Two Stage Comparator Design with Artificial Neural Networks

Eyyub Can Odacioglu1, Nihan Kahraman2, Tulay Yildirim3 Yildiz Technical University Electronics and Communications Engineering Dept. ecodacioglu@yahoo.com1, {nicoskun, tulay}@yildiz.edu.tr2,3
recognizing current or voltage of any nodes. The only things, which are known, are the desired output specifications for two-stage comparator.

Abstract
This paper introduces an artificial neural network model for one of the fundamental circuit of analog integrated circuit, two-stage comparator. The neural network gives the channel lengths (L) and channel widths (W) of all transistors when a designer gives the circuit output specifications. The output specifications, DC Gain (Av), Bandwidth (BW), Slew Rate and offset voltage (Vos) were obtained from Hspice simulation environment. A database for artificial neural network was formed by using results of those simulations. Circuit specifications were used as inputs of neural network and all of the transistors sizes were the outputs. As artificial neural network model, Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) structures having back-propagation algorithm are used. Accepting 20% tolerance, train database estimates the transistors sizes with 98% accuracy where test database gives 100% accuracy. Keywords: Artificial Neural Networks, Integrated Circuits, Two-Stage Comparator

2. Artificial Neural Network

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are the mathematical models of biological neural networks. These networks have ability to learn, recognize and find out relations between data. At biological systems, learning is done by adjusting synaptic connection between neurons. At human neural system, for learning synaptic connections can be adjusted, changed or new connections can be formed from birth to death. This procedure is the same in ANN. Learning is become with education by using samples. Weights of the synapses are changed several times to find nearest result by processing input/output data. [4] A neuron is named as a process element. This neuron takes signals from another neuron, than make some process on that signals and change it to a result, at the and it transfers this signal to other neuron. Generally these neurons connected to each other in a network. That network called neural network. ANNs has three main parts, neuron, connection between neurons and connection weight. Figure 2.1 shows structure of artificial neuron [5].

1. Introduction
Artificial neural networks have become a rapidly growing multidisciplinary research field using concepts from neurobiology, engineering, computer science, statistics and physics in attempt to develop powerful computational models performing a variety of information processing [1]. By the nanotechnology era started, it is not easy to calculate circuit outputs and also is not easy to find right outputs by simulations. In this work, artificial neural network gives the transistors channel widths (W) and channel lengths (L) for intended outputs of two-stage Comparator. In work [2], transistor sizes are determined due to propagation delay time using artificial neural networks in CMOS digital circuits. In [3], conventional microwave circuits are converted into neural network model for analyzing. In this work, transistor sizes are tried to be estimated using artificial neural networks without

Figure 2.1 Artificial Neuron

In this work, Matlab 7.0 was used for modeling Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) structure having back-propagation algorithm. An MLP has many perceptrons and these perceptrons forms layers. [6]

L8=3,79m. After these ANN model results were applied to Hspice simulation program, nearly same results are obtained. (Av~6.4 BW~300 kHz and Vos~-6.5).

3. Simulations
Figure 3.1 shows a two-stage comparator which is used in this work.

a) Figure 3.1. Two-Stage Comparator DC and AC simulations were realized using HSpice circuit simulation program in order to obtain basic specifications of the comparator, DC Gain (Av), Bandwidth (BW), Slew Rate and offset voltage (Vos). TSMC 0,35 technology parameters were used in simulations. A database for artificial neural network was formed by using results of those simulations. The database consists of 163 simulations data. 152 data are used for training and 11 for testing. Firstly, all the transistors channel lengths (L) are chosen constant while channel widths (W) take variable values. Secondly, channel widths were taken constant and channel lengths were changed. Figure 3.2 a and b are example of simulation results of comparator circuit, Table 3.1 is an example of comparator on page 4.

b) Figure 3.2 a) Av and BW (kHz) b) Vos (V) In this work, there were 3 input neurons, 2 hidden layers which have 10 and 5 neurons for first and second hidden layers respectively, and 16 output neurons in MLP. Nonlinear activation function is used for hidden layers and linear activation function is used for output layer. The learning rate and momentum coefficients are chosen as 0.4 and 0.7, respectively. After 100 epochs training, the test database is tested.

3.2 Modeling ANN

At ANN modeling, 20% difference was tolerated between actual values and model results. If a value was not between 20% percent of actual values it was called as error value. Train database estimated the transistors sizes with 98% accuracy where test database gave 100% accuracy. Table 3.2 is a part of test value of model results of comparator. For testing the model one random output has chosen. For W=14m and L1,L2=3.5m, L3,L4=10.5m, L5=0.7m, L6=30.5m, L7=10.9m, L8=4.9m, the Hspice simulation results were Av=6.45 BW=311 kHz and Vos= 6.76V. For these results (Av, BW, Vos), the neural network model in Matlab gave W=12.5m and L1=4,29m L2=4,46m L3=3,9m L4=4,08m L5=0,716m L6=22,7m L7=8,96m

4. Discussion and Conclusion

Artificial Neural Networks has ability to work with deficit information and they can be process abnormal data. These efficiencies make ANN more preferable. There are many successful examples of ANNs that used nonlinear, multi dimensional, has noise, complex, deficit and defect input data.

Forming a database by using Hspice simulation program, modeling the Artificial Neural Network by using Matlab and testing the model result by choosing random values were the steps of this work. A comparator was used at 0.35m technology parameter. This circuit is the fundamental and most used circuit at integrated circuits. To improve this work much more simulations can be done to have wider database and also different types of circuits and technology parameters can be used.

5. References
[1] Li S.T., Leiss E.L., Constructing Stochastic Networks via -RBF Networks, Proceedings of the International Conference on Neural Networks, ICNN,1996, pg 19-24 [2] nal, C., Cokun, N., Yldrm, T., Transistor Size Estimation Based on Propagation Delay in CMOS Digital Circuits Using Neural Networks,

Proc. of INISTA 2005 International Symposium on Innovations in Intelligent SysTems and Applications, pp.255-257, stanbul, Turkey, June 15-18, 2005. [3] Mankuan V., Shuichi W., Li B., Prasad S., Creating Neural Network Based Microwave Circuit Models for Analysis and Synthesis, Asia Pacific Microwave conference, 4P 18-4, 1997 [4] Yurtoglu H., Prevision Modeling with ANN Methodology, State Planning Organization, P57, Ankara, February 2005 [5] Kaya I., Oktay S., Engin O., Using of ANN at Solution of Quality Control Problems, Kayseri Erciyes University Science and Technology Institute Magazine 21 (1-2), 92-107, 2005 [6] Coskun N, Yldrm T., Diagnosis of Hepatitis Using ANN, International Biomedical Engineering Convention, BIYOMUT 2003, Istanbul

Table 3.1 Samples from Comparator Database

W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 BW (kHz) 3787 3797 3812 456 383 311 255 235 Vos

m
1,05 1,4 1,75 14 14 14 14 14

m
1,05 1,4 1,75 14 14 14 14 14

m
7 7 7 14 14 14 14 14

m
7 7 7 14 14 14 14 14

m
0,7 0,7 0,7 14 14 14 14 14

m
30,45 30,45 30,45 14 14 14 14 14

m
10,85 10,85 10,85 14 14 14 14 14

m
4,9 4,9 4,9 14 14 14 14 14

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 0,7 1,4 3,5 7 10,5

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 0,7 1,4 3,5 7 10,5

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 10,5 10,5 10,5 10,5 10,5

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 10,5 10,5 10,5 10,5 10,5

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 0,7 0,7 0,7 0,7 0,7

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 30,5 30,5 30,5 30,5 30,5

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 10,9 10,9 10,9 10,9 10,9

m
0,35 0,35 0,35 4,9 4,9 4,9 4,9 4,9

Av 14,94 17,53 19,46 7,05 7,15 6,45 5,78 5,32

mV
29 25,9 23,7 -5,76 -5,68 -6,76 -7,94 -8,74

Table 3.2 Test Values of Comparator Model