CIF: Small: Self-Synthesizing Mixed-signal Circuits

本研究解决了现代集成电路中设计混合信号接口电路的困难和昂贵所造成的瓶颈。这些接口电路在真实世界的模拟信号和由数字电子设备处理的相应数字信号之间进行转换。一个巨大的挑战是，设计这些混合信号接口电路的成本正在飙升，现在占集成电路设计总成本的主导地位。建模的困难和制造变异性的恶化，与晶体管尺寸的缩小有关，意味着混合信号设计需要付出巨大的努力。此外，为了确保良好的制造成品率，即使是最好的设计在能源效率或性能方面也不是最优的。需要一种全新的方法。本研究探索了一种创建混合信号电路的全新方法。在新的方法中，集成电路本身通过组合和配置简单的构建块来组装混合信号功能。集成电路从一组未提交的简单原语和单元（如电荷处理单元、比较器和简单放大器）创建一个功能。这种方法将设计决策和权衡推给每个单独的集成电路。在存在制造变化的情况下，它为给定的一组设计目标提供最佳解决方案。它也避免了在设计过程中需要良好的模型和精确的仿真。本研究更广泛的影响在于，它以一种全新的自我设计方法解决了混合信号集成电路设计中的成本和复杂性危机。它将设计决策转移到单个集成电路上，大大简化了设计过程，使混合信号设计摆脱了最坏情况设计的束缚。在推广和教育方面作出了大量努力，加强了这项研究的广泛影响。其中包括向K-12学生伸出援手，为来自少数族裔的本科生提供研究经验。模拟-数字接口的高级研究生课程将涉及混合信号自设计的研究。为了帮助改变下一代电路设计师的思维方式，模拟电路本科专业设计体验课程将向学生介绍模拟电路优化。

This research addresses the bottleneck caused by the difficulty and expense of designing mixed-signal interface circuits for modern integrated circuits. These interface circuits translate between real-world analog signals and the corresponding digital signals that are processed by digital electronics. A huge challenge is that the cost of designing these mixed-signal interface circuits is skyrocketing and now dominates the overall cost of integrated circuit design. Difficulties in modeling and the worsening manufacturing variability, related to shrinking transistor size, mean that mixed-signal design requires a huge effort. Furthermore, to ensure good manufacturing yield, even the best designs are not optimal in terms of energy efficiency or performance. A fresh new approach is needed. This research investigates a completely new way of creating mixed-signal circuits. In the new approach, the integrated circuit, itself, assembles a mixed-signal function by combining and configuring simple building blocks. An integrated circuit creates a function from an uncommitted set of simple primitives and cells, such as charge-processing cells, comparators and simple amplifiers. This approach pushes design decisions and tradeoffs to each individual integrated circuit. It delivers the best possible solution for a given set of design objectives in the presence of manufacturing variations. It also avoids the need for good models and accurate simulation during design.The broader impact of this research is that it addresses the crisis of cost and complexity in mixed-signal integrated-circuit design with a radically new self-design approach. It moves design decisions to the individual integrated circuit, greatly simplifying the design process and removing mixed-signal design from the straightjacket of worst-case design. The broader impact of this research is enhanced with substantial efforts in outreach and education. These include outreach to K-12 students and research experience for undergrads from under-represented minorities. An advanced graduate-level course in analog-digital interfaces will involve graduate students in the research of mixed-signal self-design. To help change the mindset of the next generation of circuit designers, the undergrad major design experience course in analog circuits will introduce students to analog circuit optimization.