Journal of Research in VLSI Design Tools and Technology ISSN: 3139-2016 (Online)

Authors: Raghuveer Sriwastav, Kapil kant Tiwari

Abstract: The growing demand for high-performance, low-power, and compact electronic systems has driven the rapid integration of digital, analog, radio-frequency (RF), power, and sensor interfaces onto a single chip. Such systems, commonly referred to as mixed-signal and multi-domain chips, are fundamental to applications ranging from mobile devices and automotive electronics to biomedical instrumentation and industrial automation. However, the design of these chips poses significant challenges due to the coexistence of continuous-time analog behavior and discrete-time digital logic, coupled with strong interactions across voltage, power, thermal, and timing domains. Traditional electronic design automation (EDA) tools have been largely optimized for digital design, leaving analog and mixed-signal (AMS) design heavily reliant on manual expertise. This paper presents a comprehensive review of design automation techniques for mixed-signal, analog, and multi-domain chips. It discusses the evolution of AMS design flows, modeling and abstraction strategies, synthesis and optimization methods, verification and validation challenges, and emerging trends such as machine learning–assisted automation and multi-physics co-design. By highlighting both academic research and industrial practices, the paper aims to provide a consolidated perspective on the current state and future directions of AMS design automation.

Keywords: Mixed-signal design, analog automation, multi-domain chips, EDA tools, AMS verification, design optimization