Electronic holding circuit and adjusting method thereof using a probabilistic searching technique

• US 6,637,008 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ageny of Industrial Science and Technology, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Evolvable System Research Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Agency for Industrial Science and Technology, Asahi Kasei Microsystems Co., Ltd. (Asahi Kasei Corporation), Tetsuya Higuchi
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shiro, Higuchi, Tetsuya, Adachi, Toshio, Kiryu, Shogo, Murakawa, Masahiro, Kasai, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): DO, THUAN V
• Application Number:
  US09/397,636
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 716/2, 716/5, 716/7, 716/10
• US Class Current: 716/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/126 Evolutionary algorithms, e.g. genetic algorithms or genetic programming
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/0422 using transconductance amplifiers, e.g. gmC filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/1291 Current or voltage controlled filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/19 Two-port phase shifters providing a predetermined phase shift, e.g. "all-pass" filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/20 Two-port phase shifters providing an adjustable phase shift

Abstract

In an electronic circuit being provided with a plurality of circuit elements and performing a specified function, a plurality of specific circuit elements related to a circuit performing the specified function out of the plurality of circuit elements are composed of circuit elements changing their element parameters according to values indicated by control signals. The electronic circuit is provided with a plurality of holding circuits for holding a plurality of control signals to be given to the plurality of specific circuit elements. The values of the plurality of control signals which these holding circuits hold are changed by external or internal apparatuses according to a probabilistic searching technique (for example genetic algorithms or simulated annealing algorithms) so that the function of the electronic circuit satisfies designated specifications.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit being provided with a plurality of circuit elements and performing a specified function, comprising:

a plurality of specific circuit elements related to a basic circuit performing said specified function,

said plurality of circuit elements are composed of circuit elements changing their element parameters according to values indicated by control signals,

said electronic circuit is provided with a plurality of holding circuits for holding a plurality of control signals to be given to said plurality of specific circuit elements,

the values of said plurality of control signals which said plurality of holding circuits hold are changed by an external apparatus according to a probabilistic searching technique so that said specified function of said electronic circuit satisfies designated specifications.

2. An electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein

the probabilistic search technique changes the values of said control signals according to a genetic algorithm.

3. An electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the probabilistic search technique changes the values of said control signals according to a simulated annealing method.

4. An electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein;

said external apparatus uses an evaluation function for weighting and integrating a plurality of evaluation results of said electronic circuit in searching said optimum values.

5. An electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein;

said circuit is an analog filter circuit.

6. An electronic circuit according to claim 5 wherein;

said circuit is a Gm-C filter circuit.

7. An electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein;

said circuit is a high-frequency circuit.

8. An electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein;

said circuit is an integrated circuit.

9. An electronic circuit being provided with a plurality of circuit elements and performing a specified function, wherein;

a plurality of specific circuit elements related to a circuit performing said specified function out of said plurality of circuit elements are composed of circuit elements changing their element parameters according to values indicated by control signals,

said electronic circuit is provided with a plurality of holding circuits for holding a plurality of control signals to be given to said plurality of specific circuit elements, and

said electronic circuit is provided with a setting means for changing the values of a plurality of control signals which said plurality of holding circuits hold so that said specified function of said electronic circuit satisfies designated specifications according to a probabilistic searching technique.

10. An electronic circuit according to claim 9, wherein

said setting means changes in order the values of said control signals according to a genetic algorithm.

11. An electronic circuit according to claim 9, wherein said setting means changes in order the values of said control signals according to a simulated annealing method.

12. An electronic circuit according to claim 9, wherein;

said setting means uses an evaluation function for weighting and integrating a plurality of evaluation results of said electronic circuit in searching said optimum values.

13. An electronic circuit according to claim 9, wherein;

said circuit is an analog filter circuit.

14. An electronic circuit according to claim 9, wherein;

said circuit is a high-frequency circuit.

15. An electronic circuit according to claim 9, wherein;

said circuit is an integrated circuit.

16. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit being provided with a plurality of circuit elements and performing a specified function, wherein;

a plurality of specific circuit elements related to a circuit performing said specified function out of said plurality of circuit elements are composed of circuit elements changing their element parameters according to values indicated by control signals,

a plurality of holding circuits provided in said electronic circuit hold a plurality of control signals to be given to said plurality of specific circuit elements,

the values of said plurality of control signals which said plurality of holding circuits hold are changed by an external apparatus according to a probabilistic searching technique so that said specified function of said electronic circuit satisfies designated specifications.

17. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 16, wherein;

said external apparatus changes in order the values of said control signals according to a genetic algorithm.

18. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 16, wherein

said external apparatus changes in order the values of said control signals according to a simulated annealing method.

19. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 16, wherein;

said external apparatus uses an evaluation function for weighting and integrating a plurality of evaluation results of said electronic circuit in searching said optimum values.

20. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 16, wherein

said circuit is an analog filter circuit.

21. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 20, wherein

said circuit is a Gm-C filter circuit.

22. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 16, wherein

said circuit is a high-frequency circuit.

23. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 16, wherein

said circuit is an integrated circuit.

24. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit being provided with a plurality of circuit elements and performing a specified function, wherein;

a plurality of specific circuit elements related to a circuit performing said specified function out of said plurality of circuit elements are composed of circuit elements changing their element parameters according to values indicated by control signals,

a plurality of holding circuits provided in said electronic circuit hold a plurality of control signals to be given to said plurality of specific circuit elements,

the values of said plurality of control signals which said plurality of holding circuits hold are changed, according to a probabilistic searching technique, by a setting means provided in said electronic circuit so that said function of said electronic circuit satisfies designated specifications.

25. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 24, wherein

said setting means changes in order the values of said control signals according to a genetic algorithm.

26. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 24, wherein

said setting means changes in order the values of said control signals according to a simulated annealing method.

27. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit claims 24, wherein;

said setting means uses an evaluation function for weighting and integrating a plurality of evaluation results of said electronic circuit in searching said optimum values.

28. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 24, wherein said circuit is an analog filter circuit.

29. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 24, wherein said circuit is a high-frequency circuit.

30. A method for adjusting an electronic circuit according to claim 24, wherein said circuit is an integrated circuit.