A Reuse-based Design Framework for Analog ICs

Abstract

The preceding chapter introduced the motivation for further improvement in modern analog and AMS circuit design methodologies. A first important effort towards such enhancement is automating the several steps involved in the AMS synthesis problem, especially the sizing and layout generation design steps. Commonly known as design automation, it can be carried out by following either a knowledge-based approach or an algorithmic, optimizationbased approach. Both have their advantages and limitations. Increasing the efficiency of synthesis, however, can be achieved if a way to capture and at a later time use the reliable design knowledge that analog and mixed-signal designers insist on is devised. Circuit reuse, a new paradigm, is seen as a promising solution that, combined with the appropriate synthesis tools, can bridge the increasing design gap between what we can fabricate and what we can design and that calls for advances in AMS design methodologies.