JPH09171527A - Memory generation supporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate suitable memory constitution from memory specifications by calculating a total area and total power consumption from data corresponding to a memory candidate obtained from a compiller cell library, checking access time and checking also the allowable power consumption of a package. SOLUTION: A memory specification input means 120 inputs a memory specification to a retrieving part 111, which retrieves a candidate for memory constitution and obtains a table of data such as an area, access time and power consumption corresponding to the candidate of memory constitution. Then a calculation part 112 calculates a total area and total power consumption corresponding to each memory constitution candidate. The total power consumption is compared with maximum allowable power consumption stored in a package library 140 to check whether the power consumption value is included within the allowable value or not and a speed checking part 114 checks whether access time corresponding to each memory constitution candidate is included within the specification or not.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory generation support device for determining an appropriate memory configuration when a memory is generated using a memory compiler in designing an LSI such as an ASIC.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, semiconductor devices have been required to have higher integration and higher functionality, as represented by ASICs, because of the trend toward higher performance of electronic equipment and light, thin, short, and small sizes. Therefore, also in the design of LSIs, there is a demand for a design for realizing a high function by reducing the chip size as much as possible. The memory section is generally designed using a system called a memory compiler. In this memory compiler, a simulation model, a layout pattern, etc. are generated when the number of words and the number of bits are input. When designing with this memory compiler, the LSI designer actually designed the memory configuration that seems to be optimal from the memory specifications. However, the LSI designer needs to consider the area, power consumption, access time, and restrictions imposed by the package in order to determine the optimal memory configuration.
It was complicated and difficult for the SI designer.

[0003]

As described above, the ASI
In designing C or the like, it is complicated and difficult for an LSI designer to determine an optimal memory configuration from a memory specification when a memory is generated by using a memory compiler, and it is required to deal with it. The present invention addresses the above problem and provides a memory generation support device that enables an LSI designer to easily generate an appropriate memory configuration from a memory specification when generating a memory using a memory compiler. It is what Further, it is designed so that the optimum memory configuration can be known among the appropriate memory configurations.

[0004]

A memory generation support device of the present invention is a device for supporting determination of an appropriate memory configuration when a memory is generated by using a memory compiler in designing an LSI, and at least , The input means to input the memory specifications, the compiler cell library that describes the data such as the area, access time and power consumption corresponding to each word data configuration of the memory compiler, the type of each package and its maximum allowable power consumption Corresponding to each selected memory configuration by selecting the appropriate memory configuration using the data from the compiler cell library and the data from the package library according to the memory specifications and the package library that describes the contrasted data Processing to obtain total area, total power consumption, access time The processing means to be performed and the list of memory configuration candidates obtained by the processing means are associated with the total area, the total power consumption, and the access time, and whether or not the maximum allowable power consumption of the package is satisfied is shown. A list output means for outputting a list, wherein the processing means searches a memory configuration candidate from the data of the compiler cell library, and an area corresponding to the memory candidate,
A search unit that obtains a list of data such as access time and power consumption, a calculation unit that calculates the total area and power consumption from the obtained data corresponding to memory candidates from the compiler cell library, and checks the access time It is characterized by including a speed check unit and a package maximum power consumption check unit for checking the allowable power consumption of the package. Further, the processing means in the above includes an arithmetic unit for performing an arithmetic operation for obtaining the rank of the total area and the rank of the total power consumption of the candidates of each memory configuration from the values of the total area and the total power consumption corresponding to the candidates of each memory configuration. It is characterized in that the total area rank and the total power consumption rank are output as a list so that the optimum memory configuration can be known from among the memory configuration candidates. In the compiler cell library, data such as area, access time, and power consumption are described as the specifications of one memory according to the word data structure, and there are cases where multiple memories are used in the package. The area and power consumption corresponding to the number actually used in the package are referred to as the total area and total power consumption here.

[0005]

With the memory generation support device of the present invention configured as described above, when a memory is generated using the memory compiler, the LSI designer can easily generate an appropriate memory configuration from the memory specifications. It is possible to provide a memory generation support device that can do this. Specifically, at least the input means for inputting the memory specifications and the area corresponding to each word data configuration of the memory compiler,
From the compiler cell library that describes data such as access time and power consumption, the package library that describes data that compares the type of each package and its maximum allowable power consumption, and the compiler cell library according to the memory specifications. Processing means for selecting an appropriate memory configuration using the data of the above and the data from the package library and obtaining the total area, total power consumption, and access time corresponding to each selected memory configuration, and the processing means. And a list output means for outputting a list of the memory configuration candidates obtained by the means in correspondence with the total area, the total power consumption, and the access time, and outputting the list depending on whether or not the maximum allowable power consumption of the package is satisfied. By including the memory specifications, the list of memory configuration candidates can be It is assumed that it is possible to bet output. As a result, the LSI designer need only select the desired memory configuration from the list. The processing means is provided with a calculation unit that calculates the total area rank and the total power consumption rank of each memory configuration candidate from the values of the total area and the total power consumption corresponding to each memory configuration candidate. Then, the total area rank and the total power consumption rank obtained by this are output as a list so that the optimum memory configuration can be known from among the memory configuration candidates.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a memory generation support device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the memory generation support device of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation flow of the memory device of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and 2, 100 is a memory generation support device, 110 is a processing unit, 111 is a search unit, 112 is a calculation unit, 113 is a package maximum power consumption check unit, 114 is a speed check unit, 116 is a calculation unit, 120 Is a memory specification input means, 130 is a compiler cell library, 140 is a package library, and 150 is a list output means. As shown in FIG. 1, the memory generation support device of this embodiment includes a processing unit 110, a memory specification input unit 120 for inputting memory specifications to the processing unit 110, and a processing unit 110.
In order to check the allowable power consumption of each package, the package cell library 140 that stores the maximum allowable power consumption of each package and each of the memory compilers that are data necessary for processing by the processing unit 110. Compiler cell library 130 that accumulates area, power consumption, access time, etc. according to word data configuration
And a list output means 150 for outputting a list of memory configuration candidates.

Then, the processing means 110 has an area corresponding to the memory candidate based on the input memory specification,
A search unit 111 for obtaining a list of data such as access time and power consumption, and the obtained compiler cell library 13
A calculation unit 112 that calculates the total area and total power consumption from data corresponding to memory candidates from 0, a speed check unit 114 that checks the access time, and a package maximum power consumption check unit that checks the allowable power consumption of the package. And 113. The speed check unit 114 determines whether or not the obtained access time of each memory configuration candidate is within specifications, and the package maximum power consumption check unit 113 determines the maximum allowable package from the package library 140. Based on the power consumption data, it is determined whether or not the candidate of each memory configuration is less than or equal to the maximum allowable power consumption. In the memory generation support device 100 of this embodiment, the processing unit 110 further determines the total area rank and the total consumption of each memory configuration candidate from the values of the total area and the total power consumption corresponding to each memory configuration candidate. A calculation unit 116 is also provided that also calculates the power ranking.

The list output means 150 is a processing means 110.
Although the result obtained by the above is output as a list, the total area (μm ² ) and the total power consumption (m) corresponding to each memory candidate and each memory configuration candidate are shown in FIG.
w), an access time (nm), an area rank, a power consumption rank, and an access time availability list are output.

The compiler cell library 130 accumulates area, power consumption, access time, etc. according to each word / data configuration of the memory compiler. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, various data are stored. A set of width and address width and corresponding memory area width (μm), height (μm), area (μm ² ), access time (ns), dynamic power consumption (mW / MHz), Data such as static power consumption (mW) is accumulated.

The package library 140 is for accumulating the maximum allowable power consumption of each package for checking the allowable power consumption of the package in the processing means 110, and corresponds to each package as shown in FIG. The maximum allowable power consumption (mW) to be stored is stored as data. In the package type column, QFP is Qu
ad Flat Package, PLCC is Plas
tic Leaded Chip Carrier, P
GA is an abbreviation for Pin Grid Array, and the numerical value means the number of pins.

Next, the operation of the memory generation support device 100 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. First, when the memory specifications (FIG. 2A) are determined and input to the processing unit 110, the search unit 111 of the processing unit 110.
At, a memory configuration candidate is searched, and a list of data such as area, access time, and power consumption corresponding to each obtained memory configuration candidate is obtained. (FIG. 2B) Next, the calculation unit 112 calculates and obtains the total area and total power consumption corresponding to each memory configuration candidate based on the data of the compiler cell library 130. (Figure 2
(C)) Next, the package check means 11 of the processing means 110
3, the total power consumption obtained by the calculation unit 112,
The package maximum power consumption check unit 113 compares whether or not the power consumption value obtained by the calculation unit 112 is within the allowable range by comparing the maximum allowable power consumption corresponding to each package accumulated in the package library 140. To check. (FIG. 2 (d)) Next, the speed check unit 114 checks whether or not the access time corresponding to each memory configuration candidate obtained from the data of the compiler cell library 130 satisfies the speed specification. (Figure 2
(E) Next, the area rank and the power consumption rank are determined for each memory candidate based on the obtained values of the total area and the total power consumption. (FIG. 2 (f)) Further, the list output means 150 outputs a list of the obtained data of the memory configuration candidates including the determination (check) result and the ranking result. (FIG. 2 (g)) Based on the list thus output, the optimum memory configuration candidate is selected.

Next, a specific memory specification will be given and a case of obtaining an optimum memory configuration will be described.
Memory specifications: 256 words x 8 bits x 8 equivalent capacity, QFP-128 package, operating frequency 20 MH
z, access time is within 20 ns, and power consumption of other circuit parts is 100 mW. First, the above memory specifications are input to the processing unit 110 (see FIG. 2).
(A)) and the processing means 110, in the case of this memory specification, the total capacity of all memories is calculated to be 2 KB. The compiler cell library 130 shown in (1) is searched. At this time, the data of the compile cell library 130 shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to the set of memory configurations obtained by the search is read in advance. (FIG. 2B) At this stage, the access time for each memory configuration shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. By searching, for example, 25
6 words x 8 bits x 8 256 words x 16 bits x 4 256 words x 32 bits x 2 51
A set of 2 words × 16 bits × 2 can be mentioned as a candidate for the memory configuration. Although there are actually other candidates, the following discussion will be made assuming that only the above four are selected as candidates. FIG. 6 (a), FIG. 6 (b), FIG. 6 (c), and FIG. 6 (d) show these, respectively. In the case of the memory configuration of 256 words × 8 bits × 8 shown in FIG. 6 (a), the data read operation specifies which memory 256 word (address is) in one memory with 8 bits. , The data of the corresponding address is read out in 8 bits, but at this time, only a predetermined one of the eight memories is set to operate. In the case of the memory configuration of 512 words × 16 bits × 2 shown in FIG. 6D, which one of 512 words (which address) is designated by 9 bits and the corresponding address is specified. Data is read out in 16 bits, and at this time, only one of the two memories is set to operate.

Then, the total area and the total power consumption of the four sets of memory configurations are calculated by the calculation unit 112 using the data from the compiler cell library 130. The total area is the area corresponding to each set shown in FIG. 3 multiplied by the number, and the total power consumption (total power) is the dynamic power corresponding to each set shown in FIG. 20 KHz), static power consumption multiplied by the number of memories, and power consumption of other circuit parts of 100 mw are calculated. In this way, the total area and total power consumption for each memory configuration shown in FIG. 5 were obtained. For example, in the case of 256 words × 8 bits × 8 pieces, the total area is calculated by the equation (1) and the total power consumption is calculated by the equation (2). ^{1.0μm 2 × 8 = 8.0μm 2 (} 1) ((1.8mw / MHz × 20MHz) + 15mw) × 8) +100 (2)

Next, when each of the four memory configuration candidates is used for the specification package, the package maximum power consumption check unit 113 determines whether or not the power consumption from the package is within the limit. First, from the package library 140 shown in FIG. 4, the maximum allowable power consumption of the specified package is calculated. In this memory specification, the package is QFP-128, so the maximum allowable power consumption is 600 mw. If the total power consumption corresponding to each memory configuration shown in FIG. 5 is less than or equal to the maximum allowable power consumption of the package obtained, it is determined as OK (OK), and if the total power consumption is greater than the maximum allowable power consumption of the package, no ( NG).

Next, the speed check unit 114 checks the access time of each memory configuration candidate obtained by the search. The access time is 20 ns.
Since it is within the range, all memory configuration candidates have no problem in terms of access time.

Further, the order of the total area and the total power consumption of each candidate of each memory configuration is assigned to the arithmetic unit 116 of the processing unit 110 in ascending order.

The list output means 150 outputs a list of the obtained data of the memory configuration candidates including the judgment (check) result and the ranking result thus obtained, as shown in FIG. As a result, the memory configuration candidate 3, candidate 4, candidate 2, candidate 1 has a small area in order, and candidate 4, candidate 2, candidate 1 has a small power consumption in order, candidate 3
It can be seen that does not meet the specifications in terms of power consumption.
Further, it can be seen that there is no problem with each candidate regarding the access time. After all, from FIG. 5, it is judged that the candidate 4 is a memory configuration that can make the area as small as possible, the power consumption as small as possible, and the access time within the specification.

[0018]

As described above, the present invention can provide a memory generation support device that enables an LSI designer to easily generate an appropriate memory configuration from a memory specification when generating a memory using a memory compiler. I am trying.
Further, it is possible to provide a memory generation support device capable of selecting an optimum memory configuration from among appropriate memory configurations. As a result, it has been difficult to determine the memory configuration, which was conventionally complicated and difficult for LSI designers.
It is supposed to be possible by simply specifying the memory specifications.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a memory generation support device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a process diagram for explaining the operation of the memory generation support device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a compiler cell library of the memory generation support device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a package library of the memory generation support device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a list of memory generation support devices according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing memory candidates.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Memory Generation Support Device 110 Processing Unit 111 Searching Unit 112 Calculation Unit 113 Package Maximum Power Consumption Checking Unit 114 Speed Checking Unit 116 Computing Unit 120 Memory Specification Inputing Means 130 Compiler Cell Library 140 Package Library 150 List Outputting Means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A device for assisting in determining an appropriate memory configuration when a memory is generated by using a memory compiler in the design of an LSI, which comprises at least an input means for inputting a memory specification and a memory compiler. Area corresponding to each word data structure, access time,
The compiler cell library that describes data such as power consumption, the package library that describes data that compares the type of each package and its maximum allowable power consumption, and the data from the compiler cell library according to the memory specifications. A processing means for selecting an appropriate memory configuration using the data from the package library and obtaining total area, total power consumption, and access time corresponding to each selected memory configuration, and a processing means The list of memory configuration candidates
And a list output means for outputting a list showing the total power consumption and the access time and indicating whether or not the maximum allowable power consumption of the package is satisfied. The processing means includes a compiler cell library. From the data corresponding to the memory candidates from the obtained compiler cell library, the search unit that searches the memory configuration candidates from the data of, and obtains a list of data such as the area, access time, and power consumption corresponding to the memory candidates. Memory generation characterized by comprising a calculating unit for calculating the total area and total power consumption, a speed checking unit for checking access time, and a package maximum power consumption checking unit for checking the allowable power consumption of the package Support device. 2. The processing means according to claim 1, obtains the rank of the total area and the rank of the total power consumption of each memory configuration candidate from the values of the total area and the total power consumption corresponding to each memory configuration candidate. A memory generation assisting device comprising an arithmetic unit for performing arithmetic operations, outputting a list of total area rank and total power consumption rank so that an optimum memory configuration can be known from among memory configuration candidates.