Functional Coverage-Driven Characterization of RF Amplifiers

Abstract

In this paper we propose the first functional coverage-driven characterization approach as a systematic solution for the class of Radio Frequency (RF) amplifiers. We elevate the main concepts of digital functional coverage to the context of SystemC AMS in particular, and system-level simulations in general. To enable AMS functional coverage-driven characterization, we introduce two coverage refinement parameters on input and output side, to systematically generate input stimuli and capture specifications. At the heart of the approach is the coverage analysis which measures the functional coverage of the DUV and provides clear feedback to reach coverage closure. We provide a case study using an industrial RF transmitter and receiver model to demonstrate the applicability and efficacy of our approach.