Catalog Data:

EE 201L Introduction to Digital Circuits (3, FaSp) Digital system design and implementation using discrete ICs and FPGAs; synchronous design of datapath and control units; state machine implementation methods; timing analysis; lab experiments, logic analyzers; schematic-entry and simulation; semester-end project. (Duplicates credit in former EE 102L). Prerequisite: EE 101.

 

Textbook:

1. "Digital Design Principles and Practices" by J.F. Wakerly 3rd or 4th edition Prentice Hall
2.  Digital IC Data Handbook (Manufacturer Motorola/Signatics/TI)
3. Course readers: Classnotes and lab manual

 

Course monitors:

Gandhi Puvvada and Monte Ung

 

Topics:

1. TTL logic families, TTL characteristics
2. Introduction to Powerview (schematic entry and simulation tool)
3. Totem-pole, open-collector, and three-state outputs
4. Review of decoders, multiplexers, demultiplexers
5. Review of latches, flip-flops, and finite state machines
6. Switch de-bouncing, 555-timer/one-Shot
7. State machine design using One-Hot state assignment
8. Examples of application of One-Hot method
9. Introduction to Xilinx FPGA tools
10. Small (digital) system design -- Datapath unit and Control unit
11. Microprogrammed control unit as an alternative to traditional implementation of a state machine
12. Examples of application of a microprogrammed control unit
13. Understanding setup time and hold time requirements and performing timing checks on a small digital system
14. Clocking of data registers -- Data registers with data-enable control

 

Course Objectives:

1. To provide students with a substantial understanding of designing a small digital system using MSI components/FPGAs
2. To expose students to professional methods used in industry for digital design simulation and digital system debugging.

 

Course Outcomes:

The students will be able to
1. design a small digital system
2. design a datapath unit and a control unit for the system
3. simulate and verify the same using Powerview schematic entry and simulation tools
4. build, debug, and test the same using oscilloscope, logic analyzer and other test equipment
5. perform timing checks
6. map the design to an FPGA, synthesize, and download bit file using Xilinx tools

Laboratory Projects:

1. Introduction to Oscilloscope and some basic lab equipment
2. Transfer characteristics of an ordinary inverter and a schmitt-trigger inverter
3. Voting machine (interfacing switches and LEDs to a digital circuit)
4. Introduction to Viewlogic (Powerview). Viewlogic tutorial
5. Counters, and multiplexers design, building, testing, and simulation
6. Introduction to a logic analyzer
7. Introduction to the Design Flow for implementing a design in the DIGILAB XL board consisting of Xilinx Spartan FPGA
8. Keyboard encoder - design, building, testing, and simulation
9. Number Lock - design, simulation, and implementing in FPGA
10. Change Dispenser - design, simulation, and implementing in FPGA
11. Static hazards and dynamic hazards -- simulation exercise

 

Final Design Project:

Propose a small system design project (example: calculator, elevator control, wrist watch, etc.), detail the design, simulate and verify, build on a board or implement on the FPGA board