A computer-aided approach to design of robust analog circuits
2006 (English)Doctoral thesis, monograph (Other academic)
Abstract [en]
Traditional design methods for analog circuits are based on rules-of-thumbs, experience, and trial-and-error approaches involving the use of circuit simulators. It is an unstructured process, which is time-consuming, error prone, and requires the attention of a skilled analog designer. This situation calls for design methodologies that are more efficient.
We have developed an efficient approach and corresponding tools that address these issues. A computer-aided design tool for design of large analog circuits with low level of human intervention has been developed. The tool combines efficient performance measure evaluation and optimization methods to determine the device sizes and generate layouts for analog circuits. Large analog circuits with about 200 devices have been designed. The circuits are optimized with respect to, e.g., power consumption, and subject to a large number of performance requirements. All performance measures are automatically derived, which reduces the probability of introducing errors.
Experimental results indicate that our approach can be used to design robust high-performance analog circuits with improved performance compared to manual approaches. Furthermore, the computer-aided tool decreases both the overall design time and the time required of a skilled designer.
To accomplish this, an optimization strategy that enables device sizing without an initial design has been developed. Robust circuits are obtained by taking the variations in the manufacturing process into account. Degrading layout effects are also considered using a parasitic feedback technique. To gain insight and allow exploration of the complex relation between performance measures in analog circuits, we have developed techniques for design space exploration.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Institutionen för systemteknik , 2006. , p. 230
Series
Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Dissertations, ISSN 0345-7524 ; 1025
Keywords [en]
Analog circuit design, computer-aided design
National Category
Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-7476ISBN: 91-85523-62-3 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-7476DiVA, id: diva2:22479
Public defence
2006-06-02, Visionen, Hus B, Campus Valla, Linköpings universitet, Linköping, 13:15 (English)
Opponent
2006-09-282006-09-282009-02-25