FUBOCO: Structure Synthesis of Basic Op-Amps by FUnctional BlOck COmposition

Abel, Inga; Graeb, Helmut

doi:10.1145/3522738

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…This methodology is flexible in terms of circuit classes, technology nodes, and performance measurements, but generates many meaningless interim structures. A similar open-source design methodology based on the functional block is FUBOCO [15]. A library for different functional stages (bias, load, differential pair, etc.)…”

Section: A Knowledge-based Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analog RF Circuit Sizing by a Cascade of Shallow Neural Networks

Beaulieu¹,

Dumesnil²,

Nabki³

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Comput.-Aided Des. Integr. Circuits Syst.

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A deep neural network architecture for the automatic sizing of analog circuit components is proposed, with a focus on radio frequency (RF) applications in the 2 to 5 GHz region. It addresses the challenges of the typically small number of examples for network training and the existence of multiple solutions, of which impractical values for integrated circuit implementation. We address these issues by restricting the learning to one component size at a time, thanks to a cascade of dedicated shallow neural networks (SNN), where each network constrains the prediction of the next ones. Moreover, the SNNs are individually tuned by a genetic algorithm for the prediction order and accuracy. This reduction of the solution space at each step allows the use of small training sets, and the introduced constraints between SNNs handle component interdependencies. The method is successfully validated on three different types of RF microcircuits: a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and a mixer, using 180 nm and 130 nm CMOS implementations. All the predictions were within 5 % of the true values, both at the component and performance levels, and all the responses were obtained in less than 5 s, after 4 to 47 min. training on a regular PC station. The obtained results show that the proposed method is fast and applicable to arbitrary analog circuit topologies, with no need to retrain the developed neural network for each new set of desired circuit performances.

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Section: A Knowledge-based Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analog RF Circuit Sizing by a Cascade of Shallow Neural Networks

Beaulieu¹,

Dumesnil²,

Nabki³

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Comput.-Aided Des. Integr. Circuits Syst.

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“…No systematic implementation methods were provided in Abel et al 4 Therefore, it is unclear whether this language is adequate for use in cell library query, model generation, and symbolic design equation generation. Application to sizing of Abel's recognition method 4 is extended in Abel et al 26 and to topological synthesis in Abel et al 27 Integration of these methods with an advanced symbolic tool for macromodeling and pole‐zero generation is still missing. Also, no evidence has been provided whether the aforementioned methods could be combined with the gm/ID sizing method for autosizing.…”

Section: Research Motivation and Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Automatic generation of macromodels and design equations for application to Op Amp design

Shi

2023

Circuit Theory & Apps

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SummaryOperational amplifier (Op Amp) is a special class of analog integrated circuits. Multiple‐stage Op Amp design is of particular interest recently. However, analysis of this class of circuits has to be done manually and requires advanced skills. Automatic analysis of this class of circuits is studied in this paper, which takes a novel approach by circuit recognition and symbolic generation. Circuit recognition is deterministic, implemented by deterministic circuit partitioning and functional block extraction methods. Symbolic analysis of extracted circuit blocks can subsequently be performed with greatly reduced complexity while generated models and equations bear more useful information for circuit design. Symbolic results so generated can be applied in design space exploration, including tasks like finding the limitation in circuit topology, conducting initial sizing, and determining performance tradeoffs. This paper proposes the key algorithms for realizing the recognition of a few well‐known functional blocks frequently used in CMOS Op Amp circuits and further explores the possibility of using the recognized circuit cells in combination with the gm/ID method for circuit sizing. Preliminary tests show that this approach is a potential candidate for locating the performance boundaries of multiple‐stage Op Amps.

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“…Based on the behavioral models, op-amps are automatically sized using constraint programming. [2] presents a new method to synthesize the structure, i.e., netlist, of an op-amp for a given set of performance specifications. It is based on the functional block library presented in this paper and the performance models of [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Functional Block Decomposition Method for Automatic Op-Amp Design

Abel¹,

Neuner²,

Graeb³

2020

Preprint

Self Cite

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This paper presents a method to decompose an opamp into its functional blocks. The method is able to recognize functional blocks on a high level of abstraction as loads or fification stages which have a large set of possible structural implementations. The paper presents a hierarchical library of functional blocks. With every hierarchy level the structural representation of the functional blocks becomes more variable while its function emerges. We use the hierarchical order to automatically compute the functional decomposition of an opamp given as a flat netlist. Experimental results will illustrate the method. The functional block decomposition enables a comprehensive formalization of design knowledge for computeraided design of op-amps. This is the first paper of a selection of three paper on automatic op-amp design. In [1], the design equations that correspond to the functional blocks are presented. Based on the op-amp decomposition and the design equation, op-amps are automatically sized. In [2], an automatic op-amp structure synthesis method will be presented, which is based on the functional block decomposition presented in the following and the design equations from [1].

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FUBOCO: Structure Synthesis of Basic Op-Amps by FUnctional BlOck COmposition

Cited by 10 publications

References 45 publications

Analog RF Circuit Sizing by a Cascade of Shallow Neural Networks

Analog RF Circuit Sizing by a Cascade of Shallow Neural Networks

Automatic generation of macromodels and design equations for application to Op Amp design

A Functional Block Decomposition Method for Automatic Op-Amp Design

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