Module overview
Design hierarchical modules using a layout editor.
Demonstrate project management and time management skills including working to deadlines and planning your work beyond the next deadline.
Communicate your work accurately and concisely through written reports.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The importance of a systematic approach to design and test in order to reduce the problems of debugging large systems
- A complete integrated circuit design flow based on a standard cell design approach
- The use of CAD tools in the design process
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Verify function and performance of designs using digital and analogue simulators
- Model complex digital systems using a hardware description language
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Work as a member of a team.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Manage a complex system design through the use of hierarchy and a modular design and test strategy
Syllabus
Preparation:
Within each team, students will undertake research relevent to the system design and present their results to the team.
System Design:
Having completed a cell library it will be used in the construction of a large digital system. The tasks undertaken will include:
- Interpretation of the specification
- Outline block design
- HDL Specification
- Detailed module design
- Module place & route
- Flooplanning & global layout
- Simulation at all stages
A number of deliverables will be produced in connection with these tasks.
Fabrication:
The best student design will be chosen for fabrication, with the fabricated chip being used in subsequent projects by other students.
Note that where a group project is not appropriate a suitably tailored individual project or programme of work is substituted. This is the case for part time students for whom collaboration is not practicable.
Learning and Teaching
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 22 |
| Lecture | 12 |
| Follow-up work | 8 |
| Supervised time in studio/workshop | 30 |
| Completion of assessment task | 70 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 8 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Weste N, Harris D, (2011). Integrated Circuit Design: A Circuits and Systems Perspective. Pearson.
Gajski D D, (1997). Principles of Digital Design. Prentice Hall.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Laboratory sessions are scheduled in the labs on level 2 of the Zepler building Length of each session: 3 hours Number of sessions completed by each student: 12 Max number of students per session: unlimited Demonstrator:student ratio: 1:12 Preferred teaching weeks: 1 to 12Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Continuous Assessment | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal