Analog circuit sizing with constraint programming modeling and minimax optimization

Abstract

The DC and AC modeling and sizing of an analog circuit is described. The DC modeling method allows operating point driven circuit sizing. The method is fast and robust w.r.t. convergence problems. For the AC modeling symbolic behavior simulation is used. The knowledge of the circuit is formalized in a constraint programming language. Sizing of the formalized circuit is done with minimax optimization, minimax formulation of the optimization goal function gives good guarantees for convexity and a minimal number of local minima. Special attention is paid to scaling of the functions involved.