Course syllabus for Methods for electronic system design and verification

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameKonstruktionsmetodik för elektroniksystem
  • CodeDAT110
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPEES
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyComputer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering
  • DepartmentMICROTECHNOLOGY AND NANOSCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 15114
  • Maximum participants42 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Minimum participants10
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0107 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Digital circuits and hardware description languages corresponding to Design of digital electronic systems (DAT094) and Introduction to integrated circuit design (MCC092).

Aim

In light of the fact that we can integrate billions of transistors on a single integrated circuit, electronic system designers are forced to make use of computer-aided design tools, so-called Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, to manage design complexity and to meet, for example, strict timing, power dissipation and time-to-market budgets. Thus, apart from having skills in each of the abstraction levels, like circuit, logic, and architecture design, an electronic system designer must have a thorough understanding of design and verification methods that span the different abstraction levels and the algorithms that are leveraged inside the EDA tools.

The purpose of this course is to strengthen the student's knowledge in EDA-based design and verification methods and to make the student proficient in utilizing the right EDA tools, in the right context and in the right sequence.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

1. describe the algorithmic principles of a number of important EDA concepts, such as behavioral and logic synthesis, logic simulation, static timing analysis, timing closure and power dissipation analysis
2. describe contemporary EDA design flows and their fundamental weaknesses and strengths
3. apply Linux-based EDA tools, including simple shell scripts, for design and verification of digital electronic systems
4. perform timing-driven synthesis and power dissipation analysis for digital circuits
5. critically and systematically integrate knowledge, to model, simulate, and evaluate features of digital ASIC design flows
6. write a technical report containing introduction, background, method, results and conclusion, with proper commentary of data and reference handling, also considering ethical aspects

Content

The lecture series, which mirrors the overall content of the course, covers:
 - Terminology and structure of EDA systems.
 - Functional verification.
 - Behavioral and logic synthesis.
 - Timing analysis.
 - Power and energy analysis.
 - Variability.
 - Physical design.
 - Design for test and manufacturability.
 - Technical writing.
 - Ethical aspects in embedded electronic system design.

Beside the lecture on technical writing, there is also one peer-response workshop where the students get to develop their writing skills by reading and commenting on technical report drafts from other students.

Organisation

The pedagogical concept of the course rests on two cornerstones: Lectures supply the design and verification context of advanced electronic systems containing software and hardware. Lab sessions offer comprehensive hands-on training on industrially relevant design and verification problems using state-of-the-art EDA design software.

Literature

Electronic Design Automation for Integrated Circuits Handbook, 2nd Edition, by L. Lavagno, I. L. Markov, G. E. Martin, and L. K. Scheffer, CRC Press, 2016, ISBN 9781482254501.

Examination including compulsory elements

Compulsory lab sessions using design software. Technical report on the lab sessions. Short reflective note on an ethical dilemma in the technical scope of the course.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.