A new design methodology for radiofrequency circuits is presented that includes electromagnetic (EM) simulation of the inductors into the optimization flow. This is achieved by previously generating the Pareto-optimal front (POF) of the inductors using EM simulation. Inductors are selected from the Pareto front and their S-parameter matrix is included in the circuit netlist that is simulated using an RF simulator. Generating the EM-simulated POF of inductors is computationally expensive, but once generated, it can be used for any circuit design. The methodology is illustrated both for a singleobjective and a multiobjective optimization of a low noise amplifier.

The accuracy of high-frequency models of passive RF devices, e.g., inductors or transformers, presents one of the most challenging problems for RF integrated circuits. Accuracy limitations lead RF designers to time-consuming iterations with electromagnetic simulators. This paper will explore and compare two advanced modeling techniques. The first one is based on the segmented model approach, in which each device segment is characterized with a lumped element model. The second technique is based on the generation of surrogate models from the electromagnetic simulation of a set of device samples. Different modeling strategies (frequency separation, filtering according to self-resonance frequency, etc.) will be considered. Efficiency and accuracy of both, physical and surrogate, modeling techniques will be compared using a Si process technology.

In this paper, a new methodology for the automated generation of the optimal performance trade-offs of integrated inductors is presented. The methodology combines a multiobjective optimization algorithm with electromagnetic simulation to get highly accurate results. A set of sized inductors is obtained showing the best performance trade-offs for a given technology. Unlike reported approaches for inductor synthesis, performance trade-offs are generated offline, i.e., before any specific inductance or quality factor are required. The tight efficiency versus accuracy trade-off of existing approaches is, in this way, avoided and performance evaluation via electromagnetic simulation becomes affordable.