Prospectus

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Fundamentals of Digital Systems Design

Course
2020-2021

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.

NOTE: Depending on the developments related to the COVID-19 situation, the hands-on tutorials and the design project will be given only if students are allowed to come physically to the university computer laboratories!

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 insight into how the modern digital systems are designed and what their main building components are.

NOTE: Depending on the developments related to the COVID-19 situation, the hands-on tutorials and the design project will be given only if students are allowed to come physically to the university computer laboratories!

Timetable

The most updated version of the timetables can be found on the students' website:

Mode of instruction

The hands-on tutorials and home works are mandatory components of the course.

NOTE: Depending on the developments related to the COVID-19 situation, the hands-on tutorials will be mandatory only if students are allowed to come physically to the university computer laboratories!

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

NOTE: Depending on the developments related to the COVID-19 situation, the assessment method, mentioned above, may change!

The teacher will inform the students how the inspection of and follow-up discussion of the exams will take place.

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

Aanmelding voor vakken verloopt via uSis. Hiervoor is de uSis-code van het vak nodig, die te vinden zijn in de Studiegids. Meer info over het inschrijven voor vakken of tentamens is hier te vinden.

MyTimetable

In MyTimetable kun je alle vak- en opleidingsroosters vinden, waarmee jij je persoonlijke rooster kunt samenstellen. Onderwijsactiviteiten waarvoor je in uSis staat ingeschreven, worden automatisch in je rooster getoond. Daarnaast kun je My Timetable gemakkelijk koppelen aan een agenda-app op je telefoon en worden roosterwijzigingen automatisch in je agenda doorgevoerd; bovendien ontvang je desgewenst per e-mail een notificatie van de wijziging.

Vragen? Bekijk de video-instructie, lees de instructie of neem contact op met de ISSC helpdesk.

Brightspace

Inschrijving voor vakken verloopt via uSis. Wanneer je je hier inschrijft voor een bepaald vak krijg je automatisch ook toegang tot de omgeving van dit vak via 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.

Contact information

Study coordinator Computer Science, Riet Derogee.

Webpage

Fundamentals of Digital Systems Design