Fast toggle rate computation for FPGA circuits

This paper presents a fast and scalable method of computing signal toggle rate in FPGA-based circuits. Our technique is a vectorless estimation technique, which can be used in a CAD tool to identify the parts of the circuit that can benefit from power optimization. A key advantage of our approach is its ability to efficiently account for spatial correlation of related logic cones, which is accomplished using a novel XOR-based decomposition. In addition, our approach uses post-routing circuit delays to account for glitches in a logic circuit. The proposed approach was tested on 14 MCNC benchmark circuits compiled for the Altera Stratix II devices. The results indicate that our method improves the vectorless estimation technique available in the latest version of Alterapsilas Quartus II commercial CAD tool, reducing the average error by 37% and standard deviation by 59%.