VLSI Circuit Design
Keywords |
Classification |
Keyword |
OFICIAL |
Electronics and Digital Systems |
Instance: 2008/2009 - 2S
Cycles of Study/Courses
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
The main aim is to provide the students with basic knowledge about the technological aspects of digital CMOS integrated circuits and the corresponding design techniques, so that they are able to specify, design and implement CMOS ICs. The students will also acquire practical experience with EECAD design flow and tools for the design of complex ICs.
Program
IC design flow: models, tasks and tools. Full-custom and standard cell design flows.
Review of basic aspects of CMOS technology, electrical and logical circuit behaviour. Modeling of submicrometer devices.
Combinational and sequential logic: advanced static and dynamic implementation techniques. Design of digital blocks for complex ICs: arithmetic circuits, memory, PLAs and other regular structures.
Design and implementation of standard-cell based ASICs. Basic principles of digital systems specification using hardware description languages. Introduction to Verilog. High-level sysnthesis of digital systems. Technology mapping. Physical design aspects: floorplanning, placement and routing. Simulation and verification.
Global performance-related aspects: global signals, clock trees, power consumption. Basic aspects of low-power digital circuit design.
Industry-grade support tools for very complex ICs: Cadence IC Station and Synopsys Design Compiler.
Mandatory literature
Jan M. Rabaey, Anantha Chandrakasan, Borivoje Nikolic; Digital Integrated Circuits: A Design Perspective, Prentice-Hall, 2003. ISBN: 0-13-090996-3
Jan M. Rabaey, Anantha Chandrakasan, Borivoje Nikolic; Digital Integrated Circuits: A Design Perspective, Prentice-Hall, 2003. ISBN: 0-13-090996-3
Complementary Bibliography
Michael J. S. Smith; Application-Specific Integrated Circuits, Addison-Wesley, 1997. ISBN: 0-201-50022-1
Kang, Sung-Mo (Steve);
CMOS digital integrated circuits. ISBN: 0-0711-6427-8 )
Michael J. S. Smith; Application-Specific Integrated Circuits, Addison-Wesley, 1997. ISBN: 0-201-50022-1
Kang, Sung-Mo (Steve);
CMOS digital integrated circuits. ISBN: 0-0711-6427-8 )
Teaching methods and learning activities
Students (working in group) are required to implement two small projects.
The most important topics are presented in the lectures. Exercises and case studies are performed in the practical sessions.
Software
Cadence IC Station (Layout design, physical synthesis)
Synopsys Design Compiler
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation with final exam
Assessment Components
Description |
Type |
Time (hours) |
Weight (%) |
End date |
Attendance (estimated) |
Participação presencial |
52,00 |
|
|
Laboratory assignment 1 |
Trabalho laboratorial |
8,00 |
|
2009-04-10 |
Laboratory assignment 2 |
Exame |
12,00 |
|
2009-06-12 |
Exam |
Exame |
3,00 |
|
|
|
Total: |
- |
0,00 |
|
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
Description |
Type |
Time (hours) |
End date |
Study |
Estudo autónomo |
90 |
|
|
Total: |
90,00 |
|
Eligibility for exams
The Frequency note (Freq) is calculated as follows:
Freq = 0.3 x TP1 + 0.7 x TP2
TP1: project assignment n. 1
TP2: projectl assignment n. 2
In order to complete the course, the student must have Freq >= 8.0.
Calculation formula of final grade
The final classification (NFinal) is calculated as follows:
NFinal = 0.4 x Freq + 0.6 x E
E: final exam classification
Final exam: open-book, 2H.
Classification improvement
Whole course: special exam (open-book, 3H).
The classification of the final exam may be improved by doing an exam of similar complexity.
NFreq cannot be improved individually.