A method of automated synthesis of analog and/or digital electronic circuits involves evolution, either in software simulations or in hard- ware, directly on integrated-circuit chips. “Evolution” is used here in a quasi-genetic sense, signifying the construction and testing of a sequence of populations of circuits that function as incrementally better solutions of a given design problem. The evolution is guided by a search-and-optimization algorithm (in particular, a genetic algorithm) that operates in the space of possible circuits to find a circuit that exhibits the desired behavior.
A prior version of automated synthesis of electronic circuits in hardware was discussed in “Reconfigurable Arrays of Transistors for Evolvable Hardware” (NPO-20078), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 25, No. 2 (February 2001), page 36. To recapitulate: Very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits would contain electronically reconfigurable arrays of transistors. Under the direction of genetic and/or other evolutionary algorithms, the configurations and thus the functionalities of the circuits would be made to evolve until at least one circuit exhibited a desired behavior or adapted to the environment in a prescribed way. Evolution would include selective, repetitive connection and/or disconnection of transistors, amplifiers, inverters, and/or other circuit building blocks.
The present version of automated synthesis of electronic circuits in either software simulation or hardware is based on the same general concept as that of the prior version, the main differences lying in the details of implementation. The figure schematically depicts the main steps of an automated evolutionary synthesis according to the present method. In the first step, a mathematical representation of a population of circuits (in this context, analogous to chromosomes) is generated randomly. The chromosomes are then converted into either (1) mathematical models of circuits or (2) strings of control bits that are downloaded to programmable hardware (if the circuits are to be evaluated directly in hardware). In the mathematical-model case, the simulation program compares the behaviors of the models with the desired behavior and the evolution is said to be “extrinsic”; in the programmable-hardware case, the physical behaviors of the hardware are compared with the desired behavior and the evolution is said to be “intrinsic.”
In either the intrinsic or the extrinsic case, the circuits are ranked according to how close their behaviors come to the desired behavior. A new population of circuits is generated from a selected pool of best circuits in the previous generation, subject to a such genetic operators as chromosome crossover and mutation. The process is repeated for many generations, yielding progressively better circuits. The criterion for stopping the evolution can be the reduction of error below a certain threshold, or reaching a predetermined number of generations. One or several solutions may be found among the individuals of the last generation.
The viability of this method has been demonstrated on a sequence of software prototypes. In a proposed hardware implementation, the basic circuit elements would be an array of metal oxide/semiconductor field-effect transistors interconnected via programmable switches. The circuit topology would be a function of the switch states (off or on), which would be specified by the strings of control bits. This programmable array of transistors could be modular, and modules could be cascaded and/or expanded to obtain circuits of greater complexity.
This work was done by Adrian Stoica and Carlos Salazar-Lazaro of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This invention is owned by NASA, and a patent application has been filed. Inquiries concerning nonexclusive or exclusive license for its commercial development should be addressed to
the Patent Counsel
NASA Management Office–JPL; (818) 354-7770.
Refer to NPO-20535.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Evolutionary Automated Synthesis of Electronic Circuits
(reference NPO-20535) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document discusses a novel method for the automated synthesis of electronic circuits, developed by Adrian Stoica and Carlos Salazar-Lazaro at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This method employs evolutionary algorithms to facilitate the design and evolution of both analog and digital circuits directly on hardware, specifically using metal oxide/semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs).
The core innovation lies in the ability to evolve circuit designs in real-time on the chip, which significantly enhances the speed and accuracy of circuit development compared to traditional software simulations. Previous methods relied on idealized components and did not adequately address the challenges of hardware implementation. In contrast, this approach allows for the direct evolution of circuits, mitigating discrepancies that can arise when designs are transferred from software to physical hardware.
The architecture proposed consists of an array of MOS transistors interconnected by programmable switches, with the circuit topology determined by the states of these switches. This modular design enables the cascading and expansion of circuit modules, allowing for the creation of more complex circuits as needed. The evolutionary process mimics biological evolution, where the best-performing designs are selected, reproduced with variations, and iteratively refined until the desired performance is achieved.
The document also highlights the potential applications of this technology, particularly in fields requiring rapid prototyping and adaptation of electronic circuits. The use of a genetic algorithm to search through possible circuit configurations allows for a more efficient exploration of design possibilities, ultimately leading to optimized circuit performance.
Additionally, the invention is patented by NASA, and inquiries regarding licensing for commercial development are directed to the NASA Management Office at JPL. The work is positioned as a significant advancement in the field of electronic circuit design, promising to revolutionize how circuits are synthesized and implemented in various technological applications.
In summary, this document outlines a pioneering approach to electronic circuit synthesis that leverages evolutionary algorithms and hardware implementation, offering a faster, more accurate method for developing complex electronic systems.
