Fundamental concepts of power and energy measurement with the computer-aided-design tools

Author(s):  
Ranjith Kumar ◽  
Zhiyu Liu ◽  
Volkan Kursun
2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (03) ◽  
pp. 399-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
RANJITH KUMAR ◽  
ZHIYU LIU ◽  
VOLKAN KURSUN

Computer-aided design (CAD) tools are frequently employed to verify the design objectives before the fabrication of an integrated circuit. An important circuit parameter that requires accurate characterization is the power consumption due to the strict constraints on the acceptable power envelope of integrated systems. Circuit simulators typically provide built-in functions to measure the power consumption. However, the accuracy of the measured power is mostly overlooked since the approximations and the methodologies used by the existing built-in power estimation tools are not well documented. The research community tends to assume that the built-in functions provide accurate power figures. This blind-trust in the CAD tools, however, may lead to gross errors in power estimation. A generic methodology to accurately measure the power and energy consumption with the circuit simulators is described in this paper. An equation to calculate the device power consumption based on the different current conduction paths in a MOSFET is presented. An expression for the total power consumption of a complex circuit is derived by explicitly considering the different circuit terminals including the inputs, the outputs, and the body-contacts. Results indicate that the power measurements with the built-in functions of widely used commercial circuit simulators can introduce significant errors in a 65 nm CMOS technology. For deeply scaled nano-CMOS circuits, a conscious power and energy measurement with the proposed explicit methodology is recommended for an accurate pre-fabrication circuit characterization.


Author(s):  
Gary A. Gabriele ◽  
Agustî Maria I. Serrano

Abstract The need for superior design tools has lead to the development of better and more complex computer aided design programs. Two of the more important new developments in application tools being investigation are Object Oriented Languages, and HyperMedia. Object Oriented Languages allow the development of CAD tools where the parts being designed and the design procedures specified are conceptualized as objects. This allows for the development of design aids that are non-procedural and more readily manipulated by the user trying to accomplish a design task. HyperMedia allows for the easy inclusion of many different types of data, such as design charts and graphs, into the tool that are normally difficult to include in design tools programmed with more conventional programming languages. This paper explores the development of a computer aided design tool for the design of a single stage gear box using the development HyperCard® environment and the HyperTalk® programming language. The resulting program provides a user friendly interface, the ability to handle several kinds of design information including graphic and textual, and a non-procedural design tool to help the user design simple, one stage gear boxes. Help facilities in the program make it suitable for undergraduate instruction in a machine elements design course.


Author(s):  
Jeff Heisserman ◽  
Raju Mattikalli

Abstract Computer aided design tools are gaining popularity in industry due to their ability to model the geometric aspects of products. This has shown substantial benefit for reducing the need and expense of building physical prototypes and allowing parts and tooling to be manufactured directly from these models. However, the current capabilities in existing CAD tools for modeling assemblies are quite limited. In this paper we introduce a representation for describing interfaces between parts within hierarchical assemblies for capturing functional and physical mating relations. This representation is designed to support automated reasoning and automated generation and modification of assemblies. It is also designed for use with very large assemblies, compactly representing the interfaces of parts and assemblies that are reused within larger assemblies. We describe how this representation is used in our prototype design system, Genesis, for designing aircraft systems.


Author(s):  
Robert E. Wendrich

Current and ongoing research and experimentations in the creation, design and build of low-cost, high-value prototypes for novel and unconventional interaction devices (IxD) in combination with cyber-physical system (CPS) (i.e. hybrid design tools (HDT), blended spaces) tangible user interfaces (TUI) and use of sensor technology lead to a variety of novel interaction modalities, experiences and possibilities. In line with this research, we propose a first prototype Human Sensor Selection Tool (HSST) as a preliminary guide and guidelines for design and engineering domains. The HSST is based on and inspired by the ‘five human senses’ [1], a plethora in human body signals (e.g. proprioceptive, vestibular) and gestures (e.g. facial expression, (e-)motions) that could be integrated, translated, transformed, adapted or mimicked to enhance and enrich the interaction modalities with for example computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided technologies (CAx), and effectively affective CPS.


Author(s):  
Steven B. Shooter ◽  
Walid T. Keirouz ◽  
Simon Szykman ◽  
Steven Fenves

Abstract The complexity of modern products and design tools has complicated the exchange of design information. It is widely recognized that the capture, storage, and retrieval of design information is one of the major challenges for the next generation of computer aided design tools. This paper presents a model for the flow of design information that supports a semantics-based approach for developing information exchange standards. The model classifies design information into various types, organizes these types into information states and levels of abstraction, and identifies the various transformations that operate between the information states. The model is then applied to an example of a transmission for a cordless drill.


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