C Level Design
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronic design automation |
| Predecessor | CompiLogic |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Don Soderman Denis Coleman Yuri Panchul |
| Defunct | 2001-11-12 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Synopsys |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
| Products | C2Verilog CycleC |
Number of employees | 30 (2001) |
| Website | www |
C Level Design was a software firm based in San Jose, California, specializing in converting the C language into various hardware description languages.
The company was established in 1996 by Don Soderman, Denis Coleman, and Yuri Panchul. Initially operating under the name CompiLogic Corporation, it adopted the C Level Design brand in December 1998. Its flagship product at launch was C2Verilog.
Prominent telecommunications and networking corporations such as Nortel, Alcatel, Sony, Boeing, Compaq, and Fujitsu implemented the company's System Compiler environment alongside C2Verilog. For instance, Hitachi employed C2Verilog to create a prototype of an 8-bit microcontroller with a five-stage pipeline within a three-week timeframe. Additionally, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory utilized C2Verilog for hardware development initiatives.
At its operational height, C Level Design maintained a workforce of approximately 30 employees and achieved a total revenue nearing $3 million. In mid-2000, semiconductor manufacturer Altera made an investment in the company.
In March 2001, C Level Design declared its intention to contribute its CycleC technology to the Open SystemC Initiative to aid in establishing industry-wide standards; nonetheless, this contribution was never completed. The company terminated its operations in November 2001. Subsequently, Synopsys acquired its assets, incorporating the CycleC simulation approach into its VCS Verilog simulator while discontinuing other offerings.
The firm held patents associated with its high-level synthesis innovations, including US Patent 6226776 and US Patent 6848085.