Mentor Graphics provides the EDA industry's most comprehensive portfolio of vendor-independent FPGA design solutions, allowing engineers to implement the ARM Cortex-M1 processor on any FPGA device.

"With the Cortex-M1 processor, designers have the freedom to select any FPGA device they wish. Mentor Graphics' support for FPGA design extends that freedom, offering our mutual customers a comprehensive, vendor-independent flow for FPGA design," said Kevin McDermott, director of CPU Marketing, Processors Division, ARM. "We consider Mentor's support to be a significant contribution for customer success with the Cortex-M1 processor."

Mentor Graphics is the only EDA company with a complete FPGA solution, covering design entry, simulation, synthesis, PCB design, embedded software and software development toolsets. These hardware and software design solutions enable FPGA system designers to develop better electronic products faster and more cost-effectively. Unlike proprietary solutions from FPGA vendors, Mentor products allow designers to target virtually any FPGA platform with their Cortex-M1-based design. In addition, Mentor Graphics is the only major EDA company with an embedded software solution, providing turn-key technology for development tools, operating systems and application middleware.

The ARM Cortex-M1 processor extends the range of the ARM Cortex family and enables OEMs to standardize around a common architecture across the performance spectrum. According to ARM, the Cortex-M1 processor enables OEMs to achieve significant cost savings through rationalization of software and tools investments across multiple projects spanning FPGA, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and application specific standard product (ASSP), plus greater vendor independence through use of an industry-standard processor.

"Mentor Graphics' long-term strategic relationship with ARM has enabled us to support the launch of the Cortex-M1 with several plug-and-play design solutions, including design assembly, embedded software toolsets, and most recently Precision Synthesis for FPGA devices," said Simon Bloch, general manager, Design Creation and Synthesis Division, Mentor Graphics. "With these vendor-independent offerings from Mentor, designers are free to select any FPGA device to implement their designs based on the ARM Cortex-M1 processor" - Mentor Graphics.