring technology never compromises the safety or security of vehicles and passengers.

Ron Black, CEO, Codasip, added, “Having known and worked with Jamie for many years, I was delighted he was keen to join the team at Codasip: I could see how his skills and experience will enable us to tap into the full potential of Codasip technology to increase the pace of innovation in the automotive supply chain, as well as enabling innovations in electrification; and safe and secure applications for connected and autonomous vehicles”.

Electronics, News

Codasip University Program spurs innovation and boosts curriculums

Keith Graham appointed Head of University Program

Munich, 10 March 2022 – Codasip, the leader in processor design automation, has launched a University Program to help the next generation of processor engineers to Design for Differentiation and to solve tomorrow’s technological challenges. The Program augments graduate and undergraduate computer engineering curriculums with materials and assignments, and by granting access to industry-grade Codasip RISC-V custom development tools and CodAL high-level synthesis language.

Access to Codasip Studio development tools and CodAL development language, plus specific technologies will enable Codasip University Program partners to support RISC-V based domain specific applications and functions, including functional safety, computer architecture, processor security, advanced memories, even AI/ML. Codasip, together with its technology partners, will provide universities with dedicated support for their research projects – a Design for Differentiation Ecosystem that will spur innovation and the exchange of ideas.

To register interest in joining the Program, and to find out more information, visit the Codasip University Program page here: https://codasip.com/university-program/

Codasip has appointed Keith Graham to lead the new University Program, bringing his decades of engineering and academic leadership experience to the role. Before joining Codasip, Graham had previously identified the benefits of customizing RISC-V processors using Codasip Studio and developed courses for the University of Colorado.

Codasip enables Design for Differentiation which encourages processor and system developers to innovate and – using Codasip tools and IP – to bring their ideas to market in the shortest time and at the lowest cost to maximize competitive advantage. Codasip Studio is a unique collection of tools for fast and easy modification of RISC-V processors. CodAL is Codasip’s C-like language used to create and verify Codasip processors, with models to simplify optimizations and modifications.

Keith Graham, commented, “Providing students with access to CodAL and Studio is enabling them to focus on becoming innovative processor designers. CodAL is a high-level synthesis language, more efficient and less error prone compared to using a less abstracted language like Verilog.” Graham continued, “The Codasip Design for Differentiation Ecosystem provides the ideal processor design automation platform to help future designers build their ideas into commercializable products. We are engaged with multiple universities in curriculum development and research activities, and look forward to welcoming additional universities into the Program”.

Codasip Founder and President, Dr Karel Masarík added, “We were in a position to support university programs with our Codasip tools, but with Keith agreeing to join Codasip and help us, we have been able to define a far more comprehensive partnership program for universities. We are excited to be already rolling out the graduate and undergraduate courses thanks to Keith’s extensive experience in course development: This means we can deliver the Program universities tell us they need. And if we get that right, we help universities develop the theory and the design skills the companies developing SoCs need.”

Read more about the Codasip University Program here: https://codasip.com/university-program/

Electronics

Codasip steps up its focus on Europe and appoints Till-Vattier as EMEA VP

Munich, 3 March 2022 – Codasip, the leader in processor design automation, has appointed Emmanuel Till-Vattier as its new VP of Sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Till-Vattier brings 25 years of experience leading sales teams at Imagination and Arm with significant customer relationships across Codasip’s key EMEA region.

An experienced electronics engineer, Till-Vattier started his career with Philips Semiconductors in the mid-1990s, followed by applications engineer at Intel, then 15 years at Arm where he developed the company’s key OEM relationships in the EMEA region. Since 2017, he has been Senior Sales Director, EMEA at Imagination Technologies.

Till-Vattier commented, “Apart from the fact that I feel well-positioned to help Codasip with its growth ambitions, Codasip is definitively a global company but strongly and strategically European in a way that sets it apart from its competitors.

“With an existing installed base of over 2 billion devices using Codasip IP, I am keen to lead the charge to ensure the industry in EMEA understands the difference Codasip brings. Its strong portfolio of RISC-V processor IP and unique Studio custom design tools enable companies of all sizes to quickly, easily and cost-effectively benefit from Codasip’s Design for Differentiation offering”.

Codasip Chief Revenue Officer, Brett Cline, added, “The Codasip team is growing fast, and Emmanuel’s important role is to lead the team and further our European relationships. We are very lucky to have his experience, skills and strong connections.”

 

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Codasip appoints Functional Safety VP

Dave Higham’s expertise in ISO 26262 and security drives Codasip’s custom processor opportunities

Munich, Germany – 2 February 2022 – Codasip, the leading supplier of customizable processor IP, has appointed Dave Higham as the company’s Vice President of Functional Safety. His in-depth expertise in standards for functional safety and security will accelerate the application of Codasip’s RISC-V processor IP and Studio custom processor designer tools in the automotive and industrial sectors.

Higham will directly support customers looking to develop groundbreaking innovations using Codasip’s tools and development platform, particularly within areas such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. His expertise in the development of key industry specification ISO 26262 is of paramount importance, but his role is broader than that, reflecting how functional safety and security (such as ISO 21434) are key in many areas of technology.

Karel Masarík, Codasip’s Founder & President commented, “With his decades of experience at Delphi, one of the automotive industry’s Tier One technology suppliers, plus years of experience in multiple global semiconductor vendors, Dave brings to Codasip an unparalleled understanding of FuSa. I have no doubts that he will help Codasip customers maximize the opportunities of innovating in these markets, and to guide them intelligently through the safety requirements.”

Dave Higham, added, “Automotive is an obvious growth market for Codasip’s processor IP and Studio tools. But functional safety and security go hand in hand in many market areas too, where our customers expect these to be covered in any design conversation. Codasip has a unique ability to support customization and there are a number of architectural features we can enable to ensure safety and security are better by design, from the tools and methodology as well as in our standard products.”