Model-based approach to robust design, with application to microwave power transistors

Presents a new approach to designing products that are robust to fluctuations of the characteristics of their components. In this new method, the specifications of the factors and performance characteristics are expressed in terms of tolerance intervals. Minimax optimization techniques make it possible to tune the design parameters so as to guarantee performance in the worst possible case for the noise factors. This methodology is applied to the concept of microwave-power transistors, a domain where the realization of prototypes is long and costly, which makes the approach of special interest. The results are quite similar to those obtained over a much longer period directly by using a physical simulation software. This confirms the interest of this model-based methodology to decrease time to market, a key factor in the present economic competition.