Significant microelectronics systems design experience for a heterogeneous class of CS, CE, and EE students

Abstract

Using structured design techniques borrowed from software programming, beginning circuit designers at the University of Cincinnati consistently create correct, working chips containing several thousand gates. Careful choice of topics and easy-to-use tools allow consideration of physical behaviour and optimization techniques and also prepare students for more advanced study of circuit design. Chip testing is accomplished with user-friendly software and hardware created locally by a group of M.S. Students. Initially targeting CMOS tiny chip designs, course materials have recently been modified for programmable logic devices (PLDs). Immediate testability of PLDs provides better feedback, and the associated design tools support high-level hardware description languages (HDLs). This also makes multi-chip student projects feasible.