Automated design optimization of integrated switching circuits

A computer program for the optimization of switching circuits with practical design constraints such as limits and interdependencies of circuit parameter values has been developed. The approach implements a fast nonlinear analysis program and a Fletcher-Powell minimization algorithm. An effective parameter perturbation scheme approximates the gradient of the performance index. The use of parameter transformation to handle practical limits on circuit parameters, and penalty functions to incorporate such design constraints as limits on power dissipation, node voltages, and transistor area is described. The optimization of a bipolar decoder and a 3-transistor MOS memory cell are presented as examples.