Title：Do CAD Tools Help or Hurt Analog Design?
Speaker：]Franco Maloberti
IEEE Life Fellow
Date & Time：2025/10/12 15:30 - 17:00
Address： Lecture Hall 103, Nano & Micro Electronics Building, Peking University
Abstract:
It is said that the world is analog and not digital. This claim is true not only because real world signals are continuous in both time and amplitude, but they are also imprecise, affected by noise, and limited in speed. In contrast, the digital realm is highly precise, uses many bits, reduces noise, and operates with clock speeds of tens of GHz. As analog designers, we navigate a complex landscape of high dynamic range, low noise, and high speed to stay current with industry trends. To meet these challenges, we rely on advanced and often obscure CAD tools, which we recognize as essential to our work. Even if this trend seems unavoidable, it's essential to reflect on the role and proper use of CAD tools to prevent the potential marginalization of the traditional designer's genuine role.
In the early days of electronics, designers worked manually and depended solely on their knowledge. Today, advanced tools assist them but increasingly take over their roles. The growing competition between humans and robots (or "artificial intelligence") in our field raises concerns about the future of analog design. Reflecting on the past and present role of CAD tools in analog design is not just a suggestion but a necessity. This introspection could lead to a more accurate understanding of the essence of analog design, compelling us to take action to preserve it.
Biography:
Franco Maloberti (IEEE Life Fellow) earned his Laurea Degree in Physics (Summa cum Laude) from the University of Parma, Italy, in 1968, and the Doctor Honoris Causa degree in Electronics from the Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, Optica y Electronica (INAOE) in Puebla, Mexico, in 1996. In 2024, he received the Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Macau, China SAR. He was a Visiting Professor at ETH-PEL in Zurich in 1993 and at EPFL-LEG in Lausanne in 2004. He served as a Professor of Microelectronics and head of the Micro Integrated Systems Group at the University of Pavia, Italy. He held the TI/J. Kilby Analog Engineering Chair Professorship at Texas A&M University, and was also a Chair Professor of Microelectronics at the University of Texas at Dallas. Currently, he is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Pavia, Italy, an Honorary Professor at the University of Macau, China, and an Adjunct Professor at UESTC in Chengdu, China.
Franco Maloberti specializes in designing, analyzing, and characterizing integrated circuits and analog-digital applications, especially in switched capacitor circuits, data converters, interfaces for telecommunication and sensor systems, and CAD for analog and mixed-signal design. He has authored over 600 scientific papers and 10 books and holds 41 U.S. patents. He has held various IEEE roles, including Division I Director, President of the IEEE CAS Society, and President of the IEEE Sensor Council. He received numerous awards, such as the 1999 IEEE CAS Society Meritorious Service Award, the 2000 CAS Society Golden Jubilee Medal, and the IEEE Millennium Medal. Other honors include the 1996 IEE Fleming Premium, ESSCIRC 2007 Best Paper Award, and the IEEJ Workshop Best Paper Awards in 2007 and 2010. He was also awarded the IEEE CAS Society 2013 Mac Van Valkenburg Award.
