An Undergraduate Digital Systems Laboratory With Emphasis OnVLSI

这个项目的目的是建立一个以VLSI为重点的大学生数字系统设计实验室。本实验是为计算机工程专业高年级学生开设的两门新课程的一部分。这个项目的主要目标是：(1)让学生接触到系统设计的各个方面，从行为层面到布局层面；(2)教授涉及评估、测试和重新设计的基础工程学科。这些主要目标是通过解决系统设计的以下重要方面来实现的：(1)使用多层抽象；（二）从性能、面积、设计时间和成本等各个层面对设计进行评价的方法；(3)检查在每个层次上可用的可能选择之间的权衡；(4)了解制造技术的局限性，故障的原因和影响以及故障模型；(5)通过引入可测试性设计来理解设计和测试不能是分开的活动。该实验室的目的是通过使用最新的CAD工具和反映工业先进水平的计算环境，提供实践经验。这些工具消除了设计中许多平凡的方面，使学生能够专注于重要的高层次设计问题。理论知识和实践设计经验是通过一套现实的设计项目，涉及学生在系统设计的各个方面仔细平衡。此外，该实验室还通过使用现场可编程门阵列提供了设计的快速原型。这允许学生构建、练习和重新评估设计。＊＊＊

9351291 Vrudhula The aim of this project is to establish an undergraduate digital systems design laboratory with emphasis on VLSI. This laboratory is part of a new two- course sequence offered to seniors in computer engineering. The primary objectives of this project are: (1) to expose the students to all aspects of systems design, starting from the behavioral level down to the layout level; and (2) to teach the fundamental engineering discipline involved in evaluation, testing and redesign. These primary objectives are being achieved by addressing the following important aspects of systems design: (1) use of multiple levels of abstraction; (2) methods of evaluating a design in terms of performance, area, design time and cost at each level; (3) examining tradeoffs among the possible choices that are available at each level; (4) understanding the limits of fabrication technology, causes and effects of failures and fault models; and (5) understanding that design and test cannot be separate activities by introducing design for testability. The purpose of the laboratory is to provide hands on experience through the use of the latest CAD tools and a computing environment that reflects the state-of-the-art in industry. The tools eliminate much of the mundane aspects of the design and allow the students to focus on the important high level design issues. Theoretical knowledge and practical design experience are carefully balanced through a set of realistic design projects that involve the students in all aspects of systems design. In addition, the laboratory provides for rapid prototyping of the designs through the use of Field Programmable Gate Arrays. This allows students to build, exercise, and re-evaluate designs. ***