Undergraduate VLSI Curriculum and Laboratory Emphasizing Mixed-Signal Circuit Design

工程-电气（55）在过去十年中，半导体行业对工程人才的需求显著增加，但具有相关经验的应届毕业生的供应却有所下降，特别是在模拟和混合信号集成电路设计领域。该项目通过显著增加具有集成电路设计直接经验的本科生的数量来解决这个问题，特别是在(i)数字、模拟和混合信号电路设计领域，（ii）布局和制造技术，以及（iii）测试设计。从研究生阶段的超大规模集成电路课程的关键主题被改编成一个针对本科生的新课程。爱荷华州立大学和田纳西大学诺克斯维尔分校提供的VLSI课程的课程笔记和实验室手册是主要的原始材料。两门选修课的重点是电路和布局水平的数字和混合信号设计。实验经验强化了课程内容，并鼓励学生使用商业级CAD工具（如Cadence）来实现和模拟设计，并获得混合信号测试仪器（包括混合信号示波器和任意波形发生器）的经验。学生设计的VLSI芯片由MOSIS服务制造并在实验室进行测试。预计罗斯-霍尔曼电气和计算机工程专业每个毕业班的学生中有30%将参加该计划。课程笔记、实验手册和课程开发工作的范例设计项目将通过互联网网络服务器发布。

Engineering - Electrical (55)During the last decade, the semiconductor industry has significantly increased its demandfor engineering talent, yet the supply of recent graduates with relevant experience has declined, especially in the areas of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design. This project addresses the problem by measurably increasing the number of undergraduates with direct experience in integrated circuit design, specifically in the areas of (i) digital, analog and mixed-signal circuit design, (ii) layout and fabrication techniques, and (iii) design for test. Key topics from graduate-level VLSI curricula are being adapted to form a new curriculum targeted towards undergraduates. Course notes and laboratory manuals from VLSI courses offered by Iowa State University and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville serve as the primary source material.The two-course elective sequence focuses on digital and mixed-signal design at the circuit and layout levels. Laboratory experiences reinforce the course material, and encourage students to use commercial-grade CAD tools such as Cadence to implement and simulate designs, and to gain experience with mixed-signal test instruments including mixed-signal oscilloscopes and arbitrary waveform generators. VLSI chips designed by students are fabricated by the MOSIS service and tested in the laboratory. It is anticipated that 30% of each graduating class of Rose-Hulman electrical and computer engineering students will participate in the program. Course notes, lab manuals, and example design projects resulting from the curriculum development work will be disseminated via an Internet web server.