Course Syllabus
ECE 420 – Design with Programmable Logic
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
1. Course Number and Name:
2. Credit Units/Contact Hours:
3. Course Coordinator:
ECE 420 – Design with Programmable Logic
3/3
George Law
4. Text, References & Software
Recommended Text:
RTL Hardware Design Using VHDL by Pong Chu, Wiley, 2006
Additional References:
Douglas Perry, VHDL, McGraw-Hill Inc., 2001
VHDL for Programmable Logic by Kevin Skahill, Addison Wesley, 1996
Rapid Prototyping of Digital Systems by Hamblen, Hall, & Furman, Quartus 2 ed.
Software:
Quartus, Altera Corporation
Modelsim, Mentor Graphics Corp.
Internet Resources:
Data sheets, Quartus Software suite http://www.altera.com/
16V8
http://www.latticesemi.us/lit/docs/datasheets/pal_gal/16v8.pdf
Max 5000
http://www.cypress.com/ ( Search CY7C344 under Max340 EPLD )
Max7000
http://www.altera.com/literature/lit-index.html
Flex 10K
Cyclone II
http://www.altera.com/education/univ/unv-index.html
Quartus Web Edition: http://www.altera.com/education/univ/software/unv-software.html
5. Specific Course Information
a. Course Description
Designed to cover and compare a variety of programmable logic devices with design examples to
show their applications. It emphasizes the implementation of digital systems with programmable
logic devices and it uses VHDL in design description and Maxplus II software in design
simulation and verification.
b. Prerequisite by Topic
Students must be familiar with conventional techniques in designing digital logic circuit using
discrete logic. Specifically, they must be familiar with conversion of numbers among various
number systems, TTL input/output voltage and current specification, logic function minimization,
timing analysis, and functions of standard MSI combinational and sequential circuits such as
decoder, multiplexer, encoder, comparator, adder, subtractor, flip-flops, shift registers, and
counters.
c. Elective Course (EE), Required Course (CompE)
6. Specific Goals for the Course
a. Specific Outcomes of Instructions – After completing this course the students should be able to:
1. Understand the architectures of PLDs, CPLDs, and FPGA (16V8, Max5000, Max7000,
Flex10K, Cyclone II)
2. Design combinational and sequential digital circuits using PLDs, CPLDs, and FPGAs.
3. Use Quartus software to enter the digital design using schematic design entry method and
VHDL design entry method.
4. Verify the design using Functional simulation or Timing simulation graphically and with test
benches using Quartus or Modelsim.
5. Construct and verify the functionality of a hardware prototype.
b. Relationship to Student Outcomes
This supports the achievement of the following student outcomes:
a. An ability to apply knowledge of math, science, and engineering to the analysis of electrical
and computer engineering problems.
c. An ability to design systems which include hardware and/or software components within
realistic constraints such as cost, manufacturability, safety and environmental concerns.
e. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve electrical and computer engineering problems.
i. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
k. An ability to use modern engineering techniques for analysis and design.
7. Topics Covered/Course Outline
1. Custom Design Versus semi-custom design
2. Design Methodology
3. Design Software Support: Quartus
4. VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL)
5. Design Simulation with Test Benches
6. Combinational Logic Circuit Design
7. Synchronous Sequential Circuit Design
8. Programmable Logic Devices 16V8, Max5000, Max7000, Flex10K, Cyclone II
9. Design Examples
Prerequisite by Topic
Prepared by:
George Law, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, November 2011
Ali Amini, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, March 2013