ECE 4540:VLSI Circuit Design I -- Fall 2014

professor: J. G. Tront
Room 359 Durham Hall
231-5067
jgtront@vt.edu

office hours: By Appointment

gta:YTBD

office hours: YTBD

text: CMOS VLSI Design A Circuits & Systems Perspective, Weste, Harris, 4th edition, Addison - Wesley, 2011, ISBN 0-321-54774-8.

general objectives:

• To learn basic concepts and processes for designing full custom VLSI circuits and systems using CMOS technology.
• To develop a style for designing basic logic gates, transmission gates, flip-flops, and other digital circuits using CMOS technology.
• To understand the VLSI fabrication process and to be able to interact with integrated circuit process engineers and technicians.
• To become familiar with CAD tools used in VLSI design work.
• To layout and simulate the design for a working integrated circuit of moderate complexity.

Major Measurable Learning Objectives (MMLOs):

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

1. Predict the static and dynamic behavior of CMOS digital circuits,
2. Model and simulate CMOS digital circuits,
3. Communicate effectively with integrated circuit fabrication process engineers,
4. Use CAD tools to develop moderate sized VLSI layouts,
5. Produce a basic integrated circuit,
6. Adapt their designs to different fabrication processes.

prerequisites:

• An understanding of and an ability to analyze basic electronic circuits.
• The fundamentals of computer architecture.
• Workstation and/or CAD and SPICE experience would be useful.

Pre: ECE 2504 & ECE 2204

laboratory: CAD & Visualization Lab - Room 432 Whittemore

A personal workstation account can be acquired for the CAD & Visualization Lab (CVL) by going to the web site http://computing.ece.vt.edu/ and clicking on the CVL Accounts link. The CAD & Visualization Lab administrators are located in 346 and 348 Whittemore Hall should you have difficulties with your account. Many assignments are to be completed on the workstations; however, some assignments may be done on Wintel or clones. Information on accessing the ECE 4540 software environment will be forthcoming. All students should log on to a workstation and familiarize themselves with the UNIX operating environment ASAP. Be sure to use your Virginia Tech PID as your account name for the CVL.

communications: We will rely upon electronic communications. Information pertinent to homework assignments, quizzes, and lectures will be conveyed electronically, and will be available on the class web site on Scholar.

grading

• Lab Assignments -----------------------------15%

• Midterm Exam -------------------------------25%

• Project ---------------------------------------20%

• Homework -----------------------------------15%

• Final Exam -----------------------------------25%

Homework is due on the assigned due date and time. Late homework will not be accepted unless special arrangements are made well in advance of the due date. Homework is expected to be prepared in a professional manner (points may be lost due to sloppiness). As implied in the above distribution, high emphasis is placed on the lab assignments and homework; however, good performance on all exams is expected for an exceptional grade for the class.

Homework must be turned in electronically. PDF documents are required. You will receive further instructions on how to submit your assignments from your instructor.

honor system:

Honesty in your academic work develops into professional integrity. As such, adherence to the Honor Code is expected in all phases of this class. All graded work is expected to be the original work of the individual, or of the team for projects, unless otherwise directed by the instructor. In working on project assignments, discussion and cooperative learning is allowed and, in fact, encouraged. Copying or otherwise using another person or team's programs, specific algorithms, layouts, or other detailed solutions to homework, projects or tests is an honor code violation. Please discuss any questions that you may have about what is permitted or not permitted with the instructor.

special situations:

If you need adaptations or accommodations because of a disability (learning disability, attention deficit disorder, psychological, physical, etc.), if you have emergency medical information to share with me, if you need an accomodation because of religious holidays, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office location and hours are posted above.

course schedule: click here