A microprocessor design project in an introductory VLSI course

Author

Brown, Richard B. ; Lomax, Ronald J. ; Carichner, Gordon ; Drake, Alan J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Volume

43

Issue

3

fYear

2000

fDate

8/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

353

Lastpage

361

Abstract

An introductory very large scale integration (VLSI) design course has been taught at the University of Michigan (USA) since 1980. In 1990, it was redesigned around a simple 8-bit microprocessor project in the format described in this paper; in 1996, the project was updated to a 16 bit reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor. The authors describe the course philosophy, content, and the baseline architecture from which class projects begin. The key features of the course are: close coordination of lectures and project activity; prompt and regular feedback on design work; and a schedule which spreads the workload over the full term. In this course, students learn VLSI fundamentals and good design methodology that will be important throughout their careers

Keywords

VLSI; computer science education; educational courses; electronic engineering education; microprocessor chips; reduced instruction set computing; student experiments; RISC processor; USA; VLSI fundamentals; class projects; course philosophy; design methodology; introductory VLSI course; microprocessor design project; reduced instruction set computing; students; university; very large scale integration; Circuit simulation; Computer aided instruction; Design automation; Design methodology; Feedback; Integrated circuit layout; Integrated circuit synthesis; Microprocessors; Reduced instruction set computing; Very large scale integration;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Education, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9359

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/13.865214

Filename

865214