Calypto's first RTL power analyzer based on sequential analysis technology

SANTA CLARA, USA: Calypto Design Systems Inc. announced it has developed the industry’s most accurate register-transfer level (RTL) power analysis capability by applying its patented sequential analysis technology to enable accurate power measurement in its PowerPro Analyzer tool.

The tool performs sequential analysis of the entire design, delivering power measurement results that are significantly more accurate than the decade-old RTL power analysis tools in use today. These obsolete tools are based on combinational analysis which limits the accuracy of switching activity propagation compared to the actual sequential circuit activity. Sequential analysis ensures switching activity propagation estimated by the tool closely correlates with real life circuit activity.

By dramatically improving RTL power analysis accuracy, PowerPro Analyzer will enable designers to finally move away from time-consuming, gate-level power analysis flows.

These flows require designers to run complex gate-level simulations in order to provide the power analysis tool with accurate design behavior that emulates real-world functionality. Running those same simulations at the RTL level improves efficiency by 10x, often reducing the overall power analysis task time from days to hours.

Moreover, RTL-level simulation is part of the standard simulation regression method used by designers to verify their design. The RTL simulation results can be provided to Calypto’s PowerPro Analyzer without adding to design schedules.

“The inaccuracy of existing RTL power analysis tools has limited their adoption and forced the industry to continue using complex, schedule-extending, gate-level power analysis techniques,” said Tom Sandoval, chief executive officer of Calypto.

“Having experienced the benefits of sequential analysis technology for RTL power optimization, our customers have asked us to solve the shortcomings of existing RTL power analysis tools, and we are answering this call by adding power analysis capabilities to PowerPro Analyzer.”