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Design >> Analog Design >> How Often are designs Optimized in Industry
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Message started by Larry_80 on Aug 4^th, 2011, 11:50am

Title: How Often are designs Optimized in Industry
Post by Larry_80 on Aug 4^th, 2011, 11:50am

Hello All,
I have a general question regarding when to go for optimization of a certain circuit block or when to just stick with a "working" design" which is not necessarily optimized. The company i used to work for doing digital circuit design rarely cared about optimization of blocks. I know one is restricted by time constraint to market chips, but i am of the opinion that having a systematic way of identifying when optimization is advantageous could make a big difference! When i talk of optimization, i am referring to using MATLAB for example to derive a set of equations for the critical specs while not forgetting to add the equation assumptions as constraints in the optimization problem. Not forgetting also the fact that it might not be possible to optimize a design across all process corners....guess this is a big challenge.
Please if you are a Manager or in a position to make such decisions in your company, i will really appreciate your view.
Thanks!

Title: Re: How Often are designs Optimized in Industry
Post by loose-electron on Aug 4^th, 2011, 5:53pm

comes down to a couple considerations

can you get improvements that:

reduce cost
improve yield
reduce power (and thus reduce cost elsewhere $$battery$$)

Then you have to study if the time spent is worth it. Time to market is always critical.

You see optimization done on devices where the volumes are high and market life is long enough where an optimized design gets put into Rev 1.1, of the device. but frequently not rev 1.0

Cost is always the primary motivator.
Remember the Old Old Adage:

"Cost
Time To Market
Quality
Pick 2!"

Title: Re: How Often are designs Optimized in Industry
Post by RFICDUDE on Aug 4^th, 2011, 7:07pm

I don't think you actually get to pick 2 out of 3.

My experience is that quality is relative to cost and time to market. Everyone expects quality that is consistent or barely exceeds the expectations of what the market is willing to pay for.

Perhaps "market expectation" is a more representative third choice.

Just my borrowed, market rate adjusted and devalued two cents worth.

Title: Re: How Often are designs Optimized in Industry
Post by loose-electron on Aug 6^th, 2011, 11:25am

2 cents doesn't get you as lot anymore...

adjustments for inflation perhaps?

:D