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TSMC: Advanced Design for Low Power at 65nm and Below

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TSMC: Advanced Design for Low Power at 65nm and Below

By L.C. Lu, Deputy Director of the Design Methodology Program at TSMC, and David Lan, Senior Manager in design methodology at TSMC North America.Several drivers create the need for low power today. These include advanced processes at 65nm and below, which, although they enable SoC designs with much more complexity, consume more power. Mobile devices also require low-power chips to extend the battery life in order to compete in the market place and also to reduce overall system cost, which includes packaging costs To achieve low-power, design for power has to be a goal from the start. Today, low-power design demands the best efforts of the design and manufacturing ecosystem, including:

Process optimization•Low-power design techniques•CPFstandardsupportthroughouttoolsflow•Libraries and IP•Referencedesignflow(RDF)asexemplifiedintheTSMC9.0RDF•

To meet customers’ demands in low power, TSMC optimizes its process technology for low-power designs. Nevertheless, at today’s extremely small feature sizes, dynamic and leakage power issues remain. This means techniques for mitigating power consumption must come from the design side. For foundry customers’ power-sensitive 65nm or 45nm designs, it is critical to fully leverageTSMCprocesseswith compatible,power-savingEDA toolflows.TSMCalready brings to bear low-power methodologies and IP aimed at reducing dynamic, active,andstandbypowerleakage.Alloftheselow-powermethodologiesrequirefullyautomatedEDAsupport,asshownbelow.

Figure 142. TSMC integrated low-power solution

Adaptive VoltageScaling (AVS)

Dynamic VoltageFreq. Scaling (DVFS)

Voltage Island

Clock Gating

Source + Back Bias

Longer Channelin Non-Critical Paths

Voltage Scaling

Back Bias

Muti-Vt Device

Active Leakage

Low-Power Methodologies

Low-Power Automation – Power Format

Low-Power Process

Low-PowerLib

Low-PowerSRAM

Coarse-Grain PowerGating with Lower Vdd

Coarse-GrainData Retention

Coarse-GrainPower Gating

Power Shutdown

Fine-GrainPower Gating

Standby LeakageDynamic Power

Dual Power SRAM

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TSMC: Advanced Design for Low-Power at 65nm and Below

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TSMC 65nm Low-Power ProcessToday, the 65nm TSMC process includes:

Multi-• Vt cellsNew gate oxide material•Low K interconnect, including ELK, ULK•Strained engineering•

However, the low-power challenge requires more than just process support.

Low-Power Design TechniquesTSMC customers utilize the full gamut of power reduction techniques, and TSMC has expanded support for these approaches, culminating in the new Reference DesignFlow9.0(RDF9.0):

For dynamic power: clock gating, multiple-voltage domains, dynamic voltage •andfrequencyscaling,hierarchicalvoltagewithdualpowerSRAM,andadaptivevoltage scalingFor active leakage power: multi-• Vt, back-biasing, voltage scaling, and source-and back-biasingForstandbyleakagepower:fine-andcoarse-grainpowergating,powershut-off,•and data retention

CPF: The Low-Power StandardTSMCandCadencehavecollaboratedonlow-powersinceearly2004.In2006,TSMCwas a founding member of the Si2 Low Power Coalition and the Power Forward Initiative, recognizing that another key requirement is that design tools in the methodology communicate low-power design intent in a single, standard format. TheSi2CommonPowerFormat(CPF),thefirstlow-powerEDAformatembracedby TSMC for 65nm low-power design, enables this capability.

The Need for CPFWhat are the challenges of design-based solutions? Who are the stakeholders? Management,thedesignteam,theverificationteam,andtheimplementationteamalldependonlow-powerdesignefficienciesforproductivityandsuccess.For management:

Increases schedule risk•Increases risk of failure•Increases silicon cost•

For the design team:Greatlyincreasescomplexityofquality-of-silicon(QoS)tradeoffstoexplore•Isolation and retention add complexity to design•Introduces architecture modeling challenges•


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Fortheverificationteam:More functionality to verify•Howisthefunctionalityspecified?•How will changes be communicated?•Now need to verify power structure implementation•

For the implementation team:Addscomplexitytofloorplanning,powerplanning,placement,clocktreesynthesis,•and routingIncreasesdifficultyoftimingclosure•Increasesdesign-for-testdifficulty•

Figure 143. Design-based solutions affect everyone

Management

DesignTeam

VerificationTeam

ImplementationTeam

Figure 144. CPF enables low-power automation

Common Power Format (CPF) is an ASCII File that captures:

Power design intentPower domain

Power modesDefinitionsTransition expressionsModal analysis

Level shifter cells

Isolation cells

State-retention cells

Switch cells

Always-on cells

Logical: hierarchical modulesas domain members

Physical: power/ground netsand connectivity

Analysis view: timing librarysets for power domains

Level shifter logicIsolation logicState-retention logicSwitch logic & Control signals

Power logic

Technology information

CPF CapabilitiesTheCommonPowerFormat (CPF) is a single specificationofpower intentusedthroughoutdesign,verification,andimplementation.


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TSMC has taken a leadership role in ensuring that the rich variety of power reduction techniques automated by CPF result in verifiable improvements to 65nm designs. The following section describes an early program to validate the Common Power Format for use with TSMC technology.

The TSMC Proof-Point ProjectThe proof-point project objectives included: [33]

Enhancing communications between logic design and physical design teams •AchievingsynergybetweenTSMClow-powerIPandEDAtoolsforimplementing•power gating and power shut-off ValidatingadvanceddesigntechniquesinsiliconusingaCPF-basedEDAtoolflow•Verifying functionality and timing results for advanced techniques•Improvingverificationtechnologies•Looking for opportunities for further automation •

Inanydesignproject, if thedesign intent isclearlyspecified, itunifies thedesignteam.CPFprovidesasinglefilewithstandarddefinitionsofpowerintent,allowingdesignersanddesigntoolstoutilizeacommondatasetthroughoutthedesignflow.To help drive CPF-awareness into a low-power methodology, TSMC undertook a verificationprojectanddefinedthetechniqueswhichwouldbeused,asshowninFigure 145.

Figure 145. TSMC’s low-power test run


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The baseline for the project was a comparison to previous design techniques, without CPFsupport.Simpler,earlier,power-reductiondesigntechniques(areaoptimizationandclockgating)had little functionalityandtiming impact,butalsocontributedlittle reduction in power. More advanced techniques now being applied, such as powergating,wereexpectedtoimpactfunctionalandtimingverification,aswellas dramatically reducing power, so this project was developed to measure power reduction, gauge the complexity impact of advanced power gating, and work to minimize that impact.

TSMC Proof-Point DesignTSMCusedalargesystem-on-chipdesignblock,withmorethan100,000instances, 50(RAM)blocks,andmorethan100,000nets.[33]In the design flow, TSMC used CPF-enabled EDA tools and focused on powergatingasthekeypowerreductiondesigntechniquetobestevaluatethefullbenefitof the technique. Power gating involves switching off the power to blocks of the circuit when those portions are idle, and signal isolation, so that powered-down blocks do not pose unintended loads on other active portions. When used together, power switching and signal isolation can impact SoC timing, and even functionality if blocks are switched on or off improperly. The proof-point project comprised:

500Kgateblock•52RAMblocks•Powergatingimplementationandverification•Autoswitchandisolationcellinsertion•Automaticpowergridconnection•Simulationverificationforpowergating•Formalverification•

IP Usage in the TSMC Proof-Point ProjectThe project used a TSMC 65LP library, including special low-power IP, which is a requirement for power-gated low-power design. This IP included specialized power-gating cells to allow both column-style power gating and ring-type power gating. The specialized power switches automatically eliminate power-up glitches and electromigration, through dual control and a dual-switch structure. AnimportantpartoftheprojectwastovalidatethattheCPF-enabledEDAflowtookproper advantage of these IP elements. With Cadence CPF-enabled technologies, TSMC captured the proof-point design and proceeded through the design and implementationflowshowninFigure 146.


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WiththispowerfulCPF-basedflow,thedesignwasautomaticallyaugmentedwithpower switches and isolation cells to accomplish power gating. RTL synthesis used power-gatingauto-switchinginsertedasacheckerboardorsurroundingfloorplan(Figure 147).RTLsimulationverifiedpowergatingandretentionflip-flopbehavior.Then, gate-level simulation of power shutdown was done under power-mode transition and unknown propagation. Unknown signal generation and propagation was done automatically in the CPF environment without Verilog model changes in the library.

Figure 146. Flow of automation from RTL to GDS [33]


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Cadence Encounter Conformal Equivalence Checker and Conformal Low Power were used to formally verify the auto-control signal setting for the switches and isolation cells, as well as the actual power/ground connection to the network. Before CPF, designers would have needed to manually check the connections and generate largeamountsofverificationtestbenchestocheckforfunctionalcorrectness.Theseareallerror-proneactivities.Theuseofautomatedformalverificationfromdesignintent,throughRTLandfinalimplementation,isoneofthevisiblebenefitsofCPFasusedthroughoutthisflow.

Figure 147. Power-gating inserted surrounding the floorplan [Ref. 33]


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Results of the Proof-Point ProjectWhen comparing a baseline project, utilizing low-power design techniques—which didnotuseCPF—with aCPF-basedEDA toolflow, clear benefitswere realized.Notablebenefitsincluded:

The design was completed faster•The design required fewer iterations•Designintentwasconsistentthroughouttheflow,sotheintegrityofthepower•gating structure was preserved throughout the designAutomatedpowergatingachieved40xleakagepowerreduction•

CPF-based automation was successful, created no functional nor timing failures, andleadtonoareainefficiencies.The pilot project also revealed a variety of additional opportunities to enhance low-power design techniques through the use of a CPF-based format. This work is already under way in ongoing projects between TSMC and Cadence. Enjoyingsuccessinthisfirstproof-pointproject,thetwocompaniessettoworktorefineandintegrateIPdesignusingtheCommonPowerFormat.Inaddition,TSMCwasabletovalidateCPFsupportforTSMCReferenceFlow9.0.

CPF-Based TSMC Reference Flow 9.0TheTSMCReferenceFlow9.0wasannouncedinJune2007.ThisflowsupportsCPFtools for 65nm and 45nm process technologies.

Figure 148. TSMC Reference Flow 9.0: complete CPF integration [Ref. 34]


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This9.0flowsolves criticalproblems since it isbasedonCPF.Thedetailsof theCadencetechnologiesinvolvedinthisflowareasfollows:

Sample Design Information from CPFThismulti-supplyvoltage(MSV)design(seeFigure 150)containsaDMAblockandaDMAbridge,withtwoMACsthatarebasedonidenticalRTLbuthavedifferentpower behavior.Threepowerdomainsandfourpowermodesarespecified,asshowninthefigurebelow. The power modes, the state behavior, the isolation cells, and state retention allconspiretoposeasignificantchallenge!

Figure 149. CPF flow: Supported tool functionality

Pervasive CPFCPF Quality Check

Encounter Conformal Low Power

Functional SimulationIncisive Design Team Simulator Incisive Design Team Manager

Logic Synthesis and DFTEncounter RTL Compiler

LEC + Power ChecksEncounter Conformal Low Power

Logic SimulationIncisive Design Team Simulator

Physical ImplementationSoC Encounter System

LEC + Power ChecksEncounter Conformal Low Power

ATPGEncounter Test

Timing & SI SignoffEncounter Timing System

IR Drop and Power SignoffVoltageStorm Dynamic Gate Option

Power domain/mode aware IR drop analysis (static and dynamic). Power-up analysis of power switches and impact on neighbors.

Verification of virtual LP logic: Linting, consistency, functional, structural checks

Functional validation of virtual LP behavior and PSO: State loss, isolation, SRPGAuto generation of PSO mode coverage.

Power domain, multi mode, DVFS aware synthesis and power analysis. Autoinsertion, mapping and optimization of iso, LS, SRPG. Power domain aware testsynthesis, insertion of iso/LS on DFT nets.

Power domain/mode aware delay calculation, including DVFS, MMMC support.

Automatic mapping of power-modes (from CPF) into test-modesFault model/coverage of low power structures, SRPG (excluding power switches).

Gate2Gate logic equivalence checks. Structural, property, and functional checksFor LP logic.

Power domain/mode aware P&R, w/o dont_touchPower switch insertion and optimization. LS and clamp optimization. DVFS andMMMC support.

Functional validation of LP logic behavior and PSO: state loss, isolation, SRPG

RTL2Gate logic equivalence checks (incl. LP cells).Structural, property, and functional checks for LP logic.


Sec7:11

Functional and Logic SimulationAd-hocpowermanagementverificationisveryrisky,impactingproductivitybecausemanual intervention is required to model power management, and there are many filesandchangestomaintain.Qualityisatrisk,becausethereisnoguaranteethatwhatisverifiediswhatisactuallyimplemented.Schedulepredictabilityalsosuffers,because power-related errors may be discovered late.

Figure 150. MSV design example

VDDM (0.84V) VDD (1V)

Phys II

Retention registers

Enabled level shifters (level shifter w/isolation)

Requires functional verification!

Switch

Switch

MAC I(0.84V)

MAC II(0.84V)

DMAAHMB

VDDlu

VDDau

DM

A B

ridge

RTL Design

Define power domains

Define state retention

Define power controlsDefine isolation logicPower modes:

DMA and DMA BridgeTwo MACs w/ identical RTL

PDCorePDMac1

MAC1 optimized

Technology dataLibrary cellsOperating conditions

MAC2 stores all regs

Mode # Mac 1 Mac 2

OFF

OFFOFF

OFF

ON

ONON4

3

2

1

ON

PDMac2

PCM

Phys I

Figure 151. Ad-hoc verification steps

Modify RTL to instantiatelow-power models

Create custom PLI to modellow-power operation

Create custom libraries to supportlow-power models

Modify testbench to simulatepower shut-off


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ButwiththeCPF-enabledflow,verificationbenefitsarerealized,includingimprovedproductivity,withnoimpacttoexistingverificationmethodology,nogoldendesignfilechanges,nocustomlibrarydevelopment,andnoPLIdevelopment.Italsoresultsin enhanced quality, because what designers verify is what they actually design. Better schedule predictability is achieved, because power issues are detected early.Thebottomlineis:reducedrisk!

RealcustomerdesignissuesuncoveredwiththeCPF-enabledverificationflowhaveincluded:

Cache memory in power down domain, where the processor running from cache •would lose program and hang. Simulations were used to determine cache and power sequencingPower-down caused a hang on the system bus due to isolation values. One •customer commented,“We were worried something like that would happen…”Therestorefrompower-downwasnotclean;non-stateretentionflopsneededa•reset or initialization signalPower-up and isolation disable was happening at the same time, there was not •enough time for power to stabilize before enabling outputsIncorrect design of the power control module created oscillations on control •signals in one mode

CPFautomationidentifiedtheseissuesearlytoensuredesignintegrity.

Figure 152. Incisive power management verification approach

The ONLY power-awareverification flow

RTL

Design Verification

CPF

FormalAnalysis

Simulation

Accelerationand Emulation

Lint and StructuralAnalysisV

erification Coverage

Testbench A

utomation


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Logic Synthesis and DFTThe contributions of CPF in the logic synthesis and DFP stages of design included:

Multi-objective synthesis structures logic for timing, power, and area •simultaneously. This is the only way to close on multiple orthogonal objectives. Also, better logic structure delivers superior quality of silicon through physicalimplementationTop-down multi-power domain synthesis optimizes across power domains, •including isolation and level shifter latency. Supports fast what-if exploration of MSV and PSO scenarios, power mode-aware power exploration, and is key to achieving optimal power/timing balance

Logic Equivalence Checking (LEC) and Power ChecksCPF quality checking helps eliminate errors in the CPF. Three critical areas for checking include:

Logic equivalence checking (LEC) ensures that low-power optimizations do not•introduce logical errors; enables true EC leveraging CPF; checks state retention mapping from RTL to gate; checks corresponding presence of isolation and level shifter during implementation; and checks power domain boundariesFunctional and structural checks ensure proper insertion of low-power cells and •proper connectivity of low-power cells, and formally validate isolation and state retention functions. This runs at RTL design, both logical and physical netlist leveraging CPF as the golden specificationTransistor-level checks check domain boundaries for un-buffered inputs (sneak paths)•

Figure 153. Encounter RTL Compiler: Multi-objective, multi-voltage RTL synthesis

Clock Period

Leakage Power

Top

Lib10.8V

Lib21.0V Lib3

1.2VRTL

ChipCPF

ChipSDC

A

BC

PSO

Die Size

Encounter RTLCompiler = 5% faster

RTL Compiler = 12% smaller

RTL Compiler = 45% cooler

Too slow? Too hot?

Isolation


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Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG)Automatictestpatterngeneration(ATPG)ischallengingfordesignswithadvancedpowermanagementtechniques.WiththeTSMCRDF9.0:

Domain-awarescantestingrecognizespowerdomainsandenablesafullscan•test even when a module is shut downATPGtestcoverageforlow-powerstructures•Power-awareATPGminimizespowerduringtestmodebyintelligentfilloftest•patterns

Figure 154. Encounter Conformal Low Power: Independent low-power implementation verification

Figure 155. Encounter Test: Unique power-aware test solution

Excessive powerconsumption during

scan testing

Low-power scanvectors manage power

during scan test

ModeClock(MHz)

% Switching Switch power(mW)

2.9610~20

46

6

500Normal operation

Scan test

Low-powerscan test

50

50

11.86

1.66

Nano CPU, 35K instances, 9K registers


Sec7:15

Physical ImplementationPhysical implementation with CPF supports multi-supply voltage designs, with automated insertion of low-power elements and concurrent optimization of multiple power domains.

Timing and SI SignoffIn the TSMC RDF 9.0, timing and signal integrity (SI) signoff with CPF featurecomplete signoff static timing analysis, built from production-proven products such as Cadence CTE, CeltIC®Signal IntegrityAnalysis,andSignalStorm® Nanometer DelayCalculator (NDC),plus siliconvalidationandsupport from foundryandIP/library vendors.Advanced timing debug speeds analysis, increasing productivity, and supportsstandardinterfaces.Theflowcanbetcl-orGUI-driven,andsupportstimingdebug,interactivequeries,tclAPI,andhistograms.

Figure 156. SoC Encounter RTL-to-GDSII System: Automation for multiple power domains

Single pass top-down MSV, multi-mode synthesis

Clock tree synthesis

Physical synthesis

1.0V1.2V 0.9V

module (top):

module (A):

Level shiftersincluded

1.2V

1.2V

1.2V

0.9V

0.9V

0.9V

ONEblock

ONE tree

MSVphysical synthesis

Concurrentoptimization of 0.9Vand 1.2V domains

Leve

l shi

fters

pla

ced

conc

urre

ntly

durin

g ph

ysic

al s

ynth

esis

module (B):


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IR Drop and Power SignoffIntheTSMCCadenceRDF9.0flow,IRdropandpowersignoffcapabilitiesincludestaticanddynamicpowerrailverification,basedonpatentedpowerconsumptionalgorithms,andpowerrailverificationforIRdropandelectromigration.CadenceVoltageStorm® Power Verification supports both vectorless and vector-drivenanalysis modes. It provides comprehensive low-power support for MSMV, power switches, and power-up. IR drop and power signoff is integrated with Cadence Encounter platform techonologies for automatic de-coupling capacitance optimization;withCeltICNDCtodeterminetheimpactofIRdropontimingandnoise;andwithCadenceAllegro®PackageDesignertoeasilydeterminetheimpactof package loading on IR drop.

Figure 157. Encounter Timing System

.lib SDC Netlist CPF

SPEF/SDF/WLM

DRVsPathsSDF

Optional

cdB

ECSM DEFEncounter TimingSystem


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Figure 158. VoltageStorm dynamic power analysis

DEFGDSII

OA

Encounterplatform

RC extraction engine

PowerMeterpower calculation

Static and dynamicrail analysis

AllegroPackageDesigner

EncounterTimingSystem

Power gridview library

VoltageStorm DG

Figure 159. SoC Encounter System: VoltageStorm flow

SoC Encounter SystemPlaced and Routed DesignDatabase

Static and DynamicIR-Drop Analysis

Power-SwitchECO

DecapECO

Timing and CriticalPath Analysis

(EncounterTiming System)

Edit Power-PadLocation

PowerLibraries

CPF ModeSpecification

Plots

Waveforms and IR Drop Files

Report Power(Common Power Engine)


Sec7:18

The following diagram describes how power-up modes and sequencing are analysed, starting with creation of the circuit netlist, simulation, creation of dynamic power grid views, and analysis and viewing capabilities.

The following diagram shows the power switch insertion and optimization flow,with power, current, and IR drop reporting.

Figure 161. Power–up flow

PowerMeter

Logic CircuitNetlist

1. Create circuit netlist 2. Simulate with Virtuoso UltraSim Full-Chip Simulator

CircuitNetlist

UltraSim

VDD

3. Create dynamic power grid views 4. Analyze in VoltageStorm DG

CircuitNetlist

UltraSim VoltageStorm DGVDD

Load full-chip power RC networkwith PGVs and analyze

Capture dynamiccurrent in PGV

Control

Inputsclamped

Outputscorrectlyloaded

VoltageStorm(Power Meter)

UltraSim

Top LevelCircuit File

RC Grid

Netlist

SpiceWaveformsand Results

Power-TransistorDynamic

Currents (ptl)

TemplateStimulus

VoltageSources

Sleep ctrlRC Network

SignalLoading

Figure 160. Power switch optimization flow

ram2ram1

PD1PD1PLL

VoltageStorm

SoC EncounterSystem

DEFSOC

TWF, VCD

Power SwitchCurrent and

IR-DropReport

Power GridView Library

addPowerSwitch

runVSDG

optPowerSwitchPower Calculation

Rail Analysis

RC Extraction Engine


Sec7:19

The de-coupling capacitor, or decap, insertion and optimization can ensure power grid integrity while preventing excess power dissipation. Intelligent insertion of decaps is increasingly critical for small geometry processes due to leakage concerns. ThefollowingflowshowstheprocessofdecapinsertionintheCadenceTSMCReferenceDesignFlow9.0.

Figure 162. Decap optimization flow

Rule-Based De-Cap and Filter Cells Insertion

Dynamic IR Drop Analysis

Placement-Aware De-Cap Analysis

ECO File for SoC Encounter

ECO

Voltage Storm

DEF

Run ECO in SoC Encounter System

* Decaps are Placed where Most Effective

Area Based Decap Opt FlowDecap Added Anywhere

in the Region

Featibility Serve Decap Opt Flow

Filter Cell Swapped with Decap

Cell with no IR Drop

Congested Design with High IR DropComponents are Missed to Make

Roam for Filters (Decaps)

Cell with High IR Drop Decap Cell


Sec7:20

TSMC Low-Power Library: CPF CompliantTSMC has developed low-power libraries that support all of the low-power managementtechniquesenabledbytheCPFflow.Theseinclude:

DualpowerSRAM(45nm)•Voltage island support elements•

Level shifters �Enabled level shifters for shutdown domain �Differentvoltagelibrary �Back bias library �

Power-gating power switches•Footer, header support �Isolationcells(ISO-0,ISO-1,ISO-retention) �Always-onswitchesforfeed-through �Retentionflip-flops �

So,insummary,aswehaveseen,theTSMCRDF9.0flowsupportsallthekeypowermanagement techniques in an automated fashion through CPF.

Figure 163. CPF-based tool flow for TSMC 9.0

RTLCPF CPF quality check

RTL simulation

Logic simulation

Physical implementation

LEC and power checks

ATPG

Timing and SI signoff

IR drop and power signoff

Logic synthesis and DFTMSMV, SRPG, PSO,MMMC, DVFS, always-

on buffers

MSMV, MMMC, DVFS,power switch, always-on

buffers

Isolation,SRPG,

state loss

MSMV,MM,

DVFS,SRPG

Isolation,SRPG,

state loss

Auto mapof powermodes to

test modes

LEC and power checks

Gate netlist

Physicalnetlist


Sec7:21

In addition, TSMC and Cadence have embarked upon numerous CPF-based low-power follow-on projects. These projects focus on complex low-power design techniques such as hierarchical voltage islands, adaptive-voltage scaling, and power gating with data retention, as well as support for TSMC’s new 45nm processes.

SummarySince2004,TSMCandCadencehaveenjoyedahistoryoflow-powercollaboration,andhavemadesignificanteffortsindevelopingtheCPFstandard.CommonPowerFormatflowautomationdeliversupto2xproductivityimprovementoverpreviousmethods.CPFfacilitatespowerreductionbenefitsfromawidevarietyof power management techniques:

For dynamic power: clock gating, multiple-voltage domains, dynamic voltage •andfrequencyscaling,hierarchicalvoltagewithdualpowerSRAM,andadaptivevoltage scalingFor active leakage power: multi-• Vt, back-biasing, voltage scaling, and source- and back-biasingForstandbyleakagepower:fine-andcoarse-grainpowergating,powershut-•off, and data retention

TSMC and Cadence continue to work together to deliver advanced low-power design capabilities to joint customers in two key ways:

Customers are supported through the TSMC Reference Flow •TSMC libraries enable advanced low-power design techniques used in the •CPF-basedflow

Together,TSMCandCadenceofferthefirstcompletelow-powersolution:technology,combined with methodology, enabled by CPF.


Sec7:22

Dr. L.C. Lu is Deputy Director of the Design Methodology Program at TSMC. David Lan, Senior Manager in design methodology at TSMC North America, has been responsible for providing solutions in chip implementation, verification and DFM to TSMC customers. Prior to his current position, he held management positions in various ASIC companies and fabless design companies in CAD, chip integration and verification. He received his MS in computer engineering in 1987 from UC Santa Barbara.

Figure 164. The first complete low-power solution

Holistic Solution!

Design Verification

Implementation

CadenceLow-Power

SolutionCPF Enabled

Achieve optimaltiming/area/power balanceReduced failure riskSchedule predictability

Verify what is designedQuick what-if exploration of QoS tradeoffs

Track functional coverage of power modes

Verify what is implemented

Verify retention/isolation cell functionality

Implementation

Functional

Power Planning and Metrics

¸

¸

¸¸

¸

¸¸

Synthesize w/ power structures -better netlist for implementation

Native power domain infrastructure eases implementation complexityAutomatic partitioning and scheduling of power domains for test

¸

¸

¸

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Cadence Logic Design Team Solution

Cadence DigitalImplementation

Solution

Technology + CPF + Methodology

tsmc: advanced design for low power at 65nm and below · tsmc: advanced design for low-power at...

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