Developing Open Source Models for Design Wins

Frequently Asked Questions

With the aim of clarifying the differentiators and value of MFS Models and how they can impact your bottom-line, please see our response to frequently asked questions below.

1. What are the technical advantages of MFS models?

   Technical Advantage: MFS produces models at higher levels of abstractions, with an engineering team specifically trained for developing component models, not reusing RTL Models. RTL Models are at lower levels of abstraction, encrypted and tend to use more computing resources during system simulation.

2. How does an FMF model help us engage with our customers?

   Sales Aide: Our models are an important sales aide as they enable IC and IP vendors to increase the rate of adoption of their products by providing accurate models for evaluation and verification in electronic systems.

3. Please describe your distribution program.

   Wider Distribution: Our models are open source and unencumbered by usage licenses or proprietary software. With appropriate customer agreements, we provide models in readable form at www.FreeModelFoundry.com for distribution to designers free of charge. Our distribution site has over 5,000 visitors a month and over million models downloaded each year.

4. Can I use MFS models to validate marketing specs for internal product development?

   Lately, at least one of our customers has found a new use for our models. In this case, we design a model to a marketing spec for a new chip. They use the model and the detailed testbench we provide as an executable specification for the new chip. When the RTL of their new chip can pass our testbench, theyfind it functionally matches their original spec. In addition, creating the model validates the completeness of the spec. Missing or contradictory requirements are usually exposed by the process of turning the spec into a model.

5. Are there other advantages of providing our customers with FMF functional simulation models developed by MFS?

   Some of the other major advantages to providing your customers with models produced by Model Foundry Services are:

• Error Prevention and Error Costs Reduction: FMF models help catch timing errors, protocol errors and/or interface errors before board fab. As you know, errors caught before fab out are orders of magnitude less expensive to fix than errors caught in the first prototypes. Errors caught before shipping are more orders of magnitude cheaper to fix than errors caught in the field.
• Cost -Effective Development: Excellent quality, timely deliveries, and competitive rates makes us an excellent third party company to work with your organization.
• Reduced Support Costs: MFS can handle model support and that frees up resources within your organization. Users will have fewer questions as simulations would have answered many questions.
• Ease of Use: FMF Models produced by Model Foundry Services are consistent with uniform style and standardized methodology as in 10,000 other parts on our distribution site.

6. Aren't VHDL and Verilog models too slow to be usefull?

   No, not if they are written at a high enough level of abstraction. Models written at the register transfer level (RTL) may be too slow but, behavioral models are fast enough for hardware verification.