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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.12

                                  EXHIBIT "I"
                                PROMISSORY NOTE

                                                           Sunnyvale, California
$282,000.00                                                    September 3, 1998


     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Robert J. Erickson ("Holder") promises to pay to
SYNPLICITY, INC., a California corporation (the "Company"), or order, the
principal sum of Two Hundred Eighty Two Thousand Dollars ($282,000.00), together
with interest on the unpaid balance hereof from the date hereof at the rate of
5.54% per annum, compounded annually, based on a 365-day year.

     Principal and interest shall be immediately due and payable upon the
earlier of(i) five years from the date of this Note, or (ii) ninety days after
the termination of Holder's employment with the Company. In the event the
Company provides for release of certain of the Purchased Shares from the escrow
under provisions of the Restricted Stock Purchase Plan and Agreement dated as of
September 3, 1998, the Holder shall take all actions necessary to ensure that
the proceeds from the sale of such Purchased Shares shall be used for immediate
and automatic payment of such Purchased Shares under this Note. Payments of
principal and interest shall be made in lawful money of the United States of
America.

     The undersigned may at any time prepay all or any portion of the principal
or interest owing hereunder.

     This Note is subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Purchase Plan and
Agreement dated as of September 3, 1998. This Note is secured in part by a
pledge of the Company's Common Stock under the terms of such Restricted Stock
Purchase Plan and Agreement.

     The Holder of this Note shall have full recourse against the undersigned,
and shall not be required to proceed against the collateral securing this Note
in the event of default.

     Should any action be instituted for the collection of this Note, the
reasonable costs and attorneys' fees therein of the Holder shall be paid by the
undersigned.

                                        /s/ Robert J. Erickson
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Robert J. Erickson
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                                  EXHIBIT I(a)
                                  ------------
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This Security Agreement is made as of September 3, 1998 between SYNPLICITY,
INC., a California corporation ("Pledgee"), and Robert J. Erickson ("Pledgor").

                                    Recitals
                                    --------

     Pursuant to Pledgor's election to purchase shares of Common Stock of
Pledgee under the Restricted Stock Purchase Plan and Agreement dated September
3, 1998 (the "Agreement"), and Pledgor's election under the terms of the
Agreement to pay for such shares with his promissory note (the "Note"), Pledgor
has purchased 235,000 shares of Pledgee's Common Stock (the "Shares") at a price
of $1.20 per share, for a total purchase price of $282,000.00. The Note and the
obligations thereunder are as set forth in Exhibit 1 to the Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:

     1.  Creation and Description of Security Interest. In consideration of the
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transfer of the Shares to Pledgor under the Agreement, Pledgor, pursuant to the
Commercial Code of the State of California, hereby pledges all of such Shares
(herein sometimes referred to as the "Collateral") represented by certificate
number 61, duly endorsed in blank or with executed stock powers, and herewith
delivers said certificate to the Secretary of Pledgee ("Pledgeholder"), who
shall hold said certificate subject to the terms and conditions of this Security
Agreement.

     The pledged stock (together with an executed blank stock assignment for use
in transferring all or a portion of the Shares to Pledgee if, as and when
required pursuant to this Security Agreement) shall be held by the Pledgeholder
as security for the repayment of the Note, and any extensions or renewals
thereof, to be executed by Pledgor pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and
the Pledge-holder shall not encumber or dispose of such Shares except in
accordance with the provisions of this Security Agreement.

     2.  Pledgor's Representations and Covenants. To induce Pledgee to enter
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into this Security Agreement, Pledgor represents and covenants to Pledgee, its
successors and assigns, as follows:

          (a) Payment of Indebtedness. Pledgor will pay the principal sum of the
              -----------------------
Note secured hereby, together with interest thereon, at the time and in the
manner provided in the Note.

          (b) Encumbrances. The Shares are free of all other encumbrances,
              ------------
defenses and liens, and Pledgor will not further encumber the Shares without the
prior written consent of Pledgee.

          (c) Margin Regulations. In the event that Pledgee's Common Stock is
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now or later becomes margin-listed by the Federal Reserve Board and Pledgee is
classified as a "lender" within the meaning of the regulations under Part 207 of
Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations

                                      -1-
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("Regulation G"), Pledgor agrees to cooperate with Pledgee in making any
amendments to the Note or providing any additional collateral as may be
necessary to comply with such regulations.

     3.  Voting Rights. During the term of this pledge and so long as all
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payments of principal and interest are made as they become due under the terms
of the Note, Pledgor shall have the right to Vote all of the Shares pledged
hereunder.

     4.  Stock Adjustments. In the event that during the term of the pledge any
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stock dividend, reclassification, readjustment or other changes are declared or
made in the capital structure of Pledgee, all new, substituted and additional
shares or other securities issued by reason of any such change shall be
delivered to and held by the Pledgee under the terms of this Security Agreement
in the same manner as the Shares originally pledged hereunder. In the event of
substitution of such securities, Pledgor, Pledgee and Pledgeholder shall
cooperate and execute such documents as are reasonable so as to provide for the
substitution of such Collateral and, upon such substitution, references to
"Shares" in this Security Agreement shall include the substituted shares of
capital stock of Pledgor as a result thereof.

     5.  Options and Rights. In the event that, during the term of this pledge,
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subscription options or other rights or options shall be issued in connection
with the pledged Shares, such rights or options shall be the property of Pledgor
and, if exercised by Pledgor, all new stock or other securities so acquired by
Pledgor as it relates to the pledged Shares then held by Pledgeholder shall be
immediately delivered to Pledgeholder, to be held under the terms of this
Security Agreement in the same manner as the Shares pledged.

     6.  Default. Pledgor shall be deemed to be in default of the Note and of
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this Security Agreement in the event:

          (a) Payment of principal or interest on the Note shall be delinquent
for a period of 10 days or more; or

          (b) Pledgor fails to perform any of the covenants set forth in the
Option or contained in this Security Agreement for a period of 10 days after
written notice thereof from Pledgee.

     In the case of an event of Default, as set forth above, Pledgee shall have
the right to accelerate payment of the Note upon notice to Pledgor, and Pledgee
shall thereafter be entitled to pursue its remedies under the California
Commercial Code.

     7.  Release of Collateral. Subject to any applicable contrary rules under
         ---------------------
Regulation G, there shall be released from this pledge a portion of the pledged
Shares held by Pledgeholder here-under upon payments of the principal of the
Note pursuant to the Pledgee's regular process and timing, upon the vesting of
such shares under the terms of the Agreement and upon the request of the Pledgor
verified by the company. The number of the pledged Shares which shall be
released shall be that number of full Shares which bears the same proportion to
the initial number of Shares pledged hereunder as the payment of principal bears
to the initial full principal amount of the Note plus
<PAGE>

accrued interest thereon; provided, however, that the Pledgor may request that
Pledgee release Collateral from this pledge to a stock broker for immediate sale
provided that the net proceeds of such sale are applied to the payment of the
Note.

     8.  Withdrawal or Substitution of Collateral. Pledgor shall not sell,
         ----------------------------------------
withdraw, pledge, substitute or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the
Collateral without the prior written consent of Pledgee.

     9.  Term. The within pledge of Shares shall continue until the payment of
         ----
all indebtedness secured hereby, at which time the remaining pledged stock shall
be promptly delivered to Pledgor, subject to the provisions for prior release of
a portion of the Collateral as provided in paragraph 7 above.

     10.  Insolvency. Pledgor agrees that if a bankruptcy or insolvency
          ----------
proceeding is instituted by or against it, or if a receiver is appointed for the
property of Pledgor, or if Pledgor makes an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, the entire amount unpaid on the Note shall become immediately due and
payable, and Pledgee may proceed as provided in the case of default.

     11.  Pledgeholder Liability. In the absence of willful or gross negligence,
          ----------------------
Pledgeholder shall not be liable to any party for any of his acts, or omissions
to act, as Pledgeholder.

     12.  Invalidity of Particular Provisions. Pledgor and Pledgee agree that
          -----------------------------------
the enforceability or invalidity of any provision or provisions of this Security
Agreement shall not render any other provision or provisions herein contained
unenforceable or invalid.

     13.  Successors or Assigns. Pledgor and Pledgee agree that all of the terms
          ---------------------
of this Security Agreement shall be binding on their respective successors and
assigns, and that the term "Pledgor" and the term "Pledgee" as used herein shall
be deemed to include, for all purposes, the respective designees, successors,
assigns, heirs, executors and administrators.

     14.  Governing Law. This Security Agreement shall be interpreted and
          -------------
governed under the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules,
of California.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

"PLEDGOR"                                    "PLEDGEE" SYNPLICITY, INC.

/s/ Robert J. Erickson                                 a California corporation
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Signature

Robert J. Erickson                           By  /s/ Alisa Yaffa
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Print Name
1371 Aster Lane                              Title  CFO, VP
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Address
Cupertino, CA 95014
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