Dynamic Power Analysis and Display for CMOS Circuit Optimization
Xpower is a sophisticated tool that estimates the dynamic power consumption of CMOS circuits for specific test stimulus sequences. By analyzing signal state history and loading information supplied by the Simic Logic Simulator, Xpower calculates energy consumed per test by summing the number of nodes that undergo state transitions, where each node is weighted by its capacitive loading.
In an era where power consumption is critical for mobile devices, battery-powered systems, and high-density integrated circuits, Xpower provides designers with the insights needed to optimize their designs for minimal power consumption.
Xpower displays dynamic power consumption utilizing X-window graphics and optionally generates corresponding PostScript descriptions for documentation and printout. The tool presents power information in multiple complementary views:
Displays a list of nodes reverse-sorted by power consumption, enabling designers to quickly locate the nodes that contribute the most to overall power dissipation. This focused view allows targeted optimization efforts.
Shows the power dissipated along the selected simulation sequence, revealing how power consumption varies over time and identifying power-hungry operations or sequences.
Presents the distribution of power across the circuit for the selected simulation sequence, helping identify power consumption patterns and hotspots.
Displays cumulative and global information, providing high-level metrics for overall circuit power performance assessment.
Xpower works seamlessly with the Simic Logic Simulator, leveraging Simic's accurate simulation results and detailed signal state information. This tight integration ensures that power analysis is based on the most accurate circuit behavior representation available.
The combination of Simic's exceptional simulation accuracy and Xpower's detailed power analysis capabilities provides designers with unparalleled insight into their circuit's power characteristics.
Xpower played a crucial role in the groundbreaking collaboration with the University of Manchester on asynchronous ARM processor design. The tool's ability to accurately analyze power consumption in clockless designs was instrumental in optimizing the power characteristics of asynchronous circuits.
This work demonstrated that proper power analysis tools are essential for the design of low-power asynchronous systems, opening new possibilities for energy-efficient computing architectures.
Calculates dynamic power consumption based on actual node transitions weighted by capacitive loading.
Node list, power dissipation, distribution, and summary views provide comprehensive analysis perspectives.
X-window graphics for interactive analysis and exploration of power consumption data.
Generate publication-quality documentation for design reviews and reports.
Quickly identify power-hungry nodes and circuits for targeted optimization.
Seamless integration with Simic ensures accurate power analysis based on precise simulation results.
For more information about Xpower and its application in advanced circuit design:
For more information about Xpower, please contact: support@genashor.com