DIGITAL SYSTEMS DESIGN AND VLSI TECHNOLOGY

Course Description

This course is fundamentally important for any computer engineer. Digital systems are found in computers, telecommunications equipment and embedded systems among others. Furthermore, their design and implementation requires the use of VLSI technology for the larger systems.

Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are:

1. To develop a working understanding of microelectronics and VLSI technology

2. To study the two major categories of programmable logic devices

3. To present the different techniques used in the design of large digital systems

4. To develop a working understanding of one or more hardware description languages (HDL)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the core concepts in microelectronics and VLSI technology

2. Create circuits that realize specified digital functions

3. Describe a digital system using a hardware description language (HDL)

4. Work with programmable logic devices (PLDs) and/or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)

5. Complete a significant VLSI design project with a set of objective criteria and design constraints

6. Identify logic and technology specific parameters to control the functionality, timing, power and parasitic effects