Developing, distributing, and supporting semiconductor intellectual property (IP) products that reduce costs and enable quicker time to market for producers of electronic products.
Approach
Focus on popular and standards-based IP cores (also called virtual components). Offer both competitive prices and the best available customer support. Avoid debt, operate lean, exploit the Web, outsource services, and employ international development partners.
History
CAST was formed in 1993 with an initial focus on intellectual property in the form of simulation models. The company evolved as design methodologies changed, and began offering IP cores in 1996.
Organization
With its lean operation model, CAST has a nearly flat organization of mostly design engineers; outsources most non-engineering functions; uses a distributed office network; and teams with international development and distribution partners who are experts in their respective areas. The company is US-based — with headquarters in New Jersey and a sales manager on the West Coast — and has a development branch in the Czech Republic.
Management
Hal Barbour, President
Bill Finch, Senior VP
Newton Abdalla, VP IP & Operations
Meredith Lucky, VP Sales
Steve Pollock, VP Marketing & Bus. Dev.
Markets
CAST reduces time to market for electronics companies engaged in three main applications: development of system-on-chip (SoC) designs and using IP cores for nonproprietary portions of the product; enhancement of existing printed circuit board products and their consolidation to chips; and extension of life for existing products through obsolete parts replacement.
Channels
Direct sales; local sales partners in regions around the world (see list on the website).
Products
IP Cores — broad range of over 100 standard protocols and expert functions for custom and structured ASICs and for FPGAs, including 8-,16-, and 32-bit processors, bus and network controllers, multimedia and encryption functions, serial communications devices, peripheral controllers, and basic logic blocks.
System IP — functional subsystems, SoC Kernels, and pre-integrated IP platforms combining multiple cores and essential software.
Services
Custom modifications and contract development of IP cores and system IP products.
Customers
1,000 core licenses to over 600 customers, including telecommunications, automotive, computer, industrial control, military, and other electronics producers.
Partners
Principle Development Partners: Alma Technologies S.A. (Greece), Evatronix S.A. (Poland)
IP Developers: Fraunhofer IPM (Germany), SoC Solutions LLC (USA)
Semiconductor Providers: Actel Corp., Altera Corp., ARC International, ARM Ltd., ChipX Inc., eASIC Corp., Lattice Semiconductor Corp., Xilinx
Industry Associations & Portals: OCP-IP, PCI-SIG, SPIRIT Consortium, Chip Estimate (a division of Cadence Design Systems, Inc.), Design and Reuse
