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
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
Design and layout simple digital CMOS logic gates
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
Analyse the performance of synchronous systems
Describe the principles of asynchronous circuits
Describe architectures for Arithmetic Datapath Blocks
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
Introduction to IC Design
- IC system design options
- CMOS processing, layout and design rules
- Stick diagrams
- Static complementary gates
- System design using standard cells
Timing Schemes in Digital Systems
- Principles of Synchronous Design
- Clock trees and clock management
- Asynchronous Circuits
- Design and implementation of Synchronisers
- Metastability in Digital System
Design of large digital Systems
- Fundamental concepts of datapath and controller
- Circuit Power Consumption, design tradeoffs speed-power, introduction to low power circuit design
- Design hierarchy
Architecture of Arithmetic Datapath Blocks (Adders and Multipliers)
- Comparision of standard designs
- Complexity analysis
- Delay analysis
