PrimeTime PX: Signoff Power Analysis

OVERVIEW

In this class you will learn to extend PrimeTime's signoff Static Timing Analysis capability to accurately analyze Peak power, Average power, and multi-voltage designs.

A job aid will guide you through the setup requirements (additional files and variables) and command flow to be able to perform an appropriate power analysis type (Average vs. Peak; Instantaneous Peak vs. Cycle-Accurate Peak).

The course will help you determine what power analysis method is possible, based on the available data and the application needs. You will also apply a methodology to confirm that the power analysis performed was actually complete and correct as well as apply debugging technique(s) if necessary.

You will generate and interpret all of the standard PrimeTime PX reports for switching activity, Power, and Multi-voltage analyses. You will also generate and analyze Peak-power waveforms files.

You will analyze Multi-voltage designs using both the UPF and Non-UPF based flows.

At the end of this workshop you should be able to:

• Successfully read all the required data (Files and Variables)
• Verify the completeness of Timing Constraints, Parasitic data, and Switching activity information
• Determine what type of power analysis (Peak vs. Average) can be performed for a given switching activity data (VCD vs. SAIF vs. vector-free)
• Generate the switching activity files using a simulator (VCS)
• Distinguish between Instantaneous vs. Cycle Accurate Peak Power (CAPP) analysis stating the application for each one
• Specify PVT corner and libraries for correct multi -voltage analysis
• Use the shell and the GUI environments of PrimeTime PX
• Dump peak power waveform files that can be analyzed using a Waveform Viewer (nWave)
• Generate and interpret Switching activity and Power analysis reports to determine the quality of analysis and choose a debugging tip
• Estimate pre-layout clock tree power including the same in power reports
• Capture multi-voltage power intent using UPF commands and perform UPF-flow-based power analysis
• Realize the power intent using non-UPF power domain vs. power rail formats

Design or Verification engineers who have a need to choose an appropriate analysis technique and perform signoff Power and Multi voltage analyses using PrimeTime PX

To benefit the most from the material presented in this workshop, you should:

Have taken PrimeTime1 workshop.

OR

Possess equivalent knowledge with PrimeTime including:

• Restoring a previously saved design
• Reading and linking a design
• Applying timing constraints
• Generating and interpreting timing reports using report_timing command

• Introduction to Power Analysis
• Peak and Average Power Analysis
• Clock Tree and Multivoltage (MV) Power Analysis

PrimeTime 2007.12-SP3
nWave 2007.12-SP3
VCS 2006.06-SP2

FEATURES (Licenses)

PrimeTime
PrimeTime-PX
VCSCompiler_Net
VCSRuntime_Net