InCore Semiconductors, a processor design company, has introduced its SoC Generator platform, achieving a milestone with the successful silicon validation of a test chip fabricated on TSMC’s 40nm node. The platform automates the design of customized Systems-on-Chip (SoCs), reducing the time from concept to FPGA validation from months to minutes.
The SoC Generator platform integrates IP, generates interconnects, and produces software collateral and documentation, enabling rapid prototyping and design-space exploration. The test chip, created using the platform, features six heterogeneous RISC-V cores, a custom in-house Network-on-Chip (NoC), and various peripheral IPs, both in-house and third-party. It has passed bring-up and can run a real-time operating system (RTOS), confirming functionality and architectural reliability.
Traditionally, designing a custom SoC for FPGA prototyping requires months and a team of engineers. With the SoC Generator, a single designer produced the initial SoC RTL in minutes, achieving RTL-freeze in 2-3 days after iterations. This efficiency allows software, verification, and physical design teams to begin work earlier, shortening overall development timelines.
Image: Block Diagram of InCore’s Latest Test Chip crafted using SoC Generator Platform, showcasing its ability to generate complex SoC designs instantly
Neel Gala, CTO and Co-founder, emphasized the platform’s deterministic approach, contrasting it with generative AI-based tools. “Our SoC Generator prioritizes precision to ensure bug-free hardware,” Gala stated, highlighting its reliability for chip design. G.S. Madhusudan, CEO and Co-founder, noted the platform’s role in enabling smaller teams to create application-specific chips, particularly with the rise of RISC-V, addressing the high costs and long timelines of traditional ASIC development.
InCore, a spin-out from IIT Madras’s SHAKTI program and backed by Peak XV Partners, plans to offer the SoC Generator as a standalone solution for fabless semiconductor companies and SoC teams globally. The company is also partnering with IP providers, starting with SmartDV, to expand its supported IP portfolio. InCore’s RISC-V CPU cores are already being adopted by customers for production, noted for their performance, power, area (PPA), and customizability.
For more information or inquiries about early access and licensing, visit www.incoresemi.com
