Electronic Design Automation, or EDA, is a market segment consisting of software, hardware, and services with the collective goal of assisting in the definition, planning, design, implementation, verification, and subsequent manufacturing of semiconductor devices, or chips. Regarding the manufacturing of these devices, the primary providers of this service are semiconductor foundries, or fabs. These highly complex and costly facilities are either owned and operated by large, vertically integrated semiconductor companies or operated as independent, “pure-play” manufacturing service providers. This latter category has become the dominant business model.
Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools are categorized based on the specific stages of the electronic design and manufacturing process they support. In General, Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools can be categoried as: Simulation, Design, and Verification
- Simulation tools take a description of a proposed circuit and predict its behavior before is it implemented. This description is typically presented in a standard hardware description language such as Verilog or VHDL. Simulation tools model the behavior of circuit elements at various degrees of detail and perform various operations to predict the resultant behavior of the circuit. The level of detail required is dictated by the type of circuit being designed and its intended use. If a very large amount of input data must be processed, hardware approaches such as emulation or rapid prototyping are used. These situations occur when a processor’s operating system must be run against real-world scenarios, such as video processing. Without a hardware-assisted approach, the runtime for these cases can be untenable.
- Design tools take a description of a proposed circuit function and assemble the collection of circuit elements that implement that function. This assembly process can be a logical one where the correct circuit elements are chosen and interconnected to implement the desired function. Logic synthesis is an example of this process. It can also be a physical process where the geometric shapes that implement the circuit in silicon are assembled, placed, and routed together. Broadly this process is known as place and route. It can also take the form of an interactive process that is guided by a designer. This is called custom layout.
- Verification tools examine either the logical or physical representation of the chip to determine if the resultant design is connected correctly and will deliver the required performance. There are many processes that can be used here. Physical verification examines the interconnected geometries to ensure their placement obeys the manufacturing requirements of the fab. These requirements have become very complex and can include far more than 10,000 rules. Verification can also take the form of comparing the implemented circuit to the original description to ensure it faithfully reflects the required function. Layout vs. schematic, or LVS, is an example of this process. Functional verification of a chip can also use simulation technology to compare actual behavior to expected behavior. These approaches are limited by the completeness of the input stimulus provided. Another approach is to verify the behavior of the circuit algorithmically, without the need for input stimulus. This approach is called equivalence checking and is a part of a discipline known as formal verification.
In more detail, These tools cater to tasks such as simulation, synthesis, verification, physical design, and more. Below are the major types of EDA tools and examples for each:
1. Schematic Capture Tools
- Purpose: Used to create circuit diagrams or schematics that describe the connectivity of the electronic components.
- Examples:
- OrCAD Capture
- KiCad
- Altium Designer
2. Simulation Tools
- Purpose: Simulate the behavior of a circuit or system at different abstraction levels (e.g., functional, timing, analog).
- Types:
- Logic Simulation: Simulates digital circuits at the logic level.
- Analog Simulation: Simulates continuous-time analog circuits.
- Examples:
- ModelSim (for HDL-based simulation)
- Cadence Spectre (for analog simulation)
- SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis)
3. Synthesis Tools
- Purpose: Convert high-level designs written in HDLs (e.g., VHDL, Verilog) into a gate-level netlist.
- Examples:
- Synopsys Design Compiler
- Cadence Genus
- Mentor Graphics Precision
4. Layout Design and Physical Design Tools
- Purpose: Create the physical layout of circuits, including placement of components, routing of interconnections, and layer assignments.
- Examples:
- Cadence Innovus
- Synopsys IC Compiler II
- Mentor Graphics Calibre (for verification)
5. Verification Tools
- Purpose: Ensure the design meets functional, timing, and physical constraints.
- Types:
- Functional Verification: Verifies the design logic using simulations or formal verification techniques.
- Static Timing Analysis (STA): Ensures the design meets timing constraints.
- Physical Verification: Checks for errors in the layout (e.g., Design Rule Checks (DRC), Layout vs. Schematic (LVS)).
- Examples:
- Synopsys PrimeTime (for STA)
- Cadence Xcelium (for functional verification)
- Mentor Graphics Calibre (for physical verification)
6. PCB Design Tools
- Purpose: Design printed circuit boards, including component placement, routing, and design rule checking.
- Examples:
- Altium Designer
- KiCad
- Cadence Allegro
- Eagle
7. FPGA Design Tools
- Purpose: Create designs for Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and simulate/test these designs.
- Examples:
- Xilinx Vivado
- Intel Quartus Prime
- Lattice Diamond
8. Power Analysis and Signal Integrity Tools
- Purpose: Analyze and optimize power consumption and signal integrity in the design.
- Examples:
- Cadence Voltus (power analysis)
- Synopsys PrimePower
- Ansys HFSS (for electromagnetic signal analysis)
9. Electromagnetic Simulation Tools
- Purpose: Simulate electromagnetic fields for antennas, RF circuits, and high-speed designs.
- Examples:
- Ansys HFSS
- CST Studio Suite
- Keysight ADS (Advanced Design System)
10. Embedded System Design Tools
- Purpose: Integrate hardware and software components for embedded systems.
- Examples:
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Keil MDK
- ARM Development Studio
11. Multi-Domain Co-Design Tools
- Purpose: Facilitate co-design of hardware and software, often for system-level designs.
- Examples:
- Cadence Virtuoso (analog/digital mixed-signal co-design)
- Synopsys Platform Architect
12. Manufacturing and Test Tools
- Purpose: Prepare designs for manufacturing and generate test patterns to validate hardware after production.
- Examples:
- Synopsys TestMAX
- Cadence Modus
- Mentor Graphics TestKompress
Summary Table
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Schematic Capture Tools | OrCAD Capture, KiCad, Altium Designer |
| Simulation Tools | ModelSim, SPICE, Cadence Spectre |
| Synthesis Tools | Synopsys Design Compiler, Cadence Genus |
| Layout/Physical Design Tools | Cadence Innovus, Synopsys IC Compiler II |
| Verification Tools | PrimeTime, Xcelium, Calibre |
| PCB Design Tools | Altium Designer, KiCad, Eagle |
| FPGA Design Tools | Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus Prime |
| Power/Signal Integrity Tools | Voltus, PrimePower, Ansys HFSS |
| Electromagnetic Simulation | Ansys HFSS, CST Studio Suite |
| Embedded System Design Tools | MATLAB/Simulink, Keil MDK, ARM Dev Studio |
| Manufacturing/Test Tools | TestMAX, Modus, TestKompress |
EDA Company Listing and Their Market Capitalization ?
What is EDA and The EDA Company List
Electronic Design Automation (EDA) is a specialized sector within the technology industry, comprising companies that develop software tools to facilitate the design and verification of electronic systems, such as integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. The EDA market is dominated by a few key players, each with significant market capitalizations.
Here is a list of prominent EDA companies along with their market capitalizations:
| Company | Market Capitalization (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Synopsys, Inc. | Approximately $70 billion | Synopsys is a leading provider of EDA tools and semiconductor IP. |
| Cadence Design Systems | Approximately $60 billion | Cadence offers a broad range of EDA solutions and has a strong presence in the semiconductor industry. |
| Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics) | Part of Siemens AG (Market Cap: Approximately $150 billion) | Siemens EDA provides comprehensive EDA tools and is a subsidiary of Siemens AG. |
| ANSYS, Inc. | Approximately $30 billion | ANSYS specializes in engineering simulation software, including EDA tools for electronic design. |
| Altium Limited | Approximately $5 billion | Altium focuses on PCB design software and has a growing market presence. |
Market capitalizations are approximate and based on data available as of January 2025. For the most current figures, please refer to financial news sources or the companies’ investor relations pages.
These companies play a crucial role in the electronics industry by providing tools that enable the design and development of complex electronic systems. The EDA market has been experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing complexity of electronic devices and the demand for advanced design tools. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global EDA market was valued at USD 14.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 26.2 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period.
It’s important to note that market capitalizations can fluctuate due to various factors, including market conditions, company performance, and economic trends. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s advisable to consult financial news outlets or the investor relations sections of the companies’ official websites