Answers Database
 
 
 CPLD:  XC9500/XL : How to control Power Consumption in a CPLD 
 
 Record #2717
Product Family:  Software 
 
Product Line:  CPLD Implementation 
 
Product Part:  hitop 
 
Product Version:  1.3 
 
Problem Title: 
CPLD:  XC9500/XL : How to control Power Consumption in a CPLD  
 
 
Problem Description: 
Urgency: standard 
 
General Description: 
 
The power consumption of each macrocell in a XC9500/XL device is 
programmable. The standard (default) setting consumes more 
power and produces shorter propagation delay. The low-power 
setting reduces power consumption for less speed-critical 
paths. By default, all macrocells in the design will operate in 
standard power mode. 
 
 
Solution 1: 
 
Changing Global Power Mode: 
 
To set all macrocells to the Low Power Mode throughout the 
design, set Default Power Setting to Low in the Basic menu of 
the Implementation Options Template in the Design Manager. By 
setting the Power Mode to Low in the template, macrocells will 
operate in low power mode except where you specify the 
PWR_MODE=STD attributes in the design. 
 
 
 
 
Solution 2: 
 
Changing Power Mode for a specific component: 
 
You can apply PWR_MODE attribute to a specific component either 
in your schematic or via the UCF file. 
 
To specify that the macrocell(s) used to implement a logic 
function are to operate in low-power mode, apply the following 
attribute to the corresponding component in your 
schematic:PWR_MODE=LOW. 
 
To specify standard power mode for a function (in case the 
global power was changed to low), apply the following attribute 
to a component:PWR_MODE=STD 
 
The correct way to do this in an UCF file is as follows: 
 
To specify low power mode for a component, use: 
NET <Net name> PWR_MODE=LOW; or 
INST <Instance name> PWR_MODE=LOW; 
 
To specify standard power mode for a component (in case global 
power was changed to low), use: 
NET <Net name> PWR_MODE=STD; or 
INST <Instance name> PWR_MODE=STD; 
 
The PWR_MODE attribute can be applied to any logic or flip-flop 
component in the schematic, including a macro component that 
has multiple output signals. The PWR_MODE attribute affects all 
macrocells used to implement the selected component. 
 
If a component such as a logic gate or inverter is collapsed 
into another component, the PWR_MODE attribute is not carried 
forward by the software. You may therefore need to apply the 
PWR_MODE attribute to several components in a logic path to be 
sure that all macrocells used to implement the path are set to 
low-power mode. 
 
The PWR_MODE attribute has no effect on components that are not 
implemented using macrocell logic, such as I/O buffers. 
 
 
 
 End of Record #2717 - Last Modified: 12/28/99 15:40  |