CLK Design Automation

About CLK Design Automation

CLK Design Automation provided high-accuracy timing and power analysis software for nanometer semiconductor designs. Founded in 2004 by Hal Conklin and headquartered in Littleton, Massachusetts, the company developed tools to help semiconductor companies predict the timing of chips before production. CLKDA was backed by investors including Morgenthaler Venture Partners and Atlas Ventures.

The company's core technology was its FX platform, a transistor model and simulator engineered specifically for digital variance and delay analysis. This platform included products like Amber Path FX, which accelerated the generation of Advanced On-Chip Variation (AOCV) tables, a critical step in static timing analysis. This technology was developed in collaboration with TSMC and offered a significant speed improvement over traditional Monte Carlo SPICE simulations. Another key product was Variance FX, a commercial solution for generating timing derates used in static timing analysis and physical IC design. CLKDA's solutions were used for advanced geometries like 10nm, 14nm, 16nm, and 20nm semiconductors with leading foundries.

In October 2007, CLK Design Automation acquired Synchronous Design Automation. Continuing its growth and technological development, the company was ultimately acquired by Ansys on March 10, 2017. The acquisition was intended to accelerate Ansys' product roadmap by integrating CLKDA's fast transistor simulation technology, which complements popular static timing analysis (STA) tools. The deal included CLKDA's customer contracts, products, patents, and key personnel, who were integrated into Ansys' Semiconductor Business Unit.