CIF: Small: Self-Synthesizing Mixed-signal Circuits

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成本所造成的瓶颈。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飞涨，现在已经主导了集成电路设计的总体成本。建模的困难，以及与晶体管尺寸缩小相关的日益恶化的制造变异性，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产量，即使是最好的设计在能效或性能方面也不是最佳的。需要一种全新的新方法。这项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。集成电路从一组未确定的简单原语和单元(如充电处理单元、比较器和简单放大器)创建函数。这种方法将设计决策和权衡推向每个单独的集成电路。在存在制造差异的情况下，它为给定的一组设计目标提供了可能的最佳解决方案。它还避免了在设计过程中需要良好的模型和精确的仿真。本研究的更广泛的影响是，它以一种全新的自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，极大地简化了设计过程，并将混合信号设计从最坏情况下的设计中剥离出来。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加强。这些措施包括向K-12学生提供服务，以及为来自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我设计的研究。为了帮助改变下一代电路设计师的思维定势，模拟电路专业的本科生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.