Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department of Electronics

Carleton University

 

ELEC 5506 (ELG6356)

 

SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTRONICS CIRCUITS

 

Prof. Q.J. Zhang

 

Course Objectives

 

be able to formulate practical design problems into optimization

 

become knowledgeable/skillful users of existing optimization methods

 

 

Summary

 

The course provides the fundamentals of circuit optimization. 

 

The first emphasis is on how to formulate various circuit problems into optimization so that they can be solved by existing mathematical programming techniques.  This is achieved by studying several major types of circuit optimization problems, followed by a variety of examples of practical formulations.  Major types of circuit optimization formulation include modelling and parameter extraction of active and passive circuit elements, circuit performance optimization, yield optimization, tolerance optimization, cost optimization, reliability optimization, and tuning. 

 

The second emphasis is to allow students to become skillful users of existing optimization algorithms, e.g., how to choose a optimization method, and how to effectively use/control a chosen method.  This is achieved by studying and comparing several major types of optimization methods used in circuit design, including local and global optimization methods, gradient and non-gradient based methods, 1st- and 2nd- order methods, and least-pth methods.  The emphasis is on the pros/cons of each method, and on how to use the methods effectively, rather than on detailed mathematics.

 

Finally, we will provide a quick glimpse of some of the latest research breakthroughs in circuit optimization, including large-scale optimization, space-mapping and neural-network based circuit optimization.

 

Examples of circuits and elements used include FETs, transmission lines, amplifiers, filters, multiplexers, frequency converters, mixers, high-speed VLSI packages/interconnects,  printed circuit boards and multichip modules.

ELEC 5506 (ELG6356)

SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTRONICS CIRCUITS

 

Prof. Q.J. Zhang

I.          Introduction  

          1. General introduction

          2. Examples of circuit optimizations

          3. A quick summary of key issues in circuit optimization

 

II.          Simulation and Sensitivity Analysis - Background Information

          1. Circuit simulations    

          2. Large-change sensitivities    

          3. Small-change sensitivities

 

III.      Circuit Optimization

          1. Circuit performance optimization   

          2. Least pth optimization, modelling and parameter extraction

          3. Yield optimization

          4. Wost-case design and tolerance optimization

          5. Tuning

 

IV.          Modelling Approaches for Optimization

          1. Detailed models

          2. Empirical models

          3. Quadratic modelling      

          4. Table look-up models

          5. Neural network models

 

V.          Optimization Methods

          1. Direct Methods

          2. Gradient methods

          3. 1st and 2nd order methods

          4. Global optimization methods

 

VI.     Space Mapping Optimization

          1 Introduction

          2. Different formulations of space mapping

3. Applications of space mapping

 

VII.    Recent Advances in Circuit Optimization

 

ELEC 5506 (ELG6356)

SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTRONICS CIRCUITS

 

Prof. Q.J. Zhang

 

Marks:                    Assignment #1                   20%

                             Mini-Project                    25%

                             Final Exam                      55%

 

                             Total                                100%

 

 

Course Material:           Lecture Notes

                             Current literature to be provided to class

 

Reference Books:

 

Q.J. Zhang and K.C. Gupta, Neural Networks for RF and Microwave Design, Boston: Artech House, 2000.

 

P.J.C. Rodrigues, Computer-aided analysis of nonlinear microwave circuits, Boston: Artech House, 1998.

 

S.S. Rao, Engineering Optimization, Theory and Practice, New York: Wiley, 1996.

 

T. Ozawa Ed., Analog Methods for Computer-Aided Circuit Analysis and Diagnosis. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, 1988.

 

R. Spence and R. Soin, Tolerance Design of Electronic Circuits. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1988.

                            

J.A. Doborowski, Introduction to Analysis of Microwave Circuits. MA: Artech House, 1991.

 

 

Course Project: The project is similar to a lab, in which students will use existing computer software to run examples to demonstrate/verify specific topics taught in the course, or to proceed further in any course aspects.  Different students can choose different topics. A list of possible topics will be provided.  You are also welcome to suggest your own topic.