Synopsys, Inc.

Magma Design Automation, Inc.

Barcelona Design, Inc.

David M Colleran

Mar Hershenson

Maria Del Mar Hershenson

Sunderarajan Sunderesan Mohan

Arash Hassibi

Talal Al-Attar

Arrash Hassibi

Circuit simulation can be performed on digital, analog, and mixed signal types of circuitry. Phases of operation are identified for a circuit and transient behavior is analyzed. Multiple time points are identified and the circuit is replicated for those time points with evaluation of the circuitry performed at those various time points. Simultaneous optimization is performed across the time points. Transistors and other devices can have their lengths, widths, and number of fingers optimized. Simulation can include determining Kirchhoff current law equations for various nodes within the circuit. Equations describing device operation can include non-convex signomial equations and convex polynomial equations.

Equation based transient circuit optimization

Methods for optimizing design parameters of a circuit are disclosed. In one aspect, an optimization problem includes one or more performance specifications that represent an exponent of a design parameter to be optimized. Various parameters of passive and active circuit devices may be efficiently and accurately optimized as a result. In another aspect, linear performance specifications are included for accurately calculating voltages. In yet other aspects of the invention, three special types of convex optimization problems are disclosed for enabling the above use of exponents of design parameters which provide efficient and accurate calculations of a virtually unlimited array of circuit parameters and performance characteristics.

Parameter optimization for circuit design

Optimization for circuit design

Circuit optimization with posynomial function F having an exponent of a first design parameter

A method is described that involves recognizing that a variable within a monomial or posynomial expression for a characteristic of an analog or mixed signal system has a dependency on a lower level expression. Then, retrieving from a database the lower level expression and substituting it into the expression in place of the variable so as to describe the system at a greater level of detail than the variable did.

Method and apparatus for automatic analog/mixed signal system design using geometric programming

A method is described that involves developing a more detailed description of a phase lock loop system by substituting, into a monomial or posynomial equation that is part of a family of monomial and posynomial expressions that describe functional characteristics of the PLL at the system level, a lower level expression that describes a characteristic of one the PLL's basic building blocks.

Automatic phase lock loop design using geometric programming

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San Mateo, CA, United States of America

David M Colleran