Laboratory of Digital Systems

Code:

EEC0006

Acronym:

LSDI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Electronics and Digital Systems

Instance: 2013/2014 - 1S

Active?	Yes
E-learning page:	https://moodle.fe.up.pt/
Responsible unit:	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Electrical and Computers Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEEC	307	Syllabus (Transition) since 2010/2011	1	-	7,5	70	202,5
		Syllabus	1	-	7,5	70	202,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The three main objectives for this curricular unit are: 1) to explain the theoretical foundations and practical aspects of the analysis and synthesis of digital systems (combinational and sequential); 2) to offer an introduction to modern digital system design using hardware description languages and tools for specification, simulation and synthesis, and 3) to introduce the fundamental concepts associated with the internal organization and operation of microprocessors and their programming in assembly language.

Learning outcomes and competences

 Upon sucesfully completing this curricular unit students will be able to:
• Use different basis (decimal, binary, octal, hexadecimal) to represent and manipulate integer and fractional numbers, both positive and negative, and to realize sums and subtractions in these basis;
• Obtain representations of combinational functions (truth tables, logic expressions, sums of minterms, products of maxterms), from informal descriptions, and to perform the transformations needed to reduce their complexity and simplify the circuits which implement them;
• Analyze and design circuits with basic digital combinational building blocks like logic gates, multiplexers, decoders, adders and comparators;
• Understand the operation of bistable digital devices (flip-flops) and their use in the realization of synchronous sequential circuits;
• Obtain representations of finite state machines (FSM) such as state diagrams and state transition tables, from informal descriptions of their intended behavior;
• Analyze and design simple sequential circuits based on flip-flops, registers, counters and shift-registers;
• Understand the organization and the operation of the data path of a simple microprocessor (ALU, registers, multiplexers and buses) and of its control unit (instruction decoding and sequencing);
• Develop and analyze simple programs in assembly language, dealing with arithmetic and logic operations, tests and jumps;
• Build and analyze modular assembly programs using subroutines;
• Identify the main blocks of a microprocessor based system and understand the basic forms of communication with peripherals;;
• Interpret and describe the structure of a digital system using a hardware description language (Verilog) taking advantage of the concepts of modularity asn hierarchy;;
• Use software tools for schematics capture, simlation and synthesis (Xilinx ISE and ModelSim) for the implementation of digital circutis in programmable logic (FPGAs);;
• Identify the main characteristics of the most common technologies for physical implementation of integrated digital circuits.

In this curricular unit it is expected that the students will develop skills of spoken and written communication as well as personal and inter-personal working and communication aptitudes.

 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

 

Program

• Number systems and representation of integer and fractional numbers. Binary arithmetic.
• Boolean Algebra: application in the simplification of logic expressions. Analysis and synthesis of combinational circuits using logic gates and higher complexity blocks (multiplexers, decoders and comparators).
• Bistable digital devices (flip-flops) and their utilization in the realization of synchronous sequential circuits and finite state machines.  Analysis and synthesis of finite state machines using counters and shift-registers.
• Structural description and simulation of digital circuits using the Verilog hadware description language.
• Introduction to the architecture of microprocessors and identification of its main components. Decoding, control and data path units. Stored program execution model.
• Assembly language programming: main types of instructions.  Subroutines and structured programming.
• Main components of a microprocessor-based sytem and basic ways of communication with peripherals.

Mandatory literature

José Carlos Alves; Sistemas Digitais, Autor/FEUP, 2005
António José Araújo; Laboratório de Sistemas Digitais - Exercícios resolvidos e propostos, Autor/FEUP, 2012

Complementary Bibliography

John F. Wakerly; Digital design. ISBN: 0-13-089896-1
Guilherme Arroz, José Monteiro, Arlindo Oliveira; Arquitectura de Computadores: dos Sistema Digitais aos Microprocessadores, IST Press, 2007. ISBN: 9789728469542
David A. Patterson, John L. Hennessy; Computer organization and design. ISBN: 978-0-12-374493-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Fundamentals and main concepts of the program contents are covered in theoretical (T) and theoretical/practical (TP) classes, and are complemented with illustrative examples and exercises. The laboratory classes (L) are dedicated to experimental work intended to introduce digital system analysis and design techniques making use of PC based development tools.

Software

ModelSim (http://model.com/content/modelsim-downloads)
Xilinx ISE (http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.htm)
Mars (http://courses.missouristate.edu/KenVollmar/MARS/)

keywords

Technological sciences > Engineering > Electrical engineering
Technological sciences > Engineering > Computer engineering

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	110,00
Frequência das aulas	75,00
Trabalho laboratorial	17,50
Total:	202,50

Eligibility for exams

The student cannot miss more than 25% of the planned laboratorial sessions.

 

 

Calculation formula of final grade

Assessment is based on the following components:
• Two tests (T1 e T2)
• Two laboratory quizzes (F1 e F2)
The students who take this curriculat unit for the first time (regime 1) are required to take these two tests and two lab quizzes.
For students who have attended this curricular unit before (regime 2) the two tests are required, but the two lab quizzes are optional.

T being the average of T1 and T2, and F the average of F1 and F2, the final grade (CF) is obtained by one of the following formulas:
CF = 0,5*T + 0,5*F , for regime 1 students;
CF = max(0,5*T + 0,5* F; T) , for regime 2 students; F corresponds to the value obtained in the current academic year, or in a previous one, whichever is largest.

Tests and lab quizzes not taken count as zero in the formulas above. As there are no laboratory classes planned for regime 2, students interested in redoing work on the lab experiments may do so at their own pace, with support from the teaching assistants and lab technicians.

In order to pass this curricular unit students have to obtain a final grade CF greater than or equal to 10.  Additionally, students have to be elligible for taking exams (obtaining frequência), that is having not missed more than 25% of the planned laboratorial classes.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Students who have missed one or more assessment components, and have produced a valid reason, accepted by the Director of MIEEC, will realize written or oral make up exams.

Internship work/project

 

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

 

Classification improvement

 Improvement of a grade obtained in a previous academic year will be doen by exam.

Observations

Professors of this curricular unit will be available for answering questions during office hours and by appointment (email):
- Prof. José Silva Matos (JSM), jsm@fe.up.pt, Room I235;
- Prof. António José Araújo (AJA), aja@fe.up.pt, Room I236;
- Prof. João Paulo Sousa (JFS), jfs@fe.up.pt, Room I236.