Improving ESL power models using switching activity information from timed functional models

Abstract

Early design space exploration at Electronic System Level (ESL) can be done either using untimed functional models, timed functional models or performance models, which use random or zero data instead of the actual data. In order to be applicable to the two latter types, ESL power estimation approaches often rely only on sub-block activity information. This work shows the benefit of additionally using the switching activity information of actual data available in timed functional models for power estimation. A case study shows that a considerable gain in accuracy can be achieved while causing only a moderate simulation slowdown.