Advanced VLSI Systems

(3-0-3-4)

CMPE Degree: This course is Selected Elective for the CMPE degree.

EE Degree: This course is Selected Elective for the EE degree.

Lab Hours: 0 supervised lab hours and 3 unsupervised lab hours.

Technical Interest Groups / Course Categories: Threads / ECE Electives

Course Coordinator: Arijit Raychowdhury

Prerequisites: ECE 3150 [min D] or ECE 3400 [min D]

Catalog Description

An advanced treatment of VLSI systems analysis, design, and testing with emphasis on complex systems and how they are incorporated into a silicon environment.

Textbook(s)

Introduction to VLSI Circuits and Systems

Course Outcomes

Explain the working principles for MOSFETs and CMOS logic. 

Provide detailed analysis and explanation of power and performance of digital CMOS logic gates. 

Provide detailed design, analysis and explanations of both combinational as well as sequential circuit design including static random access memory circuits.

Explain clocking, power management and clock/power distribution circuits. 

Design, simulate and analyze both schematics and layout of digital circuits using the state-of-the-art computer-aided-design tools.

Strategic Performance Indicators (SPIs)

N/A

Topic List

  1. Current State of VLSI
    1. Fabrication and Size Metrics
    2. Performance Metrics
    3. System Complexity
  2. Complex VLSI Systems
    1. Architectural Trends in Microprocessors
    2. The Large VLSI Chip
    3. Modules, Units, and VHDL
    4. Floorplanning, Interconnect, Clock Distribution
    5. System Hierarchies: VHDL to Silicon
    6. Timing Issues
  3. High-Performance CMOS Design Styles
    1. Transient Analysis and Sizing
    2. Dynamic Logic Networks
    3. Domino, Advanced Dynamic, SR and ST Logic
    4. Dual-rail Differential Logic Families
    5. Advanced Design Techniques
    6. Clock Distribution Techniques
    7. High-speed I/O Networks
    8. Examination of Current Literature
    9. Standard-cell to Full-custom
    10. Critical Metrics and Physical Limitations
    11. Packaging Issues  
  4. The VLSI Design Environment
    1. System Specifications
    2. Efficient Usage of Design Libraries and Hierarchies
    3. Toolsets at the User Level
    4. LVS, Logic Simulation, Circuit Simulation, Place & Route
    5. Design of Toolsets
    6. Review of Basic Algorithms
    7. Database Structure and Usage
    8. Design Automation and VLSI
    9. Layout, Placement, Routing, Silicon Compilation
    10. Synthesis Tools