A Multilevel Bottom-Up Optimization Methodology for the Automated Synthesis of RF Systems

Abstract

In recent years there has been a growing interest in electronic design automation methodologies for the optimization-based design of radio frequency (RF) circuits and systems. While for simple circuits several successful methodologies have been proposed, these very same methodologies exhibit significant deficiencies when the complexity of the circuit is increased. The majority of the published methodologies that can tackle RF systems are either based on high-level system specification tools or use models to estimate the system performances. Hence, such approaches do not usually provide the desired accuracy for RF systems. In this paper, a methodology based on hierarchical multilevel bottom-up design approaches is presented, where multiobjective optimization algorithms are used to design an entire RF system from the passive component level up to the system level. Furthermore, each level of the hierarchy is simulated with the highest accuracy possible: electromagnetic simulation accuracy at device-level and electrical simulations at circuit/system-level.