Hello! I'm Riccardo

I start by describing the system and defining custom key performance indicators (KPIs) - whether that’s efficiency, waveform shape, thermal constraints, distortion, or size. This establishes what “good” means for the specific application.

I run an initial optimization on ideal electrical parameters - like inductances, capacitances, or resonant frequencies - across large design spaces using custom-made automated simulations. This gives a clear view of what’s physically achievable before locking into any constraints.

Once I’ve defined optimal electrical values, I iterate over a database of real components - MOSFETs, capacitors, inductors, magnetics - to find the best match based on the current project’s KPIs. I weigh trade-offs like conduction losses, switching behavior, thermal margins, and price - all programmatically.

With the best components selected for each function - based on KPIs and simulation - I move to a first-pass prototype. Non-idealities can’t be fully modeled, but this approach ensures the prototype starts from an informed, high-performance baseline rather than guesswork.

The prototype is used to uncover and correct the effects of non-idealities, not to reinvent the design. This helps avoid the trap of anchoring around a poor first version and reduces iteration count, often needing only one or two builds instead of many.