GLOBAL STATISTICAL OPTIMIZATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND DESIGN

摘要

For application to analog, mixed-signal, and custom digital circuits, a syst em and method to do: global statistical optimization (GSO), global statistical characterizati on (GSC), global statistical design (GSD), and block-specific design. GSO can peform global yield optimization on hundreds of variables, with no simplifying assumptions. GSC can capture and display mappings from design variables to performance, across the whole design space. GSC can handle hundreds of design variables in a reasonable time frame, e.g. , in less than a day, for a reasonable number of simulations, e.g., less than 100,000. GSC ca n capture design variable interactions and other possible nonlinearities, explicitly capture uncertainties, and intuitively display them. GSD can support the user's exploration of desi gn- to- performance mappings with fast feedback, thoroughly capturing design variabl e interactions in the whole space, and allow for more efficiently created, more optimal designs. Block- specific design should make it simple to design small circuit blocks, in les s time and with lower overhead than optimization through optimization.