Valid Logic Systems
Encyclopedia
Valid Logic Systems was one of the first commercial EDA electronic design automation
companies. It was founded in the early 1980s, along with Daisy Systems Corporation and Mentor Graphics
, collectively known as DMV.
Initially, Valid built both hardware and software, for schematic capture
, logic simulation
, static timing analysis
, and packaging. Much of the initial software base derived from SCALD
("Structured Computer-Aided Logic Design"), a set of tools developed to support the design of the S-1 supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratories. Later, Valid expanded into IC design tools and into printed circuit board
layout.
At first, Valid ran schematic capture on a proprietary UNIX workstation
, the SCALDSystem, with static timing analysis, simulation, and packaging running on a VAX or IBM-compatible mainframe. Within a few years, the (still proprietary) workstations were powerful enough to run all of the software. However, by the mid-1980s, general purpose workstations were powerful enough, significantly cheaper, and had given rise to a significant sector of the software industry, making them a better value on several counts. Companies such as Mentor Graphics
and Cadence Design Systems
took this path, and sold software only to run on standard workstations. However, the president of Valid, Jerry A. Anderson, felt that Wall Street would never adequately value a company that did not produce hardware, and insisted that the company's products continue to be bundled. Eventually he was over-ruled by the board, but by then, considerable time had been lost to competitors. By 1990, almost all Valid software was running on general purpose workstations, primarily those from Sun Microsystems
.
The engineering founders of Valid were L. Curtis Widdoes, Tom McWilliams and Jeff Rubin, all of whom had worked on the S-1 supercomputer project at Livermore Labs.
Valid acquired several companies such as Telesis (PCB layout), Analog Design Tools, and Calma
(IC layout). In turn, Valid was acquired by Cadence Design Systems
in the early 90s.
Electronic design automation
Electronic design automation is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits...
companies. It was founded in the early 1980s, along with Daisy Systems Corporation and Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics, Inc is a US-based multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics, as of 2004, ranked third in the EDA industry it helped create...
, collectively known as DMV.
Initially, Valid built both hardware and software, for schematic capture
Schematic capture
Schematic capture or schematic entry is a step in the design cycle of electronic design automation at which the electronic diagram, or electronic schematic of the designed electronic circuit is created by a designer...
, logic simulation
Logic simulation
Logic simulation is the use of a computer program to simulate the operation of a digital circuit. Logic simulation is the primary tool used for verifying the logical correctness of a hardware design. In many cases logic simulation is the first activity performed in the process of taking a hardware...
, static timing analysis
Static timing analysis
Static Timing Analysis is a method of computing the expected timing of a digital circuit without requiring simulation.High-performance integrated circuits have traditionally been characterized by the clock frequency at which they operate...
, and packaging. Much of the initial software base derived from SCALD
Scald
A scald is a type of burn injury caused by hot liquids or gases. It can also refer to:*Scalding milk, heating milk to just below its boiling point*Scald , a Irish extreme metal band*Scald , an epic doom metal band from Russia...
("Structured Computer-Aided Logic Design"), a set of tools developed to support the design of the S-1 supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore
Lawrence Livermore
Lawrence Livermore may refer to:*Larry Livermore, musician, record producer and music journalist.*Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory...
National Laboratories. Later, Valid expanded into IC design tools and into printed circuit board
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It is also referred to as printed wiring board or etched wiring...
layout.
At first, Valid ran schematic capture on a proprietary UNIX workstation
Workstation
A workstation is a high-end microcomputer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems...
, the SCALDSystem, with static timing analysis, simulation, and packaging running on a VAX or IBM-compatible mainframe. Within a few years, the (still proprietary) workstations were powerful enough to run all of the software. However, by the mid-1980s, general purpose workstations were powerful enough, significantly cheaper, and had given rise to a significant sector of the software industry, making them a better value on several counts. Companies such as Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics, Inc is a US-based multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics, as of 2004, ranked third in the EDA industry it helped create...
and Cadence Design Systems
Cadence Design Systems
Cadence Design Systems, Inc is an electronic design automation software and engineering services company, founded in 1988 by the merger of SDA Systems and ECAD, Inc...
took this path, and sold software only to run on standard workstations. However, the president of Valid, Jerry A. Anderson, felt that Wall Street would never adequately value a company that did not produce hardware, and insisted that the company's products continue to be bundled. Eventually he was over-ruled by the board, but by then, considerable time had been lost to competitors. By 1990, almost all Valid software was running on general purpose workstations, primarily those from Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
.
The engineering founders of Valid were L. Curtis Widdoes, Tom McWilliams and Jeff Rubin, all of whom had worked on the S-1 supercomputer project at Livermore Labs.
Valid acquired several companies such as Telesis (PCB layout), Analog Design Tools, and Calma
Calma
Calma Company, based in Sunnyvale, California, was, between 1965 and 1988, a vendor of digitizers and minicomputer-based graphics systems targeted at the cartographic and electronic, mechanical and architectural design markets....
(IC layout). In turn, Valid was acquired by Cadence Design Systems
Cadence Design Systems
Cadence Design Systems, Inc is an electronic design automation software and engineering services company, founded in 1988 by the merger of SDA Systems and ECAD, Inc...
in the early 90s.