System Power Tool Supports SystemC

June 1, 2003

This year, one of DAC's hottest topics was low-power design. Only a few system-level tool suites are geared toward low-power design. One of them hails from ChipVision, which is noteworthy because of its development of a design tool called ORINOCO. This tool executes at the pre-implementation level, where many feel that the greatest reductions in power consumption (up to 75%) can be made. In addition to traditional design-language entry C/C++, ORINOCO now supports SystemC. This support enables interoperability with other SystemC-supported design tools. The latest version of ORINOCO also gives designers even more advanced technical analysis. A new scheduling graphical user interface enables designers to view architectural decisions and their consequences, such as allocation, bindings, scheduling, and datapath dependencies.

ORINOCO is currently available. It is priced at $120,000 for a three-year license.

ChipVision Design 250 Montgomery St., Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 983-9565, www.chipvision.com.

About the Author

John Blyler

John Blyler has more than 18 years of technical experience in systems engineering and program management. His systems engineering (hardware and software) background encompasses industrial (GenRad Corp, Wacker Siltronics, Westinghouse, Grumman and Rockwell Intern.), government R&D (DoD-China Lake) and university (Idaho State Univ, Portland State Univ, and Oregon State Univ) environments. John is currently the senior technology editor for Penton Media’s Wireless Systems Design (WSD) magazine. He is also the executive editor for the WSD Update e-Newsletter.

Mr. Blyler has co-authored an IEEE Press (1998) book on computer systems engineering entitled: ""What's Size Got To Do With It: Understanding Computer Systems."" Until just recently, he wrote a regular column for the IEEE I&M magazine. John continues to develop and teach web-based, graduate-level systems engineering courses on a part-time basis for Portland State University.

John holds a BS in Engineering Physics from Oregon State University (1982) and an MS in Electronic Engineering from California State University, Northridge (1991).