Ultra Low Power Benchmarking: Is Apples-to-Apples Feasible?
I noticed some very interesting news last week, widely reported in the technical press, and you can find the source press release here. In a nutshell, the Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium (EEMBC) has formed a group to look at benchmarks for ultra low power microcontrollers. Initially chaired by Horst Diewald, chief architect of MSP430TM microcontrollers at Texas Instruments, the group's line-up is an impressive "who's who" of the microcontroller space, including Analog Devices, ARM, Atmel, Cypress, Energy Micro, Freescale, Fujitsu, Microchip, Renesas, Silicon Labs, STMicro, and TI.
As the press release explains, unlike usual processor benchmark suites which focus on performance, the ULP benchmark will focus on measuring the energy consumed by microcontrollers running various computational workloads over an extended time period. The benchmarking methodology will allow the microcontrollers to enter into their idle or sleep modes during the majority of time when they are not executing code, thereby simulating a real-world environment where products must support battery life measured in months, years, and even decades.
Processor performance benchmarks seem to be as widely criticized as EPA fuel consumption figures for cars - and the criticism is somewhat related. There is a suspicion that manufacturers can tune the performance for better test results, rather than better real-world performance. On the face of it, the task to produce meaningful ultra low power benchmarks seems even more fraught with difficulties. For a start, there is a vast range of possible energy profiles - different ways that computing is spread over time - and a plethora of low power design techniques available to optimize the system for the set of profiles that particular embedded system is likely to experience. Furthermore, you could argue that, compared with performance in a computer system, energy consumption in an ultra low power embedded system has less to do with the controller itself and more to do with other parts of the system like the memories and mixed-signal real-world interfaces.
EEMBC cites that common methods to gauge energy efficiency are lacking in growth applications such as portable medical devices, security systems, building automation, smart metering, and also applications using energy harvesting devices. At Cadence, we are seeing huge growth in these areas which, along with intelligence being introduced into all kinds of previously "dumb" appliances, is becoming known as the "Internet of Things." Despite the difficulties, with which the parties involved are all deeply familiar, I applaud this initiative. While it may be difficult to get to apples-to-apples comparisons for energy consumption in these applications, most of the time today we don't even know where the grocery store is. If the EEMBC effort at least gets us to the produce department, we're going to be better off.
Pete Hardee
New Rapid Adoption Kit (RAK) Enables Productive Mixed-Signal, Low Power Structural Verification
All engineers can enhance their mixed-signal low-power structural verification productivity by learning while doing with a PIEA RAK (Power Intent Export Assistant Rapid Adoption Kit). They can verify the mixed-signal chip by a generating macromodel for their analog block automatically, and run it through Conformal Low Power (CLP) to perform a low power structural check.
The power structure integrity of a mixed-signal, low-power block is verified via Conformal Low Power integrated into the Virtuoso Schematic Editor Power Intent Export Assistant (VSE-PIEA). Here is the flow.
Applying the flow iteratively from lower to higher levels can verify the power structure.
Cadence customers can learn more in a Rapid Adoption Kit (RAK) titled IC 6.1.5 Virtuoso Schematic Editor XL PIEA, Conformal Low Power: Mixed-Signal Low Power Structural Verification.
- To read the overview presentation, click on following link: PIEA Overview
- To download this PIEA RAK click on following link: PIEA RAK Download
The RAK includes Rapid Adoption Kit with demo design (instructions are provided on how to setup the user environment). It Introduces the Power Intent Export Assistant (PIEA) feature that has been implemented in the Virtuoso IC615 release. The power intent extracted is then verified by calling Conformal Low Power (CLP) inside the Virtuoso environment.
The RAK uses a sample test case to go through PIEA + CLP flow as follows:
- Setup for PIEA
- Perform power intent extraction
- CPF Import: It is recommended to Import macro CPF, as oppose to designing CPF for sub-blocks. If you choose to import design CPF files please make sure the design CPF file has power domain information for all the top level boundary ports
- Generate macro CPF and design CPF
- Perform low power verification by running CLP
It is also recommended to go through older RAKs as prerequisites.
- Conformal Low Power, RTL Compiler and Incisive: Low Power Verification for Beginners
- Conformal Low Power: CPF Macro Models
- Conformal Low Power and RTL Compiler: Low Power Verification for Advanced Users
To access all these RAKs, visit our RAK Home Page to access Synthesis, Test and Verification flow
Note: To access above docs, use your Cadence credentials to logon to the Cadence Online Support (COS) web site. Cadence Online Support website https://support.cadence.com/ is your 24/7 partner for getting help and resolving issues related to Cadence software. If you are signed up for e-mail notifications, you can receive new solutions, Application Notes (Technical Papers), Videos, Manuals, and more.
You can send us your feedback by adding a comment below or using the feedback box on Cadence Online Support.
Sumeet Aggarwal
Zoetis Completes Purchase of PHARMAQ, the Global Leader in Vaccines and Innovation for Health Products in Aquaculture
Zoetis to Acquire PHARMAQ, the Global Leader in Vaccines and Innovation for Health Products in Aquaculture
Connecting Modern Agriculture and Innovation
Clint Lewis, Executive Vice President and President, International Operations at Zoetis, shares his insights on the critical role that animal health plays in creating a safe and abundant food supply for a growing global population.
Connecting with Customers in the Digital Age
Dr. Alejandro Bernal of Zoetis shares his insights on the growing importance of digital services to the success of veterinarians and livestock producers.
Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life
Zoetis joined the conversation at the 2015 World Exposition (Expo Milano), contributing to advancing solutions to help the world’s livestock farmers produce more with less.
Zoetis Completes Site Expansion in Lincoln, Nebraska
Zoetis marked the completion of a 19,000-square-foot, three-story expansion at its manufacturing site in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Zoetis Completes Acquisition of Poultry Hatchery Automation Technology Leader KL Products, Inc.
Zoetis to Expand BioDevice Solutions for Poultry Industry with Acquisition of Hatchery Automation Technology Leader KL Products, Inc.
Customer Insight Inspires Innovation and Growth
Dr. Catherine Knupp, executive vice president and president of Research and Development at Zoetis, shares her insights on the value of innovation to both animal and human health.
Zoetis Crowns National Sheep Shearing Champion in Ireland
What was once the inspiration of a few enthusiastic young farmers many years ago has grown into a global competition.
Retail forecasting through a pandemic
[Jessica Curtis and Adam Hillman, both Forecasting Advisors at SAS, were co-authors of this post] The world has been dramatically impacted by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us are juggling a completely new lifestyle that was forced upon us overnight. As consumers find their way to a new normal, [...]
Retail forecasting through a pandemic was published on SAS Voices by Brittany Bullard
Know your supplier: How to confidently choose trustworthy suppliers
Learn how continuous monitoring of suppliers can flag issues and help prevent supply chain disruptions.
Know your supplier: How to confidently choose trustworthy suppliers was published on SAS Voices by Ellen Joyner-Roberson
The importance of the supply chain during the COVID-19 crisis
When we interviewed supply chain expert Chris Tyas a few weeks prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had no idea that his 40 years of experience and knowledge in the consumer product goods (CPG) industry would soon have a profound impact on the supply chain and efforts to keep supplies [...]
The importance of the supply chain during the COVID-19 crisis was published on SAS Voices by Nancy Rudolph
Increase employee safety with production planning optimization
Many of us are currently working from home and getting adjusted to this new way of working. If you’re an employee working on the shop floor of a manufacturing facility, however, working from home is not an option. Among the many hard decisions manufacturing leaders have had to make during [...]
Increase employee safety with production planning optimization was published on SAS Voices by Chris Hartmann
How analytics is helping state governments head off unemployment claims fraud
If you’re in state government, you're well aware of the unprecedented challenges that come with off-the-charts unemployment numbers due to COVID-19. Crashing websites at state unemployment insurance offices and multi-hour phone hold times for the millions of people who've lost their income due to the pandemic are only the most [...]
How analytics is helping state governments head off unemployment claims fraud was published on SAS Voices by Carl Hammersburg
27,000 coders vs. the coronavirus
At the end of March, the German government sponsored a hackathon called #WirVsVirus. The aim was to bring Germany’s collective coding expertise to bear on some of the many problems surrounding COVID-19. In total, more than 27,000 coders joined the challenge, working from home, and programming for 48 hours from [...]
27,000 coders vs. the coronavirus was published on SAS Voices by Tom Sabo
Celebrate Earth Day virtually with your teen: Deforestation meets AI
Ever thought you could help save the rainforest without ever visiting the rainforest? Probably not, but now is your chance, and you can use it as your way to give back this Earth Day. This year, Earth Day celebrations will look different for everyone as we work to find meaningful [...]
Celebrate Earth Day virtually with your teen: Deforestation meets AI was published on SAS Voices by Lucy Kosturko
An approach to enabling predictive maintenance for industrial assets
Today, many assets across multiple industries are becoming more instrumented and connected to enterprise platforms to provide additional insight into their health and operation. IDC estimates that Internet of Things (IoT) investment will reach $1.12 trillion in 2023. One important area for many industrial organizations that are focused in using [...]
An approach to enabling predictive maintenance for industrial assets was published on SAS Voices by Sanjeev Heda
Inspire wonder in kids learning from home
With stay-at-home orders in place, parents around the world are balancing quality family time with working remotely. Many children are engaged in online learning activities and other parents are trying to find meaningful experiences for their kids while they’re away from traditional learning environments. It can be an overwhelming task [...]
Inspire wonder in kids learning from home was published on SAS Voices by Lee Ellen Harmer
Introducing the first virtual SAS® Global Forum
Every year hundreds of dedicated SAS® users and event volunteers work tirelessly to create an amazing conference experience for SAS Global Forum attendees. This year, as you know, COVID-19 changed our plans. But our devoted team of volunteers, including our conference chairs and session presenters, was still determined to provide [...]
Introducing the first virtual SAS® Global Forum was published on SAS Voices by Jenn Chase
Read Excel File data in ASP.Net
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to read Excel File (xls & xlsx) data in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net. When the Excel file is uploaded, the Excel File data is available in the InputStream property of the FileUpload control. Using ClosedXml library, the Excel file data can be easily read from the InputStream property and displayed on Web Page using GridView in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net.
Implement Bootstrap DatePicker with Calendar Icon (Image)
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to show Calendar Icon (Image) next to TextBox using Bootstrap DatePicker (Calendar) plugin. The Calendar Icon (Image) will be displayed using Calendar Icon with Bootstrap FontAwesome Glyphicon Icon. When the Bootstrap FontAwesome Glyphicon Icon is clicked, the Bootstrap DatePicker Calendar is shown.
Set dd/MM/yyyy Date format in Bootstrap DatePicker
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to set dd/MM/yyyy Date format in Bootstrap DatePicker (Calendar). The Bootstrap DatePicker supports multiple Date formats and in order to set the dd/MM/yyyy Date format, the format property needs to be set.
Using Bootstrap FontAwesome Glyphicon Icon with jQuery DatePicker
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to show jQuery DatePicker Calendar when the Bootstrap FontAwesome Glyphicon Icon is clicked. Basically, this article will explain how to replace the jQuery DatePicker Calendar Icon with Bootstrap FontAwesome Glyphicon Icon so that when the Bootstrap FontAwesome Glyphicon Icon is clicked, the jQuery DatePicker Calendar is shown.
Implement Login and Registration forms in ASP.Net MVC
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to build a simple user Registration and Login forms in ASP.Net MVC Razor. The user Registration and Login forms will be built using SQL Server Database. The Database connection and operations for user Registration and Login forms will be performed using Entity Framework in ASP.Net MVC Razor.
FormsAuthentication.SignOut in ASP.Net MVC
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to use FormsAuthentication.SignOut method for implementing Logout functionality in ASP.Net MVC Razor. This User Login form will be implemented using Custom Forms Authentication and Entity Framework in ASP.Net MVC Razor.
Implement Logout functionality in ASP.Net MVC
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to implement Logout functionality in ASP.Net MVC Razor. This User Login form will be implemented using Custom Forms Authentication and Entity Framework in ASP.Net MVC Razor. The Logout functionality will be performed using the FormsAuthentication.SignOut method in ASP.Net MVC Razor.
Using LoginName control in ASP.Net
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to implement and use the LoginName control in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net. In this article, the login form has been implemented using ASP.Net Login control and Forms Authentication. The LoginName control is used to display the Username of the Logged in User in ASP.Net.
Using LoginStatus control in ASP.Net
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to implement and use the LoginStatus control in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net. In this article, the login form has been implemented using ASP.Net Login control and Forms Authentication. The LoginStatus control is used to perform Logout functionality in ASP.Net.
Implement Logout in ASP.Net
Here Mudassar Ahmed Khan has explained with an example, how to implement simple user login form with Logout functionality in ASP.Net using C# and VB.Net. The login form has been implemented using ASP.Net Login control and Forms Authentication. The Logout functionality will be performed with the help of LoginStatus control in ASP.Net.
A taste of missions
The short-term missions team at OM Brazil sees a growing number of youth mobilised to share the gospel abroad and motivate churches at home.
'Freedom to grow in ministry and leadership'
Brazil’s mission training programme provides practical experience and cross-cultural knowledge for participants heading overseas.
Friendship culture
Three Brazilian women use cultural connections to make friendships around the Muslim world.
But first, English
OM writer Nicole visits the English Short Course in Brazil to interview students and teachers about learning a second language.
Always a full house
Vitor and Ivanir Christovam step into new roles for Latin America in people care after learning how to care for workers on the field in Moldova.
Agape Project: Jesus + football
Underprivileged kids learn about Jesus through a weekly football programme.
Art 'divides waters'
Artespaço, OM Brazil’s art ministry, connects Christian artists to opportunities to serve in their communities and abroad.
Mobilising 50 million
With millions of evangelicals with easy-going personalities, Brazil could become a game changer for the gospel.
Unity at the Olympics
Churches and organisations in Brazil united during the 2016 Olympics with the sole purpose of sharing the gospel.
Arts on the road
Around 30 artists take music, dance and drama to the streets of towns across Brazil to share God’s message of salvation with those they meet.
Brazil scores again
OM SportsLink in Brazil hosts 85 children from a slum in São José dos Campos at their futsal school. They are amazed by open doors.
Challenged for missions in southern Brazil
OM challenges over 600 Brazilians to consider their role in the Great Commission during the Global Challenge International Winter Conference held in Criciúma.
OM Brazil receives new team members
For OM Brazil, the year started with 10 great reasons to be encouraged and motivated: the arrival of 10 new workers.
Serving with different abilities
Every person can use his or her abilities to serve. With that thought, a hundred people gathered in Brazil to learn more about missions.
Brave Brazilian women on a mission
Two Brazilian women represented their country climbing Everest for the Freedom Climb in April.
Celebrating the greatest gift
A group of 80 gather in São José dos Campos, Brazil, to celebrate Christmas in a fundraising dinner for the oppressed in the world.