ARM bought Obsidian Software, a privately held processor-verification company in Austin, Texas. The deal was reported on June 17, 2011; its purchase price was not disclosed. Obsidian brought verification software and expertise to ARM, including its RAVEN tool for generating test stimuli for standard and custom processor cores.
Who did ARM buy in Texas?
ARM Holdings plc acquired Obsidian Software Inc., an Austin-based company that supplied processor-verification products, consulting, and training. EE Times reported the acquisition on June 17, 2011. The purchase price was not disclosed. EE Times
What did Obsidian Software do?
Obsidian had served processor designers since 1997. Its work focused on checking processor designs through verification products and services, rather than designing or selling consumer processors. Its validation team was expected to join ARM’s processor-validation team in Austin. Source
What was the RAVEN verification tool?
Obsidian’s best-known product was the Random Architecture Verification Engine, or RAVEN. It generated stimuli—test inputs and activity used to exercise a design—so engineers could test standard and custom processor cores. The available description does not specify its implementation, supported architectures, or detailed testing workflow. Source
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Why did ARM acquire a verification company?
Processor designs must be tested to find defects before they become costly problems in systems built around them. Bringing Obsidian’s specialized software and engineers into ARM was intended to strengthen validation, improve the quality of ARM-based system-on-chips (SoCs), and reduce time to market. ARM executive Mike Inglis said the technology and people would add to the company’s capabilities in maximizing quality and reducing time to market for ARM-based SoCs. Source
The deal therefore added capability around ARM’s processor technology: verification tools and a validation team, not simply another processor core. Arm’s 2026 annual filing describes a broader business that develops and licenses CPU and GPU technology, systems IP, compute subsystems, software, tools, and related services. That later description puts the Obsidian acquisition in the context of capabilities surrounding processor IP, but does not establish a specific long-term product outcome for RAVEN. Arm 2026 annual filing
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How much did ARM pay for Obsidian?
The purchase price was not disclosed in the June 17, 2011 report. The available account also does not state Obsidian’s customer list, revenue, employee count, or a detailed post-acquisition roadmap. EE Times
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