CE 4940 - VLSI Design Techniques

2 lecture hours 2 lab hours 3 credits

Course Description
This course introduces students to the design and fabrication of custom-made integrated circuits. The course draws on students’ knowledge of electronic circuit theory, semiconductor device physics, digital logic design, circuit simulation, and software algorithms. A variety of combinational and sequential logic implementation styles are described and simulated including static CMOS, dynamic CMOS, domino logic, static RAM, and dynamic RAM. Simulation is completed using the SPICE input language and fabrication process models. Students are also introduced to classic algorithms in automated synthesis including algorithms for logic reduction and partitioning, placement of circuit blocks, and routing of interconnection between circuit blocks. (prereq: CE 1911 , CE 2811 or EE 1910)

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Use the equations of conduction to describe VLSI circuit performance parameters including power consumption, rise time, fall time, threshold voltage, and noise margins
Describe VLSI implementation styles including static CMOS, dynamic CMOS, and domino logic
Describe how static and dynamic RAM are implemented as VLSI circuits
Describe classic algorithms in logic reduction, placement, and routing
Use the SPICE input language to describe and simulate VLSI circuits
Use transistor layout software to design transistor level circuits

Prerequisites by Topic

Combinational and sequential logic
C programming

Course Topics

Transistor equations of conduction
CMOS implementation styles (static CMOS, dynamic CMOS, domino logic)
CMOS logic gate design
Static and dynamic RAM circuits
Performance analysis of CMOS circuits including power, rise time, fall time, threshold voltage, and noise margins
Graph theoretic algorithms in partitioning and routing

Laboratory Topics

Design and simulation of CMOS logic circuits using the PSPICE input language
Design and simulation of memory circuits using the PSPICE input language
Design and simulation of transistor layouts
Implementation of simple graph theoretic VLSI algorithms in the C programming language

Coordinator
Dr. Russell Meier

Announcement

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CE 4940 - VLSI Design Techniques