Analog Decompose

analog-decompose

Architect Phase 1: architecture decomposition. Takes a top-level analog spec and decomposes it into sub-block specs with budget allocation, testbenches, and verification plans. This is the first design activity in the pipeline.

Inputs

Outputs

Effort

Reference shared-references/effort-contract.md for the full effort contract. Decomposition itself has no effort variation — the same thoroughness applies at all effort levels. Effort affects downstream skills (behavioral validation, iteration limits, review depth, etc.), not the architecture decomposition itself.

Wiki Interaction

At the start of decomposition, if the wiki/ directory contains entries, call:

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/analog-wiki consult <block-type>

This returns relevant topologies, sizing strategies, anti-patterns, and historical project cases. Use these references to inform architecture selection and risk assessment. Wiki consult is advisory — the architect makes the final decision.

No wiki writes happen during decomposition.

Agent Template

Dispatch the architect agent using prompts/architect-prompt.md. Provide:

• Path to top-level spec.yml
• User constraints (architecture preference, area budget, power budget, etc.)
• Server: value of role_mapping.architect in servers.yml (or default)
• Wiki consult results (if available)

Checklist Responsibility

The architect is responsible for setting the checklists field in each sub-block's spec.yml. This field determines which pre-simulation checklists the verifier loads.

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# In blocks/<name>/spec.yml (set by architect):
checklists: [common, amplifier, folded-cascode, differential]

If the checklists field is absent, the verifier falls back to keyword matching against the block field. Explicit assignment is preferred — see shared-references/checklist-schema.md for the keyword-to-checklist mapping.

Architecture Decomposition Rules

• Every sub-block must have a clear, testable interface — defined input/output signals with impedance/swing/timing specs
• No circular dependencies — block A's spec cannot depend on block B's implementation if B depends on A
• Budget must close — if individual block budgets don't sum to meet the top-level spec, the architecture is invalid. Iterate before proceeding.
• Flag risks at block boundaries — e.g., "comparator kickback will disturb DAC top plate — need isolation switch or timing guard"

Spec Derivation Example (SAR ADC)

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Top-level: 8-bit, 100MS/s, ENOB >= 7.5

Noise budget (thermal):
  Total kT/C noise < LSB/2 / 6.6sigma -> C_sample > 4kT / (V_LSB/6.6)^2
  Allocate: 70% to sampling cap, 20% to comparator, 10% to reference

Timing budget (100MS/s -> 10ns per conversion):
  Sampling phase: 3ns (30%)
  8 SAR cycles: 7ns -> 875ps per bit
    - DAC settling: 400ps
    - Comparator decision: 400ps
    - Logic delay: 75ps

Power budget (e.g., 2mW total):
  Comparator: 0.8mW (40%)
  DAC switching: 0.4mW (20%)
  SAR logic: 0.2mW (10%)
  Reference/bias: 0.6mW (30%)

Each sub-block spec.yml must show the derivation from top-level requirements, not just state the number. The derivation is what makes the spec auditable.

Testbench Writing Guidelines

The architect owns all testbenches. When writing testbenches, keep these common pitfalls in mind — the verifier will check for them before simulating:

• PSRR: supply ripple must be applied with the input properly biased and output loaded; measure at the output, not an internal node
• CMRR: common-mode input must sweep while differential input is zero; watch for CMFB loop interaction
• Phase margin: loop must be broken at the correct point with correct replica loading; Middlebrook or STB analysis preferred over open-loop if feedback is complex
• Noise: check that the noise bandwidth and integration limits match the spec definition; spot noise vs integrated noise are different specs
• Settling time: input step must be realistic (not larger than linear range); measure to the correct accuracy band (e.g., 0.1% vs 1 LSB)
• Power: measure at steady state, not during startup transient

If the verifier rejects a testbench, fix the issue and resubmit. This is not a design iteration — it is quality control on the architect's own work.

Handoff Contract

Reference shared-references/handoff-contracts.md for the full handoff payload requirements.

Phase 1 Inputs (Top-level spec -> Architect)

Phase 1 Outputs (Architect returns)

Handoff Acceptance Criteria

Phase 1 is complete when:

• architecture.md documents candidates, tradeoffs, and selected architecture
• Every sub-block has blocks/<name>/spec.yml with derived specs and derivation shown
• Every sub-block has blocks/<name>/verification-plan.md defining what to verify and how
• budget.md shows power/noise/timing budgets close (sum meets top-level)
• Every sub-block spec.yml has the checklists field set
• No transistor-level design has been done (that is the designer's job)

Scope

This skill covers Phase 1 only. Phase 2 (behavioral validation) is handled by /analog-behavioral. Phase 3 (integration verification) is handled by /analog-integrate.