Admission requirements
Not applicable.
Description
In this course, the students learn about the basic principles, techniques, and building blocks used to design today’s digital systems (such as controllers, processors, computers, etc). More specifically the following topics are covered: Digital Systems and Information, Number Systems, Binary Arithmetic Operations, Decimal and Alphanumeric Codes, Boolean Algebra, Combinational Logic Circuits, Logic Functions and Circuits, Arithmetic Functions and Circuits, Sequential Circuits, Memory Basics, Registers and Register Transfers, Computer Design Basics.
During the lectures the fundamentals of digital systems design are presented, i.e., theoretical foundations, basic digital circuits and building blocks, design algorithms and procedures, etc. In addition, several hands-on tutorials are given to train the students how to solve simple digital design problems in practice and how to use modern software tools to design digital circuits. Moreover, a design project is given to the students in order to apply the knowledge built during the lectures and hands-on tutorials by designing a simple 4-bit microprocessor. Furthermore, several home works are given to the students in order to understand better the material given at the lectures and to study alone additional material not given at the lectures.
Course objectives
The course gives a comprehensive overview and basic knowledge of the field through a series of lectures, hands-on tutorials, design project, and home works. The main goal is that the students gain insights into how the modern digital systems are designed and what their main building components are. More specifically, after this course, the students are able to:
explain the behavior of basic components used to build digital systems;
perform basic calculations using the binarly number system and boolean algebra;
apply basic algorithms and techniques to design simple digital circuits including combinational and sequential logic circuits;
design, simulate, and verify a simple micro-processor;
use modern software tools to design digital circuits.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
The design project, hands-on tutorials, and home works are mandatory components of the course.
Assessment method
The final grade is a combination of grades. A student will receive three Grades: one for the midterm exam (Gme), one for the final exam (Gfe), and one for the design project (Gp). All of them are important and will form the Final Grade as follows:
If (Gfe ≥ 6.0 and Gp ≥ 6.0) then
Final Grade = 0.4xGfe + 0.4xGp + 0.2xGme
else
Final Grade ≤ 5
Reading list
The following book is recommended but not mandatory for the course: M. Morris Mano and Charles R. Kime: Logic and Computer Design Fundamentals, 3th or 4th edition (NOT necessarily with CD-ROMs), 2008, Pearson Education ; isbn-13: 978-0-13-198926-9; isbn-10: 0-13-198926-9
Slides will be provided to the students for download.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Education coordinator LIACS bachelors
Webpage
Fundamentals of Digital Systems Design
Remarks
Brightspace
Voor meer informatie over Brightspace kun je op deze link klikken om de handleidingen van de universiteit te bekijken. Bij overige vragen of problemen kan contact opgenomen worden met de helpdesk van de universiteit Leiden.
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.