Technology Road Map to Methodologies for Mixed-Signal System Design and Simulation

Abstract

Unfortunately, the best solution for one mixed-signal design, is not the best solution for all mixed-signal designs. This is especially true in light of today's microwave applications that span the range from low-power, low-performance type of devices, through high-power, high-frequency and high-performance applications. Digital designs are automated through the use of the VHDL hardware description language, while the mixed-signal counterparts are automated using the newly developed VHDL-AMS extension. The essential ingredients for mixed-signal design fall into the methodologies of scalable functionality, robust design and feedback techniques. Scalable functionality refers to the non-conventional methodology of dimensional analysis for establishing magnitude relationships between mixed-signal system variables. Robust design of a mixed-signal system, involves the blending of the z-domain (digital) and the s-domain (continuous), resulting in the wp-domain. Robust feedback involves the inherit feedback nature of mixed-signal systems, by providing a methodology of design that emphasizes the use of feedback for achieving the desired robust system performance tolerances despite device parameter uncertainty and noise disturbances.