-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueAll About That Route
Most designers favor manual routing, but today's interactive autorouters may be changing designers' minds by allowing users more direct control. In this issue, our expert contributors discuss a variety of manual and autorouting strategies.
Creating the Ideal Data Package
Why is it so difficult to create the ideal data package? Many of these simple errors can be alleviated by paying attention to detail—and knowing what issues to look out for. So, this month, our experts weigh in on the best practices for creating the ideal design data package for your design.
Designing Through the Noise
Our experts discuss the constantly evolving world of RF design, including the many tradeoffs, material considerations, and design tips and techniques that designers and design engineers need to know to succeed in this high-frequency realm.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
Synopsys Selects Zuken Software for HAPS Prototyping System PCB Design
September 2, 2015 | ZukenEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

Synopsys has chosen Zuken’s CR-8000 PCB design platform for their HAPS FPGA-based prototyping family of products.
Synopsys sought the highest-performing PCB design platform available to assist with designing complex high-speed boards for their HAPS prototyping systems. Synopsys’ integrated and scalable hardware and software FPGA-based prototyping systems accelerate pre-silicon software development, hardware/software integration and system validation of IP and SoC designs. HAPS systems are used by design and validation teams to accelerate their SoC design schedules and avoid costly device re-spins.
John KoeterZuken’s CR-8000 met all of our requirements and we are using it to design the new high performance components in our next-generation HAPS systems.
John Koeter, Vice President of Marketing for IP and Prototyping at Synopsys, said, “To develop Synopsys’ highest performing SoC prototyping systems, we need a PCB design environment that can address the routing, signal integrity and timing margin challenges on these complex boards. Zuken’s CR-8000 met all of our requirements and we are using it to design the new high performance components in our next-generation HAPS systems.”
Zuken’s CR-8000 is the industry’s only 3D, multi-board PCB design platform based on product-centric design principles. CR-8000 takes advantage of today’s multi-core processors and the latest graphics standards to maximize performance.
Kent McLeroth, CEO Zuken USA, said “Synopsys and Zuken have a long history of successful collaboration, and we look forward to continuing this relationship. The size and complexity of Synopsys’ HAPS systems is exactly the type of challenge we had in mind when developing the next generation CR-8000 design platform.”
For more information see www.zuken.com/cr-8000 and www.synopsys.com/HAPS
About HAPS
Synopsys HAPS® (High-performance ASIC Prototyping Systems) FPGA-based prototyping solution provides an integrated and scalable hardware-software solution used by design and validation teams to improve their ASIC design schedules and avoid costly device re-spins. HAPS systems enable a more parallel hardware/software development strategy where software developers, validation engineers and system integration experts have access to prototypes running at near real time speed months before tape-out of new ASIC silicon. FPGA-based prototypes are ideal for pre-silicon software development, system validation and hardware/software integration of ASIC IP and SoC designs.
About CR-8000
With a fully integrated design flow from initial planning through circuit engineering, physical layout and manufacturing output, CR-8000 is the only concept-to-manufacturing, native 2D and 3D, single and multi-board system design platform on the market. It was developed from the start to address the challenges of system-level design optimization, offering companies a competitive edge in their product design by supporting faster design turnaround and improved time-to-market. Base components include: System Planner, Design Gateway, Design Force and DFM Center.
About Zuken
Zuken is a global provider of leading-edge software and consulting services for electrical and electronic design and manufacturing. Founded in 1976, Zuken has the longest track record of technological innovation and financial stability in the electronic design automation (EDA) software industry. The company’s extensive experience, technological expertise and agility, combine to create world-class software solutions. Zuken’s transparent working practices and integrity in all aspects of business produce long-lasting and successful customer partnerships that make Zuken a reliable long-term business partner.
Zuken is focused on being a long-term innovation and growth partner. The security of choosing Zuken is further reinforced by the company’s people—the foundation of Zuken’s success. Coming from a wide range of industry sectors, specializing in many different disciplines and advanced technologies, Zuken’s people relate to and understand each company’s unique requirements.
Suggested Items
DownStream Acquisition Fits Siemens’ ‘Left-Shift’ Model
06/26/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007I recently spoke to DownStream Technologies founder Joe Clark about the company’s acquisition by Siemens. We were later joined by A.J. Incorvaia, Siemens’ senior VP of electronic board systems. Joe discussed how he, Rick Almeida, and Ken Tepper launched the company in the months after 9/11 and how the acquisition came about. A.J. provides some background on the acquisition and explains why the companies’ tools are complementary.
Elementary Mr. Watson: Retro Routers vs. Modern Boards—The Silent Struggle on Your Screen
06/26/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonThere's a story about a young woman preparing a holiday ham. Before putting it in the pan, she cuts off the ends. When asked why, she shrugs and says, "That's how my mom always did it." She asks her mother, who gives the same answer. Eventually, the question reaches Grandma, who laughs and says, "Oh, I only cut the ends off because my pan was too small." This story is a powerful analogy for how many PCB designers approach routing today.
Connect the Dots: The Future of PCB Design and Manufacturing
07/02/2025 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the DotsFor some time, I have been discussing the increasing complexity of PCBs and how designers can address the constantly evolving design requirements associated with them. My book, "The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to… Designing for Reality," details best practices for creating manufacturable boards in a modern production environment.
Siemens Turbocharges Semiconductor and PCB Design Portfolio with Generative and Agentic AI
06/24/2025 | SiemensAt the 2025 Design Automation Conference, Siemens Digital Industries Software today unveiled its AI-enhanced toolset for the EDA design flow.
Cadence AI Autorouter May Transform the Landscape
06/19/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazinePatrick Davis, product management director with Cadence Design Systems, discusses advancements in autorouting technology, including AI. He emphasizes a holistic approach that enhances placement and power distribution before routing. He points out that younger engineers seem more likely to embrace autorouting, while the veteran designers are still wary of giving up too much control. Will AI help autorouters finally gain industry-wide acceptance?