Digital electronics

About: Digital electronics is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10354 publications have been published within this topic receiving 153532 citations.

SUBWAVE: a methodology for modeling digital substrate noise injection in mixed-signal ICs

Abstract: A methodology is presented for generating compact models of substrate noise injection in complex logic networks. For a given gate library, the injection patterns associated with a gate and an input transition scheme are accurately evaluated using device-level simulation. Assuming spatial independence of all noise generating devices, the cumulative switching noise resulting from all injection patterns is efficiently computed using a gate-level event-driven simulator. The resulting injected signal is then sampled and translated into an energy spectrum which accounts for fundamental frequencies as well as glitch energy. Preliminary results demonstrate the validity of the assumptions and the accuracy of the approach on a set of standard benchmark circuits.

Integrated circuit with power monitoring/control and device incorporating same

Abstract: A power management integrated circuit for monitoring a parameter of a power system includes: an analog front end operative to receive and at least one of amplify, attenuate and filter analog signals representative of at least one of voltage and current in a power system to produce modified analog signals; an analog to digital converter operative to produce digital signals; the logic coupled with the analog to digital converter operative to receive the digital signals and produce a power parameter and the logic includes a processor core; a random access memory coupled with the logic operative to store the power parameter and the logic is operative to implement a setpoint to detect when the power parameter is outside a determined range; and a digital output coupled with the first logic and the digital output is useable to control a switching circuit outside the power management integrated circuit.

Digital logic with molecular reactions

Abstract: This paper presents a methodology for implementing digital logic with molecular reactions based on a bistable mechanism for representing bits. The value of a bit is not determined by the concentration of a single molecular type; rather, it is the comparison of the concentrations of two complementary types that determines if the bit is "0" or "1". This mechanism is robust: any small perturbation or leakage in the concentrations quickly gets cleared out and the signal value is not affected. Based on this representation for bits, a constituent set of logical components are implemented. These include combinational components -- AND, OR, NOR, and XOR -- as well as sequential components -- D latches and D flip-flops. Using these components, three full-fledged design examples are given: a square-root unit, a binary adder and a linear feedback shift register. DNA-based computation via strand displacement is the target experimental chassis. The designs are validated through simulations of the chemical kinetics. The simulations show that the molecular systems compute digital functions accurately and robustly.

Evolving Digital Logic Circuits on Xilinx 6000 Family FPGAs

Abstract: This paper describes work which attempts to evolve circuit solutions for combinational logic systems directly onto Xilinx 6000 FPGA parts. The reason for attempting to evolve designs direct onto the device is twofold: (i) every circuit has a known functionality and (ii) every circuit must be able to be placed on the chip and then routed. Using evolutionary techniques allows us to consider these two important aspects of design and implementation as a single problem. The paper describes the basic method adopted, using a network list (netlist) chromosome and genes which represent circuit module function, and then discusses some of the results achieved, plus difficulties encountered, and some of the additional problems which still require to be solved in this new and exciting area of research.

System-Level Integrated Circuit (SLIC) Technology Development for Phased Array Antenna Applications

Abstract: This report documents the efforts and progress in developing a 'system-level' integrated circuit, or SLIC, for application in advanced phased array antenna systems. The SLIC combines radio-frequency (RF) microelectronics, digital and analog support circuitry, and photonic interfaces into a single micro-hybrid assembly. Together, these technologies provide not only the amplitude and phase control necessary for electronic beam steering in the phased array, but also add thermally-compensated automatic gain control, health and status feedback, bias regulation, and reduced interconnect complexity. All circuitry is integrated into a compact, multilayer structure configured for use as a two-by-four element phased array module, operating at 20 Gigahertz, using a Microwave High-Density Interconnect (MHDI) process. The resultant hardware is constructed without conventional wirebonds, maintains tight inter-element spacing, and leads toward low-cost mass production. The measured performances and development issues associated with both the two-by-four element module and the constituent elements are presented. Additionally, a section of the report describes alternative architectures and applications supported by the SLIC electronics. Test results show excellent yield and performance of RF circuitry and full automatic gain control for multiple, independent channels. Digital control function, while suffering from lower manufacturing yield, also proved successful.