Analogue Circuit Design With Iterative Circuit-Partition Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analogue circuit design is inefficient and prone to failure due to manual 'best guess' estimates and over-engineering, lacking automation and effective handling of parasitic effects.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical computer-implemented model with a primary design unit and secondary units that iteratively design and simulate circuit portions, considering context and technical criteria to automate the design process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual best guess estimates and specification guard-banding are used for analogue circuit design, then design reliability may be improved through experience-based adjustments, but design efficiency deteriorates due to time-consuming manual processes and over-engineering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical design processes with an automated computer-based system. The analogue circuit design apparatus automatically performs circuit portion identification, technical criteria determination, and design optimization without relying on manual best-guess estimates, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining reliability through systematic automation
Solution Approach 2:
The design system performs self-verification through simulation capabilities. The apparatus automatically simulates circuit behavior, verifies against technical requirements, and iteratively refines designs without external manual intervention, enabling the system to self-correct and optimize designs while improving both efficiency and reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual design processes with experience-based adjustments are used, then design flexibility is maintained through engineer judgment, but automation level deteriorates remaining low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic iterative design process where the system automatically adjusts technical criteria based on simulation results. The apparatus continuously refines circuit designs by modifying technical criteria when requirements are not met, providing adaptability through automated feedback loops rather than static manual processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic feedback mechanisms where simulation outputs are fed back to verify against technical requirements. When circuits fail to meet requirements, the system automatically determines revised technical criteria and iterates the design process, achieving both automation and flexibility through closed-loop control
3Reliability
If over-engineering is performed to ensure circuit reliability, then failure rates may be reduced, but circuit efficiency deteriorates due to excessive components and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by determining specific technical criteria for each circuit portion rather than applying blanket over-engineering to the entire circuit. The system identifies which circuit portions require what level of design effort, achieving necessary reliability without unnecessary complexity in non-critical areas
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus segments the analogue circuit into multiple circuit portions and applies targeted technical criteria to each segment. This allows the system to optimize each portion independently, ensuring reliability where needed while minimizing complexity in other areas, thereby avoiding blanket over-engineering
4Manufacturing precision
If iterative simulation and verification processes are implemented, then design accuracy is improved through continuous refinement, but design time increases due to multiple iteration cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of technical criteria for each circuit portion before full simulation. By pre-establishing design targets and constraints, the apparatus reduces the number of iterative cycles needed, achieving high accuracy while minimizing time loss through proactive planning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements conditional iteration where the system skips unnecessary simulation cycles. When technical criteria are already satisfied or when circuit portions are verified to meet requirements, the apparatus proceeds without additional iterations, reducing design time while maintaining accuracy through selective verification
Data Source
AI summary
An analogue circuit design apparatus is disclosed comprising a primary design unit and a plurality of secondary design units. The primary design unit is configured to: identify a plurality of circuit portions for forming the analogue circuit; determine for each circuit portion respective technical criteria; and provide the respective technical criteria to at least one of a plurality of secondary design units. Each of the plurality of secondary design units is configured to: design a respective circuit portion based on the technical criteria for that respective circuit portion; and output a resulting initial design of the respective circuit portion. The primary design unit is further configured to obtain, a set of designs comprising a respective design for each circuit portion, generate, at least an initial design for the analogue circuit, based on the set of designs, simulate an analogue circuit based on the generated design and verify whether or not the analogue circuit meets the technical requirements for the analogue circuit.