4.7. Power

Hammer supports RTL, post-synthesis, and post-P&R power analysis. It provides a simple API to add flags to the power tool call and automatically passes in collateral to the power tool from the other tool steps. This action requires a tool plugin to implement HammerPowerTool.

4.7.1. Power Setup Keys

  • Namespace: vlsi.core

    • power_tool

      • Module of the power tool, e.g. hammer.power.voltus

4.7.2. Simulation Input Keys

  • Namespace: power.inputs

    • database (str)

      • Path to the place and route database of the design to be analyzed. This path may be relative to the directory in which hammer-vlsi is called.

    • tb_name (str)

      • The name of the testbench/test driver in the simulation.

    • tb_dut (str)

      • Hierarchical path to the to top level instance of the “dut” from the testbench.

    • spefs ([str])

      • List of paths to all spef (parasitic extraction) files for the design. This list may include a spef file per MMMC corner. Paths may be relative to the directory in which hammer-vlsi is called.

    • waveforms ([str])

      • List of paths to waveforms to be used for dynamic power analysis. Paths may be relative to the directory in which hammer-vlsi is called.

    • start_times ([TimeValue])

      • List of analysis start times corresponding to each of the waveforms used for dynamic power analysis.

    • end_times ([TimeValue])

      • List of analysis end times corresponding to each of the waveforms used for dynamic power analysis.

    • saifs ([str])

      • List of paths to SAIF (activity files) for dynamic power analysis. Generally generated by a gate-level simulation. Paths may be relative to the directory in which hammer-vlsi is called.

    • extra_corners_only (bool)

      • If overridden to true, the power tool will report for only the extra MMMC corners, saving runtime. The typical use case is to only report power and rail analysis for a typical/nominal corner.

    • input_files ([str])

      • A list of the paths to the design inputs files (HDL or netlist) for power analysis.

    • sdc (str)

      • Path to SDC input file.

    • report_configs ([dict])

      • List of report configs that specify PowerReport structs.

    • level (FlowLevel)

      • Power analysis mode for different levels of the VLSI flow. The available options are rtl, syn, and par.

    • top_module (str)

      • Top RTL module for power analysis.

4.7.3. Power Inputs

Hammer’s power analysis can be run with an RTL input, or post-synthesis or post-place-and-route (and with corresponding simulations). Auto-translation of of Hammer IR to the power tool from those outputs are accomplished using the sim-rtl-to-power, syn-to-power, sim-syn-to-power, par-to-power, and sim-par-to-power actions, as demonstrated below. The required files for power analysis (database, SAIF, SPEF, etc.) are generated and piped to the power tool from the pre-requisite action’s outputs.

4.7.4. Power Outputs

The power tool outputs static and active power estimations into the OBJ_DIR/power-rundir/ directory. Exact report format may vary by tool used.

4.7.5. Power Commands

RTL Power Analysis:

  • RTL Sim

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml --obj_dir OBJ_DIR sim-rtl

  • Simulation to Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/sim-rundir/sim-rtl-output.json -o OBJ_DIR/sim-rtl-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR sim-rtl-to-power

  • Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/sim-rtl-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR power-rtl

Post-synthesis Power Analysis:

  • Syn to Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/syn-rundir/syn-output.json -o OBJ_DIR/syn-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR syn-to-power

  • Syn to Simulation

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/syn-rundir/syn-output.json -o OBJ_DIR/syn-to-sim_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR syn-to-sim

  • Post-Syn Gate Level Sim

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/syn-to-sim_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR sim-syn

  • Simulation to Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/sim-rundir/sim-syn-output.json -o OBJ_DIR/sim-syn-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR sim-syn-to-power

  • Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/syn-to-power_input.json -p OBJ_DIR/sim-syn-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR power-syn

Post-P&R Power Analysis:

  • P&R to Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/par-rundir/par-output.json -o OBJ_DIR/par-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR par-to-power

  • P&R to Simulation

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/par-rundir/par-output.json -o OBJ_DIR/par-to-sim_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR par-to-sim

  • Post-P&R Gate Level Sim

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/par-to-sim_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR sim-par

  • Simulation to Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/sim-rundir/sim-par-output.json -o OBJ_DIR/sim-par-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR sim-par-to-power

  • Power

    • hammer-vlsi -e env.yml -p config.yml -p OBJ_DIR/par-to-power_input.json -p OBJ_DIR/sim-par-to-power_input.json --obj_dir OBJ_DIR power-par