Rethinking mixed-signal IC design

Information and communication technologies require higher performance with lower power consumption. While new MOS technologies aim to extend Moore’s law, scaling benefits have diminished. Heterogeneous integrated systems address some challenges, but the complexity of chiplets, including mixed-signal circuits, continues to rise. A shift in analog design is needed, emphasizing “full stack” solutions over traditional transistor-level focus to navigate trade-offs. This requires deeper system-level problem analysis and less focus on individual sub-blocks.