Integrating functional and power simulation in embedded systems design

This paper presents the design and use of INCAPE (INtegrated Cache Analysis and Power Estimation). The proposed tool integrates an extended analytical model for power estimation in caches within a retargetable cross-design environment. INCAPE has been used to perform experimental design space exploration and analysis of the main factors that strongly impact on the power dissipation of the cache hierarchy. The obtained results validate the usefulness of the proposed methodology and allow the designer to efficiently design the cache hierarchy when low power constraints are involved.