Multi-Rate Harmonic Balance Analysis for RF Circuit Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current harmonic balance simulators for radio frequency circuit designs are inefficient as they analyze all subsystems with the same parameters, leading to unnecessary complexity and high computational requirements, especially when dealing with systems having multiple operational modes that are not shared across all subsystems.
Innovation Solution
The multi-rate harmonic balance analysis method reduces analysis dimensions by allowing each subsystem to have its own set of frequencies, enabling the simulation of larger systems with increased accuracy by converting N-dimensional problems into local (N-x) dimensional problems, where N is the number of independent frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the same harmonic balance parameters are applied to all subsystems, then the analysis is consistent across the entire system, but the computational complexity and memory usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the circuit into multiple subsystems or blocks, each capable of having its own harmonic balance parameters. This segmentation allows different parts of the circuit to be analyzed with appropriate local parameters rather than forcing a uniform parameter set across the entire system, thereby reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining analysis consistency through the unified multi-rate framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables each subsystem to have its own specific harmonic balance parameters (different numbers of harmonics, frequency sets) tailored to its local characteristics. This local quality approach allows critical subsystems to be analyzed with higher precision while less critical subsystems use lower computational resources, resolving the contradiction between consistent analysis and computational complexity.
2Measurement precision
If all operational modes are included in the analysis, then the simulation accuracy is improved, but the memory usage and analysis time become prohibitively large
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by allowing different subsystems to include only the operational modes relevant to their specific function. Not all subsystems need to analyze all possible operational modes - each subsystem can be configured with the minimum necessary modes for accurate analysis, reducing memory usage while maintaining simulation accuracy where it matters most.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic parameter changes where each subsystem can have different numbers of harmonics, different frequency sets, and different operational modes based on its specific requirements. This parameter flexibility allows the simulation to achieve high accuracy for critical subsystems while using fewer resources for less critical subsystems, resolving the memory usage vs. accuracy contradiction.
3Ease of manufacture
If a unified analysis methodology is used for the entire circuit, then the implementation is simplified, but the efficiency decreases when dealing with subsystems having different operational modes
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides a universal multi-rate harmonic balance framework that can handle both uniform and diverse subsystem configurations through a single unified interface. This universality allows the same basic algorithm to be applied across all subsystems while accommodating different local parameters, maintaining implementation simplicity while improving analysis efficiency for circuits with diverse operational modes.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention is directed to a circuit simulation using multi-rate harmonic balancing. Specifically, this invention enables effective reduction of analysis dimensions, e.g. frequency or time. The methodology converts N-dimensional problems to local (N-x)-dimensional problems. The method enables simultaneous solving of all local problems, each of these problems having a dimension less than or equal to N, thus approximating the original system to be solved. In practical situations, N could be the number of independent frequencies in an N-tone harmonic balance analysis.