SHF: Small: Variational and Bound Performance Analysis of Nanometer Mixed-Signal/Analog Circuits

SHF：小型：纳米混合信号/模拟电路的变分和束缚性能分析

• 批准号: 1116882
• 负责人: Sheldon Tan
• 金额: $ 27.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-01 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1116882&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SHF; Small; Variational; Bound; Performance

Analog and mixed-signal circuits are very sensitive to the process variations as many matching and regularities of the layout are required. This situation becomes worse as technology continues to scale to sub-40nm owning to the increasing process-induced variability. Transistor level mismatch due to process variation is the primary barrier to reach a high-yield rate for analog designs in sub-90nm technologies. Analog circuit designers usually perform a Monte-Carlo (MC) analysis to analyze the statistical mismatch and predict the variational responses of their designs under variations. As MC analysis requires a large number of repeated circuit simulations, its computational cost is expensive. Efficient variational performance analysis of mixed-signal/analog circuits such as worst-case, bounding case and statistical analysis will become imperative for nanometer analog/mixed-signal designs. This research seeks to develop novel and efficient non-Monte-Carlo techniques for worst-case and statistical analysis of analog/mixed-signal circuits. The PIs propose to develop novel worst-case analysis methods for analog/mixed-signal circuits based on graph-based symbolic analysis technique, affine-like interval arithmetic and a control-theoretic method. The new method will first build variational transfer functions from linearized analog circuit by determinant decision diagram (DDD) based symbolic analysis and affine-like interval arithmetic. Then the performance bounds will be computed by control-theoretic theory based on the variational transfer functions. More conservative affine-like interval arithmetic to reduce conservation will also be investigated. The performance bounds in the time domains given frequency domain bounds will be investigated as well. The PIs plan to develop fast non-Monte-Carlo stochastic analysis methods to calculate statistical responses such as mismatch due to process variations. The problem is to be modeled as solving nonlinear stochastic differential-algebra-equations. Nonlinear stochastic methods (Galerkin or collocation methods) and new nonlinear macromodeling method will be investigated to solve the resulting problems.The outcome of this research will add significantly to the core knowledge of variational and statistical analysis techniques for analog/mixed-signal circuits, which will enable more efficient statistical optimization and design of analog/mixed-signal systems. By working with the industry partner, the PI expects that the developed techniques will bring immediate impacts on the design community to improve the design productivity for nanometer integrated analog/mixed-signal systems. The interdisciplinary nature of proposed research and relevant training will allow students to gain critical skills in the highly competitive high-tech job market. This grant will enable the PI to hire more female and underrepresented minority students to further contribute to the diversity in America's science and technology workforce.

模拟和混合信号电路对工艺变化非常敏感，因为需要许多匹配和布局规则。由于工艺引起的变异性不断增加，随着技术不断扩展到 40 纳米以下，这种情况变得更糟。由于工艺变化而导致的晶体管电平不匹配是 90 纳米以下技术模拟设计实现高良率的主要障碍。模拟电路设计人员通常执行蒙特卡罗 (MC) 分析来分析统计失配并预测其设计在变化下的变化响应。由于MC分析需要大量重复的电路仿真，其计算成本昂贵。混合信号/模拟电路的高效变分性能分析（例如最坏情况、边界情况和统计​​分析）对于纳米模拟/混合信号设计将变得势在必行。本研究旨在开发新颖且高效的非蒙特卡罗技术，用于模拟/混合信号电路的最坏情况和统计​​分析。 PI 建议开发基于图形符号分析技术、仿射区间算法和控制理论方法的模拟/混合信号电路的新型最坏情况分析方法。新方法将首先通过基于行列式决策图（DDD）的符号分析和仿射区间运算从线性模拟电路构建变分传递函数。然后，将通过基于变分传递函数的控制理论来计算性能界限。还将研究更保守的仿射区间算法以减少守恒。给定频域范围的时域性能范围也将被研究。 PI 计划开发快速非蒙特卡罗随机分析方法来计算统计响应，例如由于过程变化而导致的失配。 该问题将被建模为求解非线性随机微分代数方程。将研究非线性随机方法（伽辽金或配置方法）和新的非线性宏观建模方法来解决由此产生的问题。这项研究的成果将显着增加模拟/混合信号电路的变分和统计分析技术的核心知识，将实现更有效的统计优化和模拟/混合信号系统的设计。通过与行业合作伙伴合作，PI 预计所开发的技术将为设计界带来直接影响，以提高纳米集成模拟/混合信号系统的设计生产力。 拟议研究和相关培训的跨学科性质将使学生在竞争激烈的高科技就业市场中获得关键技能。这笔赠款将使 PI 能够雇用更多女性和代表性不足的少数族裔学生，进一步为美国科技劳动力的多样性做出贡献。