EECS E4340

• 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.