Circuit Power Leakage Testing via Undefined Net Trace Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current circuit designs face challenges in efficiently testing for power leakage between power domains without incurring high operational costs, particularly due to the need for isolate cells and complex signal monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A method for testing power leakage in circuits that involves obtaining undefined nets and trace paths between power domains, determining potential leakage by identifying FET gates, and outputting results without requiring isolate cells or signal monitoring, using a processor and storage cell to execute the method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If isolate cells are added between power domains to prevent power leakage, then power domain isolation reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power leakage detection function from the physical circuit structure by obtaining undefined nets and trace paths through software analysis. Instead of adding physical isolate cells to every power domain boundary, the method extracts only the critical leakage paths for testing, thereby maintaining isolation reliability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual model of the power leakage paths by copying the circuit connectivity information from the netlist into a testable format. This virtual representation allows complete power leakage testing without physically implementing isolate cells in every location, reducing manufacturing complexity while preserving detection capability.
2Reliability
If isolate cells are disposed between power domains, then power leakage prevention is improved, but operation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the circuit design itself to provide the testing capability by utilizing existing undefined nets and trace paths. The method self-identifies potential leakage paths through software analysis of the netlist, eliminating the need for external testing equipment or additional physical test structures, thereby reducing operation cost while maintaining leakage prevention effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If signal monitoring is implemented to detect power leakage, then detection accuracy is improved, but testing duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis by obtaining all undefined nets and trace paths before actual power leakage detection. By pre-processing the netlist to identify potential leakage paths, the method avoids time-consuming runtime monitoring while maintaining detection accuracy. The trace paths are prepared in advance, allowing rapid evaluation without continuous signal monitoring during testing.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If monitoring of input signals is performed for power leakage testing, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical signal monitoring mechanisms with software-based analysis of circuit connectivity. Instead of implementing hardware monitors to detect power leakage in real-time, the method uses computational analysis of the netlist to identify trace paths and evaluate leakage risks, thereby maintaining detection capability while significantly reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system is adapted to execute a method for testing power leakage of a circuit. The method includes: obtaining a plurality of undefined nets according to a netlist and power mode information; obtaining a trace path according to the undefined nets and the power mode information; and determining whether there is a risk of power leakage in the trace path, and outputting a testing result.