Accurate Geometric Programming-Compatible Slew Rate Modeling for Two-Stage Operational Amplifier Design Optimization

Abstract

Monomial models for the two-stage operational amplifier positive and negative slew rate performances are proposed in this work to aid the integrated circuit designer in producing optimal designs within the geometric programming design framework. Compared to the commonly-used and inaccurate slew rate design equations, the developed slew rate monomial models are capable of producing designs which have excellent slew rate performance agreement between the design optimization framework and circuit simulation, are based on highly-accurate slew rate design equations, require minimal overhead to produce, and have minimal modeling complexity with respect to the number of parameters to be estimated. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed slew rate models via a design test case in a standard 1.8-V, $0.18-\mu \mathbf{m}$ CMOS technology.