Course

Digital Systems: From Logic Gates to Processors

This course, "Digital Systems: From Logic Gates to Processors," offers a comprehensive exploration of modern digital system design from a practical perspective. Emphasizing the system's design over the supporting electronics, this course equips learners with a set of design methodologies and educational computer-aided design tools. Students will delve into the description of digital systems using high-level languages such as VHDL and gain a deep understanding of computer operation at the most fundamental level.

Key topics include the design of medium complexity digital systems, understanding high-level language descriptions, and basic computer architecture. The course culminates in the design of a simple processor, providing a transversal example of a complex digital system and introducing fundamental computer architecture terms such as the instruction set, microprograms, and microinstructions.

Comprehensive exploration of modern digital system design
Emphasis on system design over supporting electronics
Introduction to design methodologies and educational CAD tools
Understanding digital system descriptions using high-level languages like VHDL
In-depth insight into basic computer operation and architecture

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Get Started / More Info

Digital Systems: From Logic Gates to Processors provides a comprehensive journey into the modern design of digital systems, covering essential topics such as binary numeration systems, combinational circuits, VerilUOC_Desktop tools, VHDL introduction, sequential circuits, finite state machines, and physical implementation strategies.

All you need to know to start the course

Module 1: All you need to know to start the course

Course presentation and organization
Introduction to syllabus, bibliography, and grading policy
FAQs and forum guidelines
Guidance on installing the virtual machine (VM)

Previous knowledge: A review

Module 2: Previous knowledge: A review

Understanding the binary numeration system
Algorithm representation in pseudocode
Practice quizzes on numeration systems and pseudocode

What Digital Systems are?

Module 3: What Digital Systems are?

Introduction to digital systems and electronic systems
Detailed exploration of digital system description
Processor specification and examples of programs
Graded and practice quizzes for assessment

Combinational Circuits (I)

Module 4: Combinational Circuits (I)

Comprehensive study of combinational circuits and Boolean Algebra
Exploration of logic gates and functional and structural specifications
Graded and practice quizzes for assessment

VerilUOC_Desktop tools

Module 5: VerilUOC_Desktop tools

Introduction to VerilUOC_Desktop and its tools
Exploration of Logisim, VerilCirc, BoolMin, and VerilChart
Access to VerilUOC_Desktop wiki and FAQs

Combinational circuits (II)

Module 6: Combinational circuits (II)

Study of combinational circuit synthesis tools and propagation time
Exploration of other logic blocks and programming language structures
Graded and practice quizzes for assessment

Arithmetic components + Introduction to VHDL

Module 7: Arithmetic components + Introduction to VHDL

Comprehensive lecture on arithmetic blocks and VHDL introduction
Exploration of VHDL lexicon, syntax, and structure
Graded and practice quizzes for assessment

Sequential circuits (I)

Module 8: Sequential circuits (I)

Study of sequential circuits and explicit functional description
Exploration of latches, flip-flops, and synthesis from tables
Graded and practice quizzes for assessment

Sequential circuits (II)

Module 9: Sequential circuits (II)

Exploration of registers, counters, and memories
Graded and practice quizzes for assessment

Sequential circuits III and Finite State Machines

Module 10: Sequential circuits III and Finite State Machines

Sequential implementation of algorithms and finite state machines
Examples of finite state machines and graded and practice quizzes for assessment

Implementation of digital systems

Module 11: Implementation of digital systems

Exploration of physical implementation and synthesis tools
Design methods and strategies for implementation
Graded and practice quizzes for assessment

COURSE SUMMARY AND FAREWELL

Module 12: COURSE SUMMARY AND FAREWELL