Instructor

Prof. Mona Zaghloul
Office: Phillips 620

Office Hours: TBD, or by appt.
Email: zaghloul@gwu.edu

GTA

Thomas J. Farmer
Email: tfarmer@gwu.edu

Lectures

In TOMP309, on Monday from 3:30pm-6:00pm

Labs

In TOMP405:
Tuesdays 4:00 - 5:15pm

Course Description

Design of VLSI circuits. Stick diagramming, NMOS transistors, switch and gate logic, PLAs, finite-state machines, design rules, CAD system, speed and power considerations, floor planning, layout techniques. Students are required to design a CMOS VLSI project and submit a final report and CIF file for Chip fabrication. The project must have detailed description of the design and verified simulation data. Students are required to use CAD tools such as MAGIC or CADENCE in their project.Students are encouraged to meet with the instructor to discuss possible projects.

Prerequisites

ECE 122, CS 162.

Textbooks

• J. Rabaey, A. Chandrakasan, and B. Nikolic, Digital Integrated Circuits (2nd Edition), Prentice-Hall, 2003.

TEXTBOOK ERRATA You can find the errata to the textbook HERE!

References

• Weste & Eshraghian, Principles of CMOS VLSI Design (2nd Edition), Addison-Wesley, 2004.
• M. J. S. Smith, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits, Addison-Wesley, 1997.

Grading

NOTE: Makeups for missed exams will be given only if (1) there is a valid, documented reason that the exam cannot be taken at the scheduled time and (2) the instructor is notified IN ADVANCE.

Course Objective

VLSI technology has become a major driving force in the development of all types of electronic systems. This course will introduce the fundamental concepts involved in the design of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) circuits. These include Stick Diagramming, the NMOS transistor, switch and gate logic, PLAs, finite-state machines, CMOS design rules, and CAD Systems for VLSI Design. This course will give students an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of this important technology and allow them to gain firsthand design experience by creating and simulating integrated circuit designs using workstation-based CAD tools.

Course Policies

• Grading
  Inquiries and disputes about graded work should be made within one week after it has been handed back. Only written inquiries that clearly explain the complaint will be considered.
• Late Work
  All work must be turned in at the beginning of the class period of the day it is due. Late submissions incur a 20% penalty for each day being late, up to a maximum of 3 days after which no points will be granted. All extensions should be arranged with the instructor prior to the due date.
• Exams
  Make-ups for missed exams will be given only if (1) there is a valid, documented reason that the exam cannot be taken at the scheduled time and (2) the instructor is notified at least 24 hours IN ADVANCE.

University Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism

It is imperative that all graded assignments that you turn in during the course reflect your own understanding of the material. Copying answers from another person impedes the learning process and compromises your integrity. Students are encouraged to discuss homework problems and laboratory assignments with others, but submitted solutions must involve only an individual’s effort. Any student who copies from another student’s homework, quiz, exam, report, etc., or any student who knowingly allows another student to copy his or her work, or any student who submits someone else’s work as his or her own, will be deemed guilty of cheating. Cheating is an extremely serious offense. Each student is expected to have read and understood the GWU Code of Academic Integrity (http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/code.html).

World-Wide Web Usage

Handouts, assignments, solutions, and reference materials (including class notes) will be available on this website. Important dates and the class reading list are available in the Syllabus section.

Warning: These materials are not a substitute for attending class regularly. Class discussions often cover finer points of the material not included in the notes. You are responsible for all material covered in the class whether or not it appears on the Web.