Unit Guide
ECS-3-187
Level 3
Advanced Digital Electronics
Credit 1
Semester 1 / 2
Subject Area: Computer & Software Engineering
Student study hours
Lectures: 24 hrs
Workshop: 24 hrs
Student-managed learning: 102 hrs
Assessment
Examination:
Assignment:
70 %
30 %
A typical assignment will consist of a design exercise including the use of VHDL, logic synthesis and
simulation. Designs which are verified via simulation may be implemented using PLD/FPGA devices.
Unit coordinator
Dr D Protheroe (prothed@sbu.ac.uk)
Lecturer(s)
Dr D Protheroe
Aims
To provide students with a knowledge of the design and implementation methods used in modern
digital systems.
To analyse and synthesise combinational, synchronous and asynchronous circuits.
To understand the role and application of CAD tools for digital design.
Objectives
At the end of this unit, you should be able to :
Apply the appropriate design techniques for a range of digital design problems. This will extend
the circuit design techniques studied at level 2 and introduce the concepts of behavioural synthesis
for system-level designs. Understand the problems of digital circuit testing and apply the
principles of design for testability. Select the most appropriate implementation technique for a
design and appreciate the problems of physical design in high-speed systems. Apply a range of
CAD tools to the problems of design, layout, verification and test.
Syllabus content
Further topics in synchronous design : State reduction, State assignment, Clock and timing
considerations.
Implementation of synchronous circuits : Traditional, MUX-based, ROM-based.
Distributed controllers : Linked ASMs, Handshaking.
Testing and design for testability : Structural and functional test strategies, Fault simulation,
Design for testability.
Further topics in asynchronous design : State reduction and assignment in multiple state-variable
machines, Races, Implementation.
Logic synthesis : Two-level and multi-level optimisation, Technology mapping, Synthesis of
controller and datapath components.
Implementation techniques : Complex PLDs, FPGAs, ASIC technologies.
Behavioural synthesis : HDLs, Language-driven design, Extraction and optimisation of RTL
descriptions, Scheduling and allocation.
Further topics in physical design : Clock distribution, Characteristics of signal interconnections,
Power supply and distribution, Review of high-speed IC and PCB layout.
Reading list
Core reading:
Digital Design - Principles & Practices. Wakerly J. Prentice Hall. 1999.
Optional reading:
Principles of Digital Design. Gajski DD. Prentice Hall. 1997.
Contemporary Logic Design. Katz RH. Benjamin/Cummings. 1994.
Integrated circuit design and technology. Morant MJ. Chapman & Hall. 1990.
The students guide to VHDL. Ashenden PJ. Morgan Kaufmann. 1998.
Synthesis and Optimization of Digital Circuits. DeMichelli G. McGraw-Hill. 1994.
VHDL : Analysis and modeling of digital systems. Navabi Z. McGraw-Hill. 1993.
Digital Systems Design using VHDL. Roth CH. PWS Publishing. 1998.
Digital System Design with VHDL. Zwolinski M. Prentice Hall. 2000.
Unit web page
The web page for this unit (containing tutorial sheets, lab sheets and other supplementary material)
can be found at:
eent3.sbu.ac.uk/units
Teaching scheme
Weeks 1-2
Implementation techniques : MSI, PLD, CPLDs, FPGAs, Semicustom devices.
Synchronous circuit design (1).
Weeks 3-4
Introduction to logic synthesis. Hardware description languages.
Synchronous circuit design (2).
Weeks 5-6
VHDL - Synthesis subset.
Sequential components and building blocks.
Weeks 7-8
Combinational design: Minimisation criteria. Factorisation.
Register-transfer level design (1).
Weeks 9-10
Technology mapping.
Register-transfer level design (2).
Weeks 11-12
Further topics in logic design, for example - Non-exhaustive minimisation methods; Testing and
Design for Testability; Physical layout and implementation; Asynchronous design.
Register-transfer level design (3).
The laboratory-based exercises are intended both to enhance practical skills through use of new tools
and techniques, and to emphasise that the theoretical techniques described in the lectures can and must
be applied in practical cases.
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