Introducing Constrained and Unconstrained Performance Optimization for
Analog Circuits

The Design Center with Paragon

May 15, 1994 -- (Irvine, CA) The Paragon analog circuit optimizer option to
the Design Center allows the designer to improve the performance of
working analog circuits at both the system (behavioral) and component
levels. Paragon performs iterative simulations, adjusting the values for
design parameters until the performance goals, subject to specified
constraints, are met. For example, Paragon can be used to find parameter
values for an active filter design for which specifications for center
frequency, bandwidth, and gain must be satisfied.

Paragon provides:

** automatic performance optimization - which adjusts design parameters
simultaneously for each successive simulation; this eliminates the painful
process of manually tweaking each design parameter one at a time and
reduces the total number of possibilities to be investigated

** interactive circuit exploration - with graphical feedback that allows
the examination of performance tradeoffs when manually changing one or
more design parameters in the working circuit or when changing performance
specifications to see how design parameters will change

** model parameter fitter - which is used to fit model parameters to
measured data

Because Paragon is fully integrated with the Design Center's schematic
capture, simulation, and performance analysis features, optimization setup
and invocation is easy. Setup begins with design entry through Schematics
and simulation verification using PSpice. Once the circuit is working,
design parameters, performance specifications, and optimization
constraints (including nonlinear constraints--an industry first!) are
defined via simple dialogs. Within the schematic, design parameters are
then used in expressions to determine component values. Performance
measures must also be defined; these are usually specified as goal
functions which can be developed and tested using the performance analysis
capabilities of Probe.

With each iteration, the design is simulated using the current set of
design parameter values and its performance is compared to the
specifications. Paragon utilizes powerful least-squares or minimization
algorithms which reduce the number of required simulations. Once
specifications are satisfied, component values can be rounded to
manufacturers' standard values. Finally, the schematic can be
back-annotated with the optimized parameter values.

Paragon will be available July 25, 1994 on the PC under Microsoft Windows
and on the Sun. List price for Paragon on the PC is $1,900 domestic and
$2,500 international. List price on the Sun is $3,900 domestic and $5,100
international. One year free maintenance is being offered if the Paragon
is purchased prior to September 30, 1994.

For more information on Paragon and the Design Center, please contact
MicroSim at (714) 770-3022 or (800) 245-3022, or FAX request to (714)
455-0554.

MicroSim Corp, 20 Fairbanks, Irvine, CA 92718

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