EECS E4340

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Computer Hardware Design

  • Organization and anatomy of a computer.
  • Introduction to computer architecture.
  • Instruction set architectures.
  • Addressing modes.
  • PDP/8 instruction set.
  • Instruction-set architecture and assembly language programming of the PDP/8
  • Design hierarchy and processes.
  • Datapath-controller partitioning.
  • ASM charting and state machine design.
  • Fundamentals of VHDL for register-transfer design
  • Datapath design and the requirements of the instruction set.
  • Datapath elements: registers, register files, shifter, adders, muxes, multipliers.
  • PDP/8 datapath.
  • Control logic design.
  • Hardwired control, microcode, millicode.
  • Testing and validation of hardware.
  • Memory. Memory hierarchy and memory technology.
  • SRAM and DRAM.
  • Reading datasheets. Types of DRAM; SDRAM,
  • DDR-SDRAM, Rambus.
  • I/O System Design for the PDP/8.
  • Asynchronous communication discipline
  • UARTs
  • Logic families and programmable logic. FPGAs.
  • Types of FPGA architectures, programming technology, CAD tools for synthesis and place-and-route
  • Busses. Synchronous and asynchronous protocols.
  • Arbitration schemes, PCI bus as a case example.
  • Power, timing, noise issues in digital design.
  • Critical paths, skew, fast paths, asynchronous inputs.
  • Packaging. Power-supply and signal integrity concerns on the board, package, and chip.
  • High-speed board design.
  • Review of basic transmission line theory.
  • High-speed signalling techniques and standards.