CIF: Small: Self-Synthesizing Mixed-signal Circuits

CIF：小型：自合成混合信号电路

• 批准号: 1319592
• 负责人: Michael Flynn
• 金额: $ 35万
• 依托单位: Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1319592&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CIF; Small; Self; Synthesizing; Mixed

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.

这项研究解决了现代集成电路混合信号接口电路设计的难度和费用所造成的瓶颈。这些接口电路在现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，并且现在主导了集成电路设计的总体成本。建模困难以及与缩小晶体管尺寸相关的日益恶化的制造可变性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良率，即使是最好的设计在能源效率或性能方面也不是最佳的。需要一种全新的方法。这项研究研究了一种创建混合信号电路的全新方法。在新方法中，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。集成电路通过一组未指定的简单原语和单元（例如电荷处理单元、比较器和简单放大器）创建功能。这种方法将设计决策和权衡推向每个单独的集成电路。它在存在制造变化的情况下为一组给定的设计目标提供最佳的解决方案。它还避免了设计过程中对良好模型和精确仿真的需求。这项研究更广泛的影响是，它通过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独的集成电路上，大大简化了设计过程，并从最坏情况设计的束缚中消除了混合信号设计。通过在宣传和教育方面的大量努力，这项研究的更广泛影响得到了增强。其中包括向 K-12 学生提供外展服务，以及为代表性不足的少数族裔的本科生提供研究经验。模拟数字接口高级研究生课程将让研究生参与混合信号自行设计的研究。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。