Hierarchical CAD Tools for Radiation Hardened Mixed Signal Electronic Circuits

Mixed Technology Associates propose a Phase I project to explore a new method of automating the synthesis of rad-hard-by-design analog circuits. A powerful new technique for the automatic optimization of analog circuits, maximizing a number of simultaneous goals under a variety of simultaneous constraints, has recently been developed. Optimal ADCs, DACs, OpAmps, and PLLs have been synthesized using the method and the technique has been commercialized. The key to the new method is the formulation of objective functions and constraint functions in a particular mathematical formulation suitable for geometric programming. MTA believes that the constraints imposed by radiation hardness can be introduced into this framework, and can become an integral part of the design process. This phase I proposal would develop the formulation of goal functions and constraint functions for radiation sensitivity of MOSFETs and CMOS analog circuits. The methodology for fitting such functions to the technology will also be developed. If the procedure is successful, it will be extended to a range of analog components, including PLLs, VCOs and ADCs, in a phase II proposal, and circuit designs optimized for radiation hardness will be demonstrated using the new technique.