TOPICS: A New Hierarchical Design Tool using an Expert System and Interval Analysis

A TOP-down Integrated Circuit Synthesis expert system (TOPICS) which is able to design CMOS operational amplifiers (op-amps) is under development. The synthesis is based on a hierarchical design methodology and due to the fact that interval analysis is used and all solutions will be found the partitioning and mapping of the design constraints on a normal operating range of a collection of subblocks will always yield a solution.