ECE 51216 - Digital Systems Design Automation

Credit Hours: 3.00.  This course will provide an introduction to the tools used to design and analyze circuits at the logic level of abstraction (where circuits are composed of gates and flip-flops). Most digital chips used in computing and electronic systems (including microprocessors, graphics processors, chips used in network routers, cell phones, digital audio/video appliances, automotive electronics) are entirely or largely designed using EDA tools. This course will focus on the foundations of logic-level EDA tools, including the design of exact and heuristic algorithms  that form the basis for VLSI Computer-Aided Design. Topics covered include an overview of the IC design flow and levels of abstraction, synthesis of two-level (AND-OR / PLA) circuits, multi-level logic synthesis and technology mapping, sequential circuit synthesis, Logic-level verification using Boolean Satisfiability and BDDs, Timing Analysis, Power analysis and Reduction, and design techniques for emerging nanoscale technologies.Credits: 3.00