Power estimation model based on grouping components in field-programmable gate array circuit

In this study, the authors present field-programmable gate array dynamic power models for basic operators at the architectural level. Other models are developed for operator groups arranged in parallel or in series in the architecture. The operator´s characterisation models depend on the frequency variation, the activity rate and precision in the presence of autocorrelation, taking into account the interconnections between operators. The authors have validated their approach by the Euclidean distance and finite-impulse response filter applications while using the operator models in a first step and the IPs models in a second step. The estimation results show that the estimate is even closer to the real value when IPs mathematical models are used, and the experimental ones show a higher average accuracy and the maximum average error reached is equal to 3.7%. The power models are verified by an on-board measurement based on a Virtex2Pro field-programmable gate array real environment and is ready for integration with high-level power optimisation techniques.