Overview

Introduction to the existing techniques for IC power modeling, optimization, and synthesis. Topics include: sources of power dissipation, design for low power, voltage scaling approaches, power analysis techniques, power optimization techniques, low power system-level designs. Focus on abstraction, modeling, and optimization at all levels of design hierarchy, including the technology, circuit, layout, logic, architectural, and algorithmic levels.

Topics Covered: Sources of Power Dissipation, Designing for Low Power. Dynamic Power Dissipation. Power Dissipation identification, Switching activity characterization. Voltage Scaling Approaches Multiple Vdd and Dual Vdd approaches. Multiple voltage assignments and estimation. Bus coding. Clock gating. Architecture-driven voltage scaling. Dynamic Power Analysis Techniques. Probabilistic characterization of dynamic power consumption. Circuit Power Estimation by symbolic computation. Design of Low-Voltage CMOS Circuit. Pre-computation. Leakage power analysis and reduction techniques. Leakage power estimation and reduction.

Course structure:

• Lectures

• Homework

• Exams (midterm, final)

• Projects

Project structure:

• EDA tools from Synopsys are used for synthesis and power analysis

Formal course description:

https://www.pdx.edu/electrical-computer-engineering/ece-4583-low-power-digital-ic-design

Required TA Skills

1. Be very competent and confident with synthesis and power analysis by using EDA design tools.

2. Be very competent and able to explain synthesis and power analysis.

3. Know and be able to explain power modeling and analysis of digital systems.

4. Be very comfortable working with and helping students. The command of the English language must be good enough so that there are not communication issues when providing students with help.

TA Responsibilities

1. Give an introduction to the project, clarifying instructions and highlighting any important information students need to know.

2. Help students during each project, answering questions and checking each group’s progress.

3. Grade their submitted project reports in a timely manner and upload student scores and feedback to D2L.

4. Be available for an office hour outside of project time; be responsive to student email questions.

5. Be in contact with the instructor and keep them informed of any problems in the project.

6. There may be other responsibilities depending on the instructor such as holding exam review sessions, proctoring or grading exams, or other assistance to the instructor if requested.