Efficient analytical modeling techniques for rapid integrated spiral inductor prototyping

During the spiral inductor design process, designers and design automation tools require efficient modeling techniques for initial design space exploration in order to quickly pinpoint appropriate inductor geometries. In this paper, we introduce a new frequency-dependent model that utilizes closed-form expressions to quickly characterize square spiral inductors. Our modeling approach is centered on new analytical expressions for the inductor´s series resistance and series inductance. The model provides several orders of magnitude performance improvement over field solver-based approaches with typical errors of less than 3% when compared with numerical field solver simulations and demonstrates excellent agreement with measured data from inductors fabricated in TSMC´s 0.18mum mixed-mode/RF process