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Need for power-aware design
As the industry pushes toward smaller process geometries, the existing design infrastructure must be upgraded holistically to automate power-lowering design techniques. Most power-control methods in use today are manual and implemented ad hoc, leading to increased risk and cost. Across the design and manufacturing chain, an urgent need has emerged for an automated, power-aware design infrastructure. To facilitate and support a new era of low-power design innovation, Cadence has formed the Power Forward Initiative.
Starting with the Common Power Format
Drawing from the collective expertise of leading technology companies, the Power Forward Initiative will create a more systematic, integrated approach to low-power design, providing a platform for higher-level exploration and IP reuse. Power Forward Initiative participants are already at work on validating the Common Power Format (CPF), a new open specification language that captures all power-specific design, constraint, and functionality requirements, such as multi-supply voltage and power shutoff, in a single file.
By linking design, verification, and implementation domains, the Common Power Format enables automation of power-reduction techniques and increases predictability. No longer constrained by the risk of low yield or costly re-spins, design teams can focus their time and resources on what matters most—innovation. Achieving both functional and structural verification before incurring manufacturing costs, and with greater time-to-market opportunities, companies across the design and manufacturing chain can adopt new process geometries and start low-power design projects profitably.
Industry leaders join the Initiative
As the sponsor of the Power Forward Initiative, Cadence has taken a leadership role in comprehensively addressing the power design gap facing the electronics industry. Advisory participants will execute proof-point projects to validate the Power Forward approach, promote adoption of the Common Power Format, and launch the CPF standardization process. With the support of participant companies, the Power Forward Initiative will establish a new design infrastructure that removes power barriers, spurs innovation, and delights mutual customers.
