Low Power Verification · All levels

Coverage Across Multiple Power Domains: Inputs and Outputs

Inputs and Outputs for Coverage Across Multiple Power Domains.

Inputs and outputs contract

Inputs and Outputs for Coverage Across Multiple Power Domains is anchored on Risk-weighted coverage closure for domain-state cross products, inter-domain transition pairs, and wakeup cause by mode combinations.. Convert observations into mechanism-backed and owner-bound actions.

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INPUTS
  - power-mode sequence and ownership context
  - seed, order, and configuration metadata
  - intent assumptions for transitions and crossings
  - assertion and coverage expectation envelope

OUTPUTS
  - evidence-backed failure classification
  - owner-signed mitigation proposal
  - validation matrix and rollback triggers
  - release recommendation

Ownership split

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OWNERSHIP LAYERS - Coverage Across Multiple Power Domains

+----------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Team                 | Primary responsibility         | Closure artifact               |
+----------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| verification lead | scenario intent and closure      | review rationale memo          |
| SoC low-power architect | transition and boundary contract | timeline + assertion packet    |
| emulation and prototyping owner | regression signoff readiness     | validation matrix + risk note  |
+----------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+

Low-power verification deep dive

Power-state correctness is a protocol contract: legal transitions, robust sequencing, and safe concurrent event handling.

Concept diagram

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PST CONTROL LOOP

state request -> legality check -> handshake sequencing -> mode entry -> monitored exit

Metric graph

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STATE RISK MIX

illegal transitions     ██████
sequence race bugs      █████
stable mode paths       ████████

Metrics and artifacts to collect

  • PST legality matrix

  • illegal transition histogram

  • entry/exit handshake coverage

  • mode sequencing anomaly log

Mini case study

A sporadic low-power failure closed only after proving a wake-versus-thermal race in PMU transition sequencing.

Debug branches

  • Validate legal state graph first.

  • Stress concurrent control events and asynchronous wakeups.

  • Bind fixes to explicit transition and owner contracts.

Senior review question

Ask: what exact low-power transition boundary failed first, and which artifact proves the closure claim reproducibly?

Key takeaways

  • Tie each LPV claim to a concrete transition boundary and one proving artifact.

  • Prefer minimal reversible fixes with explicit owner and rollback criteria.

Common pitfalls

  • Treating power-aware failures as random before boundary classification.

  • Waiving X-prop failures before proving impact and root cause.

  • Declaring closure without deterministic replay across key modes.

Handoff explanation

Inputs should include mode sequence, domain status, and control ownership context.

Outputs should include deterministic reproducer and acceptance boundaries.