Fast and precise power prediction for combinatorial circuits considering glitching effects.

Abstract

The power consumed by a combinational circuit is dictated by the switching activities of all signals associated with the circuit. Analytical approaches, named MCP and MCPG algorithms, are proposed for calculating signal activities for combinational circuits, and the later considers glitching effects. Both approaches are based on a Markov chain signal model, and directly account for correlations present among the signals. The accuracy of the approaches is verified by comparing signal activity values calculated using the proposed approaches with corresponding values produced through simulation studies. Another approach (called the MMCP algorithm) is also proposed to calculate the total transition activities including glitching, and can be more accurate than the proposed MCPG algorithm. It is also demonstrated that the proposed approaches are computationally efficient.