Mixed-Signal Analog Circuit Simulator for Multi-Scale Resolution

Synclesis, Inc., and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) propose to investigate and assess the potential of a latency insertion method (LIM) based circuit simulator developed at UIUC to address a critical need to quickly and accurately simulate complex, non-linear circuits excited by time-varying frequency content waveforms. Compared to conventional matrix-based methods, LIM is significantly more efficient computationally (particularly for extremely large circuits) because of its linear numerical complexity. Unlike traditional methods that have to invert a matrix, LIM is based on a circuit analog of the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. This method is not only fast and accurate, but it is also virtually unconditionally stable due to a recent voltage-in-current enhancement. In addition to SPICE-compatible circuit models for nonlinear devices, LIM supports multi-conductor transmission lines, and macro-models of frequency-dependent S-parameter networks. Further enhanced with model-order reduction and multi-physics modeling capabilities, LIM stands out as one of the most robust and versatile nonlinear transient simulators and a promising computational framework on which to build a revolutionary RF circuit simulator to provide new electronic design and analysis capabilities required by low-probability-of-intercept and electronic warfare applications. In Phase I, we will demonstrate LIM’s potential to address the need to provide the level of detailed circuit response necessary for exploring, analyzing, and manipulating any extraordinary behavior that might occur when the circuit is excited by general time-frequency waveforms. This will be achieved by researching and demonstrating LIM’s ability to accurately predict such responses in the context of two specific applications. The first one is its application to the computationally challenging simulation of phased locked loop (PLL) circuit. The second one is its application to the investigation of nonlinear mixing and intermodulation distortion resulting from thermo-resistance effects within a 140dB dynamic range.