Hifn Cuts Processor Power With Sequence PowerArtist

Sequence Design announced that Hifn is using its PowerArtist to achieve a significant power reduction on advanced packet processor designs. Hifn chose PowerArtist, Sequence’s automated RTL power reduction solution, after an extensive evaluation of competing low-power design tools.

"Power consumption is a key requirement for our customers and the industry as a whole," said Dr. Jiebing Wang, Hifn Vice President of Worldwide Engineering. "Hifn has set the standard for low power designs and leads the industry with our Applied Services Processors for power, performance and size. It is only by working with key technology partners like Sequence, who value the same requirements, that we can continue to achieve our breakthrough designs."

Hifn provides Applied Services Processors (ASPs) that protect information at risk while it is in-transit across the network or at-rest, stored on backup arrays or tape devices. Increasing corporate data translates to more equipment which results in rising power consumption, increased cooling and system maintenance costs, and adverse environmental effects. Hifn took on the low-power challenge across its product line, and is now working closely with Sequence to reduce power consumption early in the design flow at RTL. Sequence’s next-generation engines allow PowerArtist to examine the RTL code, prioritize power reductions, and either maximize power savings automatically or guide the user through manual edits within a powerful graphical environment.

Since adding PowerArtist to its design flow, Hifn has demonstrated more than 30% total power reduction. This includes both switching and leakage power savings as validated by PowerArtist’s highly accurate built-in RTL power analysis engine. The same, trusted RTL power analysis engine is used in Sequence’s PowerTheater, an accurate, high-capacity, full-chip RTL and gate-level power analysis solution in use by more than 100 customers worldwide.

"We see that low power is no longer the sole domain of wireless and mobile applications, and that leading networking semiconductor companies such as Hifn are now focusing on reducing power for their demanding customers and applications," said Sequence president and CEO Vic Kulkarni. "We are delighted that Hifn has selected PowerArtist as a key component of their design environment, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to address their low power design technology requirements."

About PowerArtist and PowerTheater

• PowerArtist is built upon the foundation of proven Sequence RTL DFP (Design For Power) accurate power analysis technology and Open Access Database. It focuses on trimming power in three key areas: Clock, Memory, and Datapath at RTL where designers have maximum opportunities for power reduction. The power savings achieved through these comprehensive techniques are over and above those achieved during synthesis. Next-generation engines examine the RTL code, prioritize power reductions, and either maximize power savings automatically or guide the user through manual edits within a powerful graphical environment, called PowerCanvas.
• PowerTheater is the industry’s first RTL power analysis and power prototyping solution with the singular ability to accurately analyze power at RTL and support power management techniques such as voltage islands, mixed voltage threshold, power gating, and clock gating. PowerTheater is used by over 100 customers worldwide including 70 percent of the world’s Top 20 largest semiconductor companies.