The effect of scaling upto future analog/digital systems

As demonstrated over the last decade, the performance of both logic and linear CMOS circuits improve as the technology is scaled. Because of this scaling, increasingty larger integrated analog/digital systems have become possible. Such systems include precision amplification and buffering, as well as microprocessor circuits, logic and memory. This panel will examine the practical issues and future architectural consequences involved in the continued scaling of these systems. The issues include the need for on-chip power regulation, digital versus linear filtering and data conversion and the trend towards digital calibration of linear circuits. In addition, circuit design innovation in analog has been another factor resulting in a moving boundary between analog versus digital performance. On the other hand, the consequences of testing analog rather than digital circuits must also be considered... Panelists will debate the advantages of both digital and linear circuit approaches in future analog/digital systems.