Operational amplifiers: An example for multi-objective optimization on an analog evolvable hardware platform

Abstract

This work tackles the problem of synthesizing transferable and reusable operational amplifiers on a field programmable transistor array: The Heidelberg FPTA. A multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is developed, in order to be able to include various specifications of an operational amplifier into the process of circuit synthesis. Additionally, the presented algorithm is designed to preserve the diversity within the population troughout evolution and is therefore able to efficiently explore the design space. Furthermore, the evolved circuits are proven to work on the chip as well as in simulation outside the FPTA. Schematics of good solutions are presented and their characteristics are compared to those of basic manually created reference designs. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.