Digital Systems Architecture and Design

Overview

Lectures:
Series of topics associated with the design and analysis of digital circuits;
Understanding and use of VHDL-based design;
Architectures of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs);
combinational logic minimisation of programmable logic structures;
design of synchronous sequential systems;
fault detection and testability;
Von-Neumann computer architecture, control unit designs, memory systems;
caches,
MMUs, Virtual Memory,
Processor benchmarking.

Coursework :
Implementation and exploration of digital test circuit designs.

Learning Objectives

General:
Design report writing.

Coursework:
Advanced hardware design software usage.
Simulation and synthesis of practical circuits.
Specific: (Tested by examination)
Knowledge of the principles that underpin the efficient design and operation of digital circuits and systems.
Computer architecture organisation.

Skills

Skills General:
Understanding of computer architecture principles.
Analysis and design of digital circuits.

Coursework:
Use of advance digital design tools in designing, verifying, synthesising and assess performance.

Assessment

Examination; design project; coursework