Lecturer: Carla Vacchi  

Course name: Electronics for digital systems (laboratory)
Course code: 502519
Degree course: Ingegneria Elettronica e delle Telecomunicazioni
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/01
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: http://www.unipv.it/vacchi/ESDigLab.html

Specific course objectives

The course is offered to those students intended to deepen their skills in the design of medium-complexity digital electronic systems to be implemented by means of ASIC, FPGA or microcontroller. Methodological aspects are covered as well as the analysis of practical topics which include experimental activities, examples and case studies. Students will be introduced also to the design and analysis of electronics systems that interact with physical processes. The activities will include experimental verification of the behavior, a draft technical report of the design and the characterization of the electronic systems. As a consequence the examination at the end of the course will ensure that the student has learned methods to describe, simulate and analyze the behavior of a system and that is able to design a small digital (or mixed analog/digital) system from the specifications to the real implementation at board-level.

Course programme

Application Specific Integrated Circuit
Standard Cells design, symbolic layout methods. Automated synthesis of digital circuits and systems. Simulation, schematic and layout editors, Design rule Checkers, Circuit extractors.

Programmable logic
PAL, PLA, CPLD, FPGA. Design flow. FPGA resources (memories, multipliers, PLL, clock). IP selection, use and applications. Input/Output.

Microcontrollers
Internal structure, peripherals, timer, A/D converter, clock oscillators.

Interconnections
Protocols, components, connectors. Drivers for analog and digital loads, PWM driving of loads, signal conditioning, signal integrity. Aynchronous and Synchronous transmission.

Regulators and references
Linear regulators and Switching regulators. Voltage and current references. Ground and power distribution.

Laboratories
Design and implementation of a digital system with interdisciplinary characteristics, based on small microcontrollers (C language) or programmable logic (VHDL). Evaluation boards are available to test the designs. Demo cases on medical devices, consumer electronics, process controls and specific industrial manufacturings are presented, going through specifications, CAD design, electronic components selection, up to the final PCB and also the testing of the circuit. A report is required for the lab sessions and will be considered during the final grade.

Course entry requirements

Knowledge of the basic laws governing electrical circuits. Principles of Digital Electronics (elementary standard cells, combinatorial and sequential logic, arithmetic circuits, memories). Basics of C language. The student should have some familiarity in using laboratory equipments (oscilloscope, power supply, signal generator).

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 26
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 56

Suggested reading materials

Notes provided by the professor. Slides used in the lectures, examples of written tests, selected articles, datasheets, reports, application notes, a list of http links containing white papers on the different subjects are available on the course website

Testing and exams

The exam consists of a written and an oral test, both mandatory. The written test (50% of the final grade) aims at assessing the students’ knowledge of the theoretical aspects through numerical exercises, multiple choice questions and the design of small mixed analog/digital systems from their specifications. The remaining 50% of the mark is based on the evaluation of the lab activities, beginning from individual written reports that will be evaluated during an oral presentation. Ability to design systems, being able to choose the most convenient technique, will be evaluated.