Leveraging Lookup Tables for Efficient LDO Design Exploration using Open-Source CAD Tools and IHP-Open130-G2 PDK

In this paper, the design space exploration through analog circuit automation techniques using the IHP open source PDK is presented. The proposed workflow is focused on the realization of integrated LDOs, which are essential building blocks for power tree generation in modern integrated circuits. Our approach includes a simplified analytical derivation and the use of precomputed lookup tables that allow to extract the best trade-offs from the design space obtained. Additionally, the modular implementation allows to integrate pre-designed building blocks to the analysis, at the cost of the ability to co-design the different parts of the LDO system. This work is an initial step towards the generation of basic assisting blocks intended for energy-efficient ASICs implemented in the IHP open source technology.