	US 7,596,769 B2
	Simulation of power domain isolation
Yonghao Chen, Groton, Mass. (US)
Assigned to Cadence Design Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/489,385.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/792060, filed on Apr. 14, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2007/0245278 A1, Oct. 18, 2007
Int. Cl. G06F 17/50 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 716—2 [716/18]

32 Claims

1. A method for simulating a circuit, wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of power domains, wherein each power domain has a set of power characteristics, and wherein each power domain is configured to be powered down/up independently of other power domains of the circuit, the method comprising:

receiving a netlist description of the circuit, wherein the netlist description is represented in a register-transfer-level (RTL) design environment;

receiving power information specifications of the circuit;

associating the plurality of power domains and the power information specifications in the RTL design environment, wherein the plurality of power domains are controlled by a set of power control signals through a power manager logic;

isolating a power domain among the plurality of power domains for simulation, wherein isolating the power domain includes isolating signals originating in the power domain when it is powered down from one or more other power domains that are powered up and receive the originating signals, so that values from the originating signals do not propagate to the one or more other power domains; and

using a computer for simulating isolation behavior of the power domain in response to variations in power applied to the power domain.