Case Study: Sizing A Design
Last Edit July 22, 2001
REVIEW OF SIZE - SECOND PASS
The revised estimate (one version of the solution) shows the circuit
requirements as they are now understood.
Table A-3 Second Sizing Estimates
Number of Cells Required
#macros
|
MACRO
|
CELLS
|
TOTAL
|
79
|
IE93S
|
1
|
79
|
73
|
OE42S
|
1
|
73
|
1
|
IE31H
|
1
|
2
|
9
|
IEVCC
|
1
|
9
|
TOTAL I/O CELLS REQUIRED
162
10
|
MX21S
|
2
|
20
|
11
|
GT60S
|
3
|
33
|
10
|
GT09S
|
1
|
10
|
4
|
GT55D
|
2
|
8
|
2
|
GT87D
|
2
|
4
|
32
|
FF10S
|
3
|
96
|
32
|
FF46S
|
3
|
96
|
TOTAL L CELLS
REQUIRED 267
Change OE42S
to OE11S and delete the 2 GT87Ds.
This fits into the Q20080 array that has 162 I/O cells and 2044 L cells.
This is a severely I/O-bound design (of course!). A design is either core-limited
or I/O limited.
Note: When vectors are written for this array, they should be designed
so that no more than 16-32 of the outputs switch at any one time. These
are AMCC-specific vector design rules.
Table A-4 AMCCERC Population ERC
PACKAGE SIZE
The minimum number of signal pins that should be available on a package
for this circuit is 157 (162 signals plus the 4 fixed signals minus the
9 added grounds). The worst-case number of signal pins that could be required
on a package for this circuit is 166 (162 signals plus the 4 fixed signals).
The truth is in the middle and is placement-dependent.
PROBLEMS
- The OE42S is limited to a toggle frequency of 350MHz. If the clock
is running at 500MHz, the outputs could be toggling slower. If not,
then the OE42S is not a correct choice if speed is to be maintained.
Neither is the OE11S!
- Insufficient added grounds is not a minor problem.
- The circuit uses nearly 8 Watts - much too high.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
The differential output OE14S could be used in place of two OE42S macros
and the GT87D driver (at least one) could be deleted. This reduces the
OE42S macros from 73 to 9, and the 7 always-on enables could be driven
by a GT08L NOR gate instead of a static driver macro.
The use of OE14S provides a cleaner solution (less skew) plus it frees
internal cells. The maximum frequency of the OE14S is 1.2GHz. One output
pad can be used as the true signal and the other as the compliment.
Another advantage is the reduced requirement for added grounds. The 32
differential outputs count as 32 outputs and not as 64, reducing the re-quirement
for this group to 8 added IEVCC, what was provided. The ninth IEVCC applies
to the miscellaneous other outputs. There will be a warning issued by
AMCCERC that there might not be sufficient added grounds for these miscellaneous
outputs - the algorithm defined by AMCC requires that two IEVCC macros
be added.
Table
A-5 OE42S Solution
|
Table
A-65 OE14S Solution
|
IE93S
|
78
|
IE93S
|
78
|
OE42S
|
73
|
OE42S
|
9
|
|
|
OE14S
|
32
|
IE31H
|
1
|
IE31H
|
1
|
IEVCC
|
9
|
IEVCC
|
9
|
MX21S
|
10
|
MX21S
|
10
|
GT87D
|
2
|
GT87D
|
1
|
GT60S
|
11
|
|
|
GT09S
|
8
|
GT09S
|
8
|
GT55D
|
4
|
GT55D
|
4
|
FF10S
|
32
|
FF10S
|
32
|
FF46S
|
32
|
FF46S
|
32
|
POWER
The DC power dissipation for the maximum worst-case MILITARY DC power
for the OE42S version of the circuit was estimated to be over 8 Watts.
The DC power computation for the OE14S version, same conditions, is esti-mated
to be 5.88 Watts. (This number is based on the circuit as shown in the
schematics and the February 1991 library specifications.)
Reducing the GT08S macros to GT08L macros can further reduce power.
|