Analog circuit design is often the bottleneck when designing mixed analog-digital systems. A Top-Down, Constraint-Driven Design Methodology for Analog Integrated Circuits presents a new methodology based on a top-down, constraint-driven design paradigm that provides a solution to this problem. This methodology has two principal advantages: (1) it provides a high probability for the first silicon which meets all specifications, and (2) it shortens the design cycle. A Top-Down, Constraint-Driven Design Methodology for Analog Integrated Circuits is part of an ongoing research effort at the University of California at Berkeley in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department. Many faculty and students, past and present, are working on this design methodology and its supporting tools. The principal goals are: (1) developing the design methodology, (2) developing and applying new tools, and (3) proving' the methodology by undertaking industrial strength' design examples. The work presented here is neither a beginning nor an end in the development of a complete top-down, constraint-driven design methodology, but rather a step in its development. This work is divided into three parts. Chapter 2 presents the design methodology along with foundation material. Chapters 3-8 describe supporting concepts for the methodology, from behavioral simulation and modeling to circuit module generators. Finally, Chapters 9-11 illustrate the methodology in detail by presenting the entire design cycle through three large-scale examples. These include the design of a current source D/A converter, a Sigma-Delta A/D converter, and a video driver system. Chapter 12 presents conclusions and current research topics. A Top-Down, Constraint-Driven Design Methodology for Analog Integrated Circuits will be of interest to analog and mixed-signal designers as well as CAD tool developers.

The existence of electrical noise is basically due to the fact that electrical charge is not continuous but is carried in discrete amounts equal to the electron charge. Electrical noise represents a fundamental limit on the performance of electronic circuits and systems. With the explosive growth in the personal mobile communications market, the need for noise analysis/simulation techniques for nonlinear electronic circuits and systems has been re-emphasized. Even though most of the signal processing is done in the digital domain, every wireless communication device has an analog front-end which is usually the bottleneck in the design of the whole system. The requirements for low-power operation and higher levels of integration create new challenges in the design of the analog signal processing subsystems of these mobile communication devices. The effect of noise on the performance of these inherently nonlinear analog circuits is becoming more and more significant. Analysis and Simulation of Noise in Nonlinear Electronic Circuits and Systems presents analysis, simulation and characterization techniques and behavioral models for noise in nonlinear electronic circuits and systems, along with practical examples. This book treats the problem within the framework of, and using techniques from, the probabilistic theory of stochastic processes and stochastic differential systems. Analysis and Simulation of Noise in Nonlinear Electronic Circuits and Systems will be of interest to RF/analog designers as well as engineers interested in stochastic modeling and simulation.

Analog circuit design is often the bottleneck when designing mixed analog-digital systems. A Top-Down, Constraint-Driven Design Methodology for Analog Integrated Circuits presents a new methodology based on a top-down, constraint-driven design paradigm that provides a solution to this problem. This methodology has two principal advantages: (1) it provides a high probability for the first silicon which meets all specifications, and (2) it shortens the design cycle. A Top-Down, Constraint-Driven Design Methodology for Analog Integrated Circuits is part of an ongoing research effort at the University of California at Berkeley in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department. Many faculty and students, past and present, are working on this design methodology and its supporting tools. The principal goals are: (1) developing the design methodology, (2) developing and applying new tools, and (3) `proving' the methodology by undertaking `industrial strength' design examples. The work presented here is neither a beginning nor an end in the development of a complete top-down, constraint-driven design methodology, but rather a step in its development. This work is divided into three parts. Chapter 2 presents the design methodology along with foundation material. Chapters 3-8 describe supporting concepts for the methodology, from behavioral simulation and modeling to circuit module generators. Finally, Chapters 9-11 illustrate the methodology in detail by presenting the entire design cycle through three large-scale examples. These include the design of a current source D/A converter, a Sigma-Delta A/D converter, and a video driver system. Chapter 12 presents conclusions and current research topics. A Top-Down, Constraint-Driven Design Methodology for Analog Integrated Circuits will be of interest to analog and mixed-signal designers as well as CAD tool developers.

The existence of electrical noise is basically due to the fact that electrical charge is not continuous but is carried in discrete amounts equal to the electron charge. Electrical noise represents a fundamental limit on the performance of electronic circuits and systems. With the explosive growth in the personal mobile communications market, the need for noise analysis/simulation techniques for nonlinear electronic circuits and systems has been re-emphasized. Even though most of the signal processing is done in the digital domain, every wireless communication device has an analog front-end which is usually the bottleneck in the design of the whole system. The requirements for low-power operation and higher levels of integration create new challenges in the design of the analog signal processing subsystems of these mobile communication devices. The effect of noise on the performance of these inherently nonlinear analog circuits is becoming more and more significant.Analysis and Simulation of Noise in Nonlinear Electronic Circuits and Systems presents analysis, simulation and characterization techniques and behavioral models for noise in nonlinear electronic circuits and systems, along with practical examples. This book treats the problem within the framework of, and using techniques from, the probabilistic theory of stochastic processes and stochastic differential systems. Analysis and Simulation of Noise in Nonlinear Electronic Circuits and Systems will be of interest to RF/analog designers as well as engineers interested in stochastic modeling and simulation.