Objective

This course is about how to put a design into silicon. The emphasis is on methodology that makes this process efficient in both time and cost. Students will learn about the circuit aspects relevant to IC design, the trade-offs behind different ASIC methodologies, the design tools being used and the importance of testing. This course will also offer hand-on opportunity for students to use design tools.

Syllabus

• Circuit Techniques
• ASIC Design Styles
• ASIC Design Automation
• Testability Considerations

Learning Outcome
Circuit Techniques:
1. understand the performance parameters of a logic gate and their trade-offs
2. learn the different circuit techniques to implement a logic gate based on Bipolar and MOS
3. appreciate the essential circuit design aspects in the context of IC

ASIC Design Styles:
1. learn the four basic ASIC design styles, PLD, Gate Array, FPGA and Standard Cells
2. understand the cost reduction opportunities in the four styles
3. acquire the competence in identifying the right ASIC style for a specific application

ASIC Design Automation:
1. learn the basic ASIC design flow
2. understand the techniques behind the different design tools
3. appreciate the capabilities and limits of different design tools

Testability Considerations:
1. appreciate the importance of testing
2. understand how testability can be evaluated
3. learn the different techniques to generate test and to improve testability

Project: learn the basic of running design tools through a design exercise

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