CAD tools for the synthesis and layout of SC filters and networks

This paper describes two programs for the synthesis and layout generation of SC filters and networks. The first part of the paper describes a technology-independent synthesis and optimization program for SC filters. The program allows for the exact synthesis of cascaded SC biquad and SC ladder filters. Two performance measures related to sensitivity and noise are employed to estimate the performance of the synthesized circuits and to select optimum realizations. The same measures are used in a novel capacitance assignment procedure. The second part of the paper describes a flexible SC layout generator, which can be adapted to various design rules and floorplans by means of a technology file. Area efficient layout is generated by placing individual circuit elements rather than building blocks. Crosstalk between conductors is minimized by a router that distinguishes between different kinds of nodes.1. The scaling of the biquad circuit is dependent on the position of the biquad in the cascade.2. This may not seem to be overly important, since high-pass-type filters do not occur that often in practical applications. If one considers, however, that SCSYN is to be used as a general filter synthesis program, thenevery filter must be automatically realizable. In such an environment, a CAD program that can design all but one type of filter is either quite useless or very limited indeed.3. Note that an SC filter, in contrast to a digital filter, may contain delay-free loops.