Analog IC Design: Course Information

Course Duration: 90 hours (45 hours lectures + 45 hours labs)

CAD Tools: Full-custom design tools from any major EDA vendor (Cadence, Synopsys, Mentor)

Instructor: Dr. Hesham Omran

■ Basic undergraduate mathematics: complex numbers, basic differentiation and integration, etc.

■ Basic undergraduate circuit analysis course: resistors, capacitors, inductors, Ohm’s law, KVL, KCL, nodal analysis, mesh analysis, superposition, Norton and Thevenin equivalents, simple RC circuits.

■ Basic undergraduate semiconductor physics course: doping, n-type and p-type semiconductors, holes, electrons, diffusion and drift currents, pn-junction operation and models.

■ Basic undergraduate electronic circuits course: transistor models, dc biasing, small signal analysis, basic amplifiers (common-source, common-gate, common-drain), op-amp applications (inverting amplifier, non-inverting amplifier, integrator, differentiator, etc.).

■ This course covers core topics in analog IC design, and prepares the student for real-life design of complex analog/mixed-signal blocks. The course focuses on CMOS circuits because CMOS is the prevalent technology in the integrated circuits market. Both analysis and design are covered in this course.

■ The course contains a strong hands-on component. Each training day is composed of lectures and labs. During the labs, the students will be trained to use industry-standard CAD tools to analyze and design analog CMOS circuits.

■ The live version of the course applies modern teaching methods such as the flipped classroom model and interactive discussions. You will be challenged with interview questions and you will be given practical tips and hints. Your progress will be continuously assessed using daily quizzes and you will be given real feedback on your work.

■ Detailed courses contents and plan available here.

This course fills the following gaps in conventional undergraduate/graduate Analog IC Design courses:

1. Focusing on analysis by inspection skills and developing the “designer’s intuition” which is necessary to be a real designer

2. Verifying hand-analysis and theoretical concepts using extensive circuit simulations

3. Using industry standard CAD tools to design and verify analog CMOS circuits

4. Design of analog CMOS circuits to achieve required specifications using state-of-the-art systematic design methodologies