Systematic stability-analysis method for analog circuits

Author

Vandersteen, Gerd ; Bronckers, Stephane ; Dobrovolny, Petr ; Rolain, Y.

Volume

1

fYear

2006

fDate

6-10 March 2006

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

6

Abstract

Analyzing the stability of an analog circuit is an important part of the circuit design. Several commercial simulators are equipped with special stability analysis techniques. Problems arise when your design kit does not support such simulator. Another issue is when the designer wants to get insight into the sources of the instability to propose a stabilization. This can be done through analyzing the open-loop or the closed-loop transfer function of the circuit. The aim of this paper is to propose an automated analysis method which identifies the nodes to be considered for stabilization. The method does not need to break feedback loops or to manipulate netlists. It only uses AC simulations and does not require the full modified nodal equations. The method is illustrated on 3 design examples: a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a reference bias circuit and the common-mode feedback network in a gm-C filter

Keywords

analogue circuits; circuit feedback; circuit stability; network analysis; network synthesis; transfer functions; AC simulations; analog circuit design; closed-loop transfer function; common-mode feedback; feedback loops; gm-C filter; nodal equations; open-loop transfer function; reference bias circuit; stability analysis; voltage controlled oscillator; Analog circuits; Analytical models; Circuit analysis; Circuit simulation; Circuit stability; Circuit synthesis; Feedback loop; Stability analysis; Transfer functions; Voltage-controlled oscillators;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Design, Automation and Test in Europe, 2006. DATE '06. Proceedings

Conference_Location

Munich

Print_ISBN

3-9810801-1-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/DATE.2006.244038

Filename

1656867