Curricular integration for next generation in microsystem design education

Abstract

Rapid advances in microelectronic technologies increasingly require microsystem designers to be also system architects. At the same time architecting systems for submicron technologies can no longer be done in isolation from technology limitations and capabilities. To train future engineers, an effective integration of design technology and architecture is needed at a time when additional demands are being placed due to expanded offering in software/web-centric courses. In this paper, we discuss how this integration can be achieved by teaching microsystem organization and architecture that brings together existing courses in VLSI, CAD and Computer Architectures into a coherent theme.