Global design of analog cells using statistical optimization techniques

We present a methodology for automated sizing of analog cells using statistical optimization in a simulation based approach. This methodology enables us to design complex analog cells from scratch within reasonable CPU time. Three different specification types are covered: strong constraints on the electrical performance of the cells, weak constraints on this performance, and design objectives. A mathematical cost function is proposed and a bunch of heuristics is given to increase accuracy and reduce CPU time to minimize the cost function. A technique is also presented to yield designs with reduced variability in the performance parameters, under random variations of the transistor technological parameters. Several CMOS analog cells with complexity levels up to 48 transistors are designed for illustration. Measurements from fabricated prototypes demonstrate the suitability of the proposed methodology

Pembangunan Modul Pengajaran Kendiri (MPK) keusahawanan dalam topik isu keusahawanan bagi pelajar diploma di politeknik

Terdapat pelbagai kaedah pembelajaran yang telah diperkenalkan termasuklah kaedah pembelajaran yang menggunakan pendekatan pembelajaran bermodul secara kendiri. Kajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengkaji kesesuaian Modul Pengajaran Kendiri Keusahawanan dalam topik Isu Keusahawanan yang telah dihasilkan bagi pelajar yang mengikuti pengajian Diploma di Jabatan Perdagangan Politeknik. Antara aspek yang dikaji ialah untuk menilai sama ada rekabentuk modul yang dihasilkan dapat memenuhi ciri-ciri modul yang baik, MPK yang dihasilkan dapat membantu mencapai objektif pembelajaran, MPK ini bersifat mesra pengguna dan MPK yang dihasilkan membantu pensyarah menyampaikan pengajarannya dengan lebih berkesan. Kajian ini dilakukan ke atas 110 orang pelajar semester en am yang mengikuti pengajian diploma dan 4 orang pensyarah yang mengajar subjek Keusahawanan di Jabatan Perdagangan Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Selangor. Kaedah analisa data yang digunakan dalam kajian ini ialah skor min dan peratus. Hasil daripada kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa rekabentuk modul yang dihasilkan memenuhi ciri-ciri modul yang baik, MPK ini membantu untuk mencapai objektif pembelajaran, MPK ini bersifat mesra pengguna dan MPK yang dihasilkan dapat membantu pensyarah menyampaikan pengajarannya dengan lebih berkesan. Ini bermakna secara keseluruhannya, hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa modul yang dihasilkan oleh pengkaji adalah sesuai digunakan oleh pelajar-pelajar semester enam yang mengikuti pengajian diploma di Jabatan Perdagangan peringkat politeknik. Seterusnya, beberapa pandangan telah dikemukakan bagi meningkatkan rnutu dan kualiti MPK yang dihasilkan. Semoga kajian ini dapat memberi manfaat kepada mereka yang terlibat dalam bidang pendidikan

Electric field emissions of FPGA chip based on gigahertz transverse electromagnetic cell modeling and measurements

Modern integrated circuits (ICs) are significant sources of undesired electromagnetic wave. Therefore, characterization of chip-level emission is essential to comply with EMC tests at the product level. A Gigahertz Transverse Electromagnetic (GTEM) cell is a common test instrument used to measure IC radiated emission and the test cost is relatively low. Regular IC radiated emission measurements using GTEM tend to neglect some significant emission sources. Thus, this research proposed an alternative methodology to perform field measurement of the IC inside the GTEM cell in order to optimize the field measurements. This research study also attempted analysis of the overall GTEM cell performance using transmission line theory. An FPGA chip was adopted as the IC under test because of its flexibility in configuration to any digital circuit. The investigations discovered that the impact of the FPGA board supporting components and interconnection cables can be significantly reduced with appropriate shielding and grounding. The electric field predict a far distance from the FPGA chip was carried out based on the dipole moment technique. In particular, the dipole moment model emphasizing the tiny horizontal and vertical radiation elements inside the FPGA chip as Hertzian antenna and small current loop. Equations to predict the horizontal and vertical electric field were developed based on Hertzian antenna and small current loop which relate the tiny radiation sources to electric and magnetic dipole moments. The prediction was validated with 3-meter field measurements in a semi-anechoic chamber. On top of that, a spiral-like pattern was developed to obtain a correction factor for further improvement of the correlation between prediction and SAC measurement. The results revealed that the correction factor effectively reduced the gap between the prediction and measurement fields and boosted the correlation coefficient by 44%. The difference of peak values also has limited to less than 0dB after correction. These results suggest a promising finding for a future EMI test of ICs with a cheaper GTEM cell

Yield-driven power-delay-optimal CMOS full-adder design complying with automotive product specifications of PVT variations and NBTI degradations

We present the detailed results of the application of mathematical optimization algorithms to transistor sizing in a full-adder cell design, to obtain the maximum expected fabrication yield. The approach takes into account all the fabrication process parameter variations specified in an industrial PDK, in addition to operating condition range and NBTI aging. The final design solutions present transistor sizing, which depart from intuitive transistor sizing criteria and show dramatic yield improvements, which have been verified by Monte Carlo SPICE analysis

Decision support system for choosing a model for a software development life cycle

The aim of this paper is to present selected models of a Software Development Life Cycle as a set of possible alternatives. The article also includes the characteristics of IT projects which are used as the basis for selection criteria, according to which an appropriate model should be chosen. These characteristics are divided into two groups; one of them deals with the product, the other one deals with the project. Based on both a literature study and statistical surveys, a list of criteria is derived, to be later applied in the process of developing a knowledge-based system. The rules and search algorithms for selecting the best models are described by a flowchart. Finally, the method of presentation and the interpretation of the results are discussed.algorithm, knowledge base, sequential model, evolutionary model, IT project, selection criteria, risk, project complexity