Patent ID: 6157903
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer controlled electronic design automation system, a computer implemented method of providing power consumption characterization data for a logic cell representation of a physical circuit, said method comprising the steps of:(a) symbolically representing a plurality of transition states of said physical circuit based on a plurality of steady states of said logic cell representation;(b) determining a plurality of nodal switching dynamics patterns of said logic cell, each nodal switching dynamics pattern corresponding to one of said plurality of transition states;(c) comparing said nodal switching dynamics patterns;(d) identifying a group of power-equivalent states from said plurality of transition states;(e) selecting one transition state from said group of power-equivalent states; and(f) simulating said logic cell representation of said physical circuit to determine power characterization data of said logic cell when said selected transition state occurs; and(g) associating said power characterization data with said group of power-equivalent states.