Sensitivity-based weighting for passivity enforcement of linear macromodels in power integrity applications

Abstract

The electrical performance of Power Distribution Networks (PDNs) is usually assessed by computing frequency responses through quasi-static or full-wave electromagnetic solvers. Such responses, often available in the scattering form, are then fed to suitable macromodeling algorithms for the extraction of compact reduced-order behavioral models that can be seemlessly simulated in the time domain by standard circuit solvers. Such algorithms perform a rational fitting of the raw scattering responses, followed by a passivity check and enforcement step. The resulting macromodel is typically very accurate when compared to the raw scattering responses. It may however happen that the responses of the PDN macromodel exhibit significant deviation from the true system responses under realistic loading conditions, which include appropriate models for active device blocks, decoupling capacitors, voltage regulators, etc. We highlight the source of this accuracy loss, and we propose a sensitivity-based weighting strategy that is able to optimize and tune the macromodel accuracy based on its specific nominal termination network. The particular focus of this paper is the definition and the inclusion of optimal weigths in the passivity enforcement loop, which is recognized as the most challenging step. The result is a reliable macromodeling flow, which is able to produce passive, accurate and efficient reduced-order models of general PDN structures for power integrity analysis and verification.