Fundamentals of VLSI design
Summary
The course introduces the fundamentals of digital integrated circuits and the technology aspects from a designers perspective. It focuses mostly on transistor level, but discusses also the extension to large digital semicustom designs.
Content
Introduction:
History/milestones, methodology, technology, design objectives & principles
Digital CMOS Fundamentals (Inverter):
DC characteristics, delay, rise/fall time, noise-margins, impact of sizing
Basic CMOS logic gates:
Constructing basic logic gates, transistor sizing, gate delay considerations
Custom digital logic:
Logical effort model, sizing of gates, inverter chains
Parasitic effects:
Routing capacitance, wire resistance, Elmore delay model
Technology considerations:
Technology scaling, impact on parasitics, variabiity
Low-power design:
Power consumption basics (leakage, dynamic), voltage-scaling, basic low-power design principles
Memories:
Embedded SRAM (6T bit-cell, organization, peripherals), SRAM stability (noise margins)
DRAM (briefly)
Fundamentals of Semicustom design:
Design flow, design abstraction, IP components, standard-cells (layout, characterization, lib, lef)
Semicustom design flow:
Logic synthesis, place & route, clock distribution, verification
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
EE-490(b) Lab in EDA based design (can be attended in parallel in same semester)
Recommended courses
EE-334 Digital system design (can be attended in parallel in same semester)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Construct digital logic gates
- Analyze the performance of digital gates
- Optimize digital logic
- Explain the operation of embedded memories
- Anticipate the impact of parasitics and technology scaling
- Implement a semicustom integrated circuit from a given RTL code to layout
- Link simplified abstract models to detailed computer simulations
Teaching methods
Ex-cathedra lectures with computer labs using industry-standard IC design tools
Prerequisite for
EE-431 Advanced VLSI design (highly recommended)
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Fundamentals of VLSI design
- Lecture: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Fundamentals of VLSI design
- Lecture: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Fundamentals of VLSI design
- Lecture: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks