A functional block decomposition method for automatic op-amp design.

This paper presents a method to decompose an op-amp into its functional blocks. The method is able to recognize functional blocks on a high level of abstraction, such as loads or amplification stages, which have a large set of possible structural implementations. The paper presents a hierarchical library of functional blocks. With increasing hierarchy levels, the structural representation of the functional blocks becomes more variable while its function emerges. We use the hierarchical order to automatically compute the functional decomposition of an op-amp given as a flat netlist. Experimental results illustrate the method. The functional block decomposition enables a comprehensive formalization of design knowledge for computer-aided design of op-amps. An overview is given how the method is applicable to circuit sizing and structural synthesis of op-amps. • New structural analysis method for analog circuits able to decompose whole op-amp topologies into their functional blocks. • A computer-oriented description for each functional block in an op-amp is presented. • Algorithms use the computer-oriented descriptions for automatic recognition. • Two applications for the structural analysis method are presented: circuit sizing and structural synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]