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ECEN 5139

ECEN 5139 - Synthesis of VLSI Systems

3 credit hours

Catalog Description: This course covers the practical and theoretical aspects involved in the synthesis and verification of complex digital systems.

Prerequisites: Undergraduate background in digital systems and a reasonable proficiency in programming.

Textbook: Lecture notes.

References:

  1. Synthesis and Optimization of Digital Circuits, G. DeMicheli, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1994.
  2. Logic Synthesis, S. Devadas, A. Ghosh, and K. Keutzer,McGraw-Hill, New York, 1994.
  3. Symbolic Model Checking, K. L. McMillan, Kluwer AcademicPublishers, Boston, 1994.
Goals: Automatic synthesis is a key tool in the development of VLSI systems and the knowledge of its techniques and applications has become vital for circuit and systems designers. Students who take this course learn how to use and write synthesis and verification tools.

Topics:

  1. Binary Decision Diagrams.
  2. Reachability analysis.
  3. Formal verification techniques: Model checking and language containment.
  4. Solution of boolean equations.
  5. Symbolic synthesis of combinational circuits.
  6. Test generation for sequential circuits.
  7. Optimization of sequential circuits.
  8. Synthesis for low power.
Computer Usage:
  1. Students get hands-on experience with synthesis and verification tools and implement their own algorithms as part of the course.
Laboratory Project:
  1. Students write a simple synthesis or formal verification application.
ABET Category Content:
  • Engineering Design: 3 credits or 100%