Method of estimating power consumption of semiconductor integrated circuit

An estimation device for estimating a power consumption of a semiconductor integrated circuit according to the signal and switching probabilities of nets Nn (n=1 to n) in each of logical parts forming the semiconductor integrated circuit, the signal and switching probabilities of each net Ni being calculated according to first data prepared for the net, the first data having a multi-terminal Boolean approximation method (MTBAM) data structure prepared with an expression (1) mentioned below, the estimation device comprising:

• providing means for providing second data for primary inputs Xn (n=1 to n) to be supplied to the logic part in question and for front nets Ni-1, Ni-2 that being present in front of the net Ni in question that determine a signal value of the net Ni, the second data having the MTBAM data structure represented with the expression (1);
• preparing means for preparing the first data for each net Ni according to a probability contained in the second data provided for each of the front nets Ni-1, Ni-2, probabilities calculated according to third data contained in the second data and having a multi-terminal binary decision diagram (MTBDD) data structure represented with an expression (2) mentioned below, and fourth data generated from the third data and having the MTBDD data structure;
• and
• corresponding means for providing the second data for a specific partial set of the nets Nn so that the first data being sequentially prepared for the nets Nn executed by the preparing means when signal values of the nets Nn at time point "t" are determined by signal values of the nets Nn of a preceding time point, ##EQU19##