FALL 2009
ESE 555: Advanced VLSI System Design

Course Goals

Advanced very large scale integration (VLSI) circuit design. Design methodologies (architectural simulation, hardware description language design entry, silicon compilation, and verification), microarchitectures, interconnect, packaging, noise sources, circuit techniques, design for testability, design rules, VLSI technologies (silicon and GaAs), and yield. Projects in chip design.

Project

This is a project-oriented course in which you will design a modest-sized CMOS integrated circuit. No specific lab times are scheduled, and you can work at your convenience. Graduate Student Computer Lab is open 24 hours a day. You need to get a key card from the department. Integrated circuit design is mastered only through experience. The CAD assignments, as well as lectures, will be closely ties to the final project, the design of a simple RISC microprocessor. The design of cells for the project will be done in a group of 2-3. Each group will receive same grade for the project. The final project must be completed, and you must submit a final report. Within the constraints of available funding, eligible projects will be fabricated through the MOSIS service.

Grading