520.222  Computer Architecture                                            Fall 2013

An introductory course in computer architecture. Topics include: a history of modern machines starting from the Turing computer model, instruction sets, addressing, RISC versus CISC, traps and interrupt handling, twos complement arithmetic, adders and ALUs, multiplication, Booth’s algorithm, control unit design, micro-programming, instruction pipelining, dynamic versus static linking, memory systems and memory management – paging, segmentation, cache organizations and replacement policies. The material is limited to single processor systems. The course is slanted toward hardware, rather than software, and stresses Tanenbaum’s hierarchical, multi-level model of a computer system.  A good deal of discussion is aimed at understanding how computer features and CPU control are implemented via finite state logic, buses and registers, control signals, and ROM. The course is intended to not overlap too much with the CS Dept Computer Systems Course, but rather provide a good background for that and other advanced information processing courses and labs.

Prerequisite: 520.142

520.424  FPGA Synthesis Lab                                           Fall 2013

An advanced laboratory course in the application of FPGA technology to information processing, using VHDL synthesis methods for hardware development.  The student will use commercial CAD software for VHDL simulation and synthesis, and implement their systems in programmable XILINX 20,000 gate FPGA devices.  The lab will consist of a series of digital projects demonstrating VHDL design and synthesis methodology, building up to final projects at least the size of an  8-bit RISC computer. Projects will encompass such things as system clocking, flip-flop registers, state-machine control, and arithmetic. The students will learn VHDL methods as they proceed through the lab projects, and prior experience with VHDL is not a pre-requisite.

Prerequisites: 520.142, 520.345, 520.349 or 520.372, 600.333-334 or equivalent advanced competence in computer systems.

520.425  FPGA Senior Project                                        Spring 2014

Laboratory course for FPGA based senior projects. Students will work in teams to complete a design project that makes use of embedded FPGAs. The projects will make use of the Spartan2 XSA boards and other resources from the FPGA Synthesis lab course. Possible projects include: A 32 bit RISC processor with student designed ISA architecture, assembler, and mini operating system; or a Spartan2 emulation of an existing microprocessor such as an 8051, an optical communication system to transmit stereo music using various modulation schemes for comparison (This would include FM or AM and at least one digital scheme such as FSK,); or a digital receiver for commercial AM or FM radio. Students are expected to complete a demonstration and produce a poster session final report. Limit 25 students.

Prerequisites:  520.424 and senior status, no exceptions