Abstract: A process (20) and design tool (62) are presented for the accurate prediction of design parameters (42) for components (38) of an integrated circuit (22) during the early stages of the design of that integrated circuit (22). These predicted design parameters (42) include pin count parameters (50), propagation delay parameters (52), layout area parameters (54), dynamic power parameters (56), static power parameters (58), and total power parameters (60). With these parameters, the designer interactively modifies the design prior to the layout and prototyping of the integrated circuit (22). The dynamic power parameters (56) and total power parameters (60) may be repetitively predicted with differing input items to establish a power usage pattern for the integrated circuit (22).

Abstract: A process (20) and design tool (62) are presented for the accurate prediction of design parameters (42) for components (38) of an integrated circuit (22) during the early stages of the design of that integrated circuit (22). These predicted design parameters (42) include pin count parameters (50), propagation delay parameters (52), layout area parameters (54), dynamic power parameters (56), static power parameters (58), and total power parameters (60). With these parameters, the designer interactively modifies the design prior to the layout and prototyping of the integrated circuit (22). The dynamic power parameters (56) and total power parameters (60) may be repetitively predicted with differing input items to establish a power usage pattern for the integrated circuit (22).

Abstract: A process (20) is presented for determining the total routine energy (78) consumed by a processor (22) during the execution of a code routine (36). This total routine energy (78) is computed by determining the operation energy (76) consumed in the execution of each operating instruction (38) within the code routine (36). The operation energy (76) for each operating instruction (38) is computed by determining the average operation power (74) consumed during the execution of the operating instruction (38). The average operation power (74) for each operating instruction (38) is determined by determining an instruction power (90) and a summed-action power (92) for that operating instruction (38). The summed-action power (92) is the sum of action powers (96) computed through the use of an action formula (100) for each internal action (88) performed by the processor (22) in response to the operating instruction (38).