Digital IC and Systems Design

Module overview

This module aims to provide a coherent introduction to digital VLSI design in CMOS, and to give students a broad understanding of the main principles required for system-on-chip design. Advanced techniques such as timing analysis and asynchronous design will also be introduced. In addition, the module extensively covers hardware architectures and timing behaviours of fundamental computer arithmetic circuits.

Linked modules

Pre-requisite: ELEC2221 or ELEC6259

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Power-reduction techniques
The Principles of CMOS Digital Circuits

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Describe architectures for Arithmetic Datapath Blocks
Analyse the performance of synchronous systems
Describe the principles of asynchronous circuits

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Design and layout simple digital CMOS logic gates

Learning and Teaching

Study time
Type	Hours
Preparation for scheduled sessions	18
Revision	10
Completion of assessment task	6
Lecture	36
Follow-up work	18
Tutorial	12
Wider reading or practice	50
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Weste N, Harris D (2011). Integrated Circuit Design: A Circuits and Systems Perspective. Pearson.

Tanenbaum and Wetherall (2010). Computer Networks. Prentice Hall.

Zwolinski M, (2010). Digital System Design with SystemVerilog. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Assessment

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Examination	90%
Design	10%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Coursework marks carried forward	10%
Examination	90%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Examination	90%
Design	10%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External