May 27, 2010 -- Optimization of power consumption is one of the biggest challenges IC designers face today. Although power optimization has always been critical for battery-operated designs, the continued growth of system performance with each new generation of semiconductor technology, along with the increasing emphasis on "green" and "clean" technical applications, has made power optimization essential even for wall-powered designs. Effective power management involves selection of the right technology, the use of optimized libraries and IP (intellectual property), and design methodology. It also means optimizing both active dynamic power and static leakage power. This article examines the various approaches to effective power management.

Prasad Subramaniam, Ph.D. (Subramaniam is Vice President of Design Technology at eSilicon Corp.)