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EE20021: Digital systems design

[Page last updated: 04 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 50%, EX 50%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 50%)
  • Examination (EX 50%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Reassessment Coursework (where allowed by programme regulations)
Reassessment Examination (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must take EE10169 or equivalent.
Description: Aims:
The course provides a foundation for the design of combinational and sequential logic circuits using formal design methods. The implementation of sequential logic is extended to microprocessors to enable students understand the architecture of microprocessors and to design and implement simple real-time microprocessor systems.

Learning Outcomes:
Students should be able to design a wide range of logic circuits using hardware description language and finite state-machine methods. They should understand how these methods map to digital logic implementations. They should be able to describe the operation of a microprocessor in terms of its general architecture and understand how to verify the functionality of complex digital systems that contain a microprocessor.

Skills:
The ability to design complex digital logic systems using a hardware description language. The ability to optimise circuit designs based upon the underlying implementation architecture. The ability to verify complex digital systems using logic simulation tools.

Content:
Modern techniques for digital design: Hardware Description Language (HDL) based design, simulation and implementation in a Field Programmable Gate Array.
Applications and design of combinational logic, synchronous and asynchronous sequential circuits: Large-scale integration technologies for implementing digital designs based on Field Programmable Gate Arrays. Combinatorial logic in HDLs, synchronous design, counters, finite state machine description, clock boundaries, asynchronous design, hazards and races.
Computer architecture: Von Neumann architecture vs. Harvard architecture, microprocessors vs. microcontrollers. Implementation of microprocessors and their associated peripherals as a digital system.

Programme availability:

EE20021 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEEE-AFB13 : BEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKB13 : BEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFB01 : BEng(Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKB01 : BEng(Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFB12 : BEng(Hons) Electrical Power Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKB12 : BEng(Hons) Electrical Power Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFB14 : BEng(Hons) Electronic Engineering with Space Science & Technology (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKB14 : BEng(Hons) Electronic Engineering with Space Science & Technology with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFB15 : BEng(Hons) Electronic Systems Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKB15 : BEng(Hons) Electronic Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEXX-AFB02 : BEng(Hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEXX-AKB02 : BEng(Hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKM13 : MEng(Hons) Computer Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFM01 : MEng(Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKM01 : MEng(Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFM12 : MEng(Hons) Electrical Power Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKM12 : MEng(Hons) Electrical Power Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFM14 : MEng(Hons) Electronic Engineering with Space Science & Technology (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKM14 : MEng(Hons) Electronic Engineering with Space Science & Technology with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFM15 : MEng(Hons) Electronic Systems Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKM15 : MEng(Hons) Electronic Systems Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEXX-AFM02 : MEng(Hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEXX-AKM02 : MEng(Hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFM16 : MEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKM16 : MEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AFB16 : BEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering (Year 2)
  • UEEE-AKB16 : BEng(Hons) Robotics Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.