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VLSI Design, 12 credits
VLSI-konstruktion, CDIO, 12 hp
TSEK06
Main field of study
Electrical EngineeringCourse level
Second cycleCourse type
Programme courseExaminer
Atila AlvandpourDirector of studies or equivalent
Mikael OlofssonEducation components
Preliminary scheduled hours: 60 hRecommended self-study hours: 260 h
Available for exchange students
YesECV = Elective / Compulsory / Voluntary
Main field of study
Electrical EngineeringCourse level
Second cycleAdvancement level
A1XCourse offered for
- Master's Programme in Electronics Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering, M Sc in Engineering
- Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering - International, M Sc in Engineering
- Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, M Sc in Engineering
Specific information
The Entrepreneurship part overlap with other CDIO courses and cannot be included more than once in a degree.
Exchange students may apply for the course after arrival to LiTH but before it starts. The Faculty coordinators for exchange studies must be contacted before applying.
Prerequisites
Good knowledge in fundamentals of electronics, digital technique, MOS transistors and CMOS technology, digital and analog integrated circuits.
Intended learning outcomes
This course is intended to give knowledge and experience in design and fabrication of CMOS VLSI chips. This includes:
- Deep insight in physical design of VLSI chips.
- Knowledge and experience of using professional CAD tools for design, simulation, layout, and verification of VLSI chips.
- Design of a ‘real’ and functional chip, starting from the idea and behavioral modeling to detailed circuit design at transistor level, circuit layout, and final verifications.
- Complete the project using a systematic and professional approach required by industry to run large and complex VLSI projects:
- Organize a project group, make project plan, and divide the task efficiently among the group members.
- Promote teamwork, create a dynamic and functional group, and actively monitor the progress of the project.
- Apply the knowledge from previous courses, search for supplementary knowledge and material, take the initiative, and find creative solutions.
- Meet the project milestones and the final deadline, document the project, and show the progress by written reports and oral presentations.
A purpose for the course is also for the students to acquire knowledge and abilities within the general area of entrepreneurship, with particular focus on business planning for new ventures. After the course, students should be able to:
- account for models that describe what it takes for a new venture to have a stable basis for further development and to asess the level of development of ventures using such models; and
- account for the information and analyses needed to evaluate a development project from a business point of view and have the ability to collect and analyse relevant information for the purpose.
Course content
Labs include: a small project-example intending to demonstrate a full custom (handwork) and an automated VLSI design flow as well as introducing major CAD tools to be used throughout the design projects.
Design project includes: Team building, project planning, project management, pre-study of the project, architectural exploration, behavioral modeling and verifications, logic and transistor-level design and circuit simulations, circuit layout, layout verifications, tape out, and the final project documentation.
Lectures support the project moments including: Course description, introduction to VLSI design methodology, project description, advanced circuit and layout techniques, interconnect interface circuits, on-chip power delivery, clock distribution, synchronization techniques, IO drivers, and pads, testability and reliability considerations, and other related topics.
Teaching and working methods
Lectures, labs and the chip design project, where the task is: Design, simulation, and fabrication-ready layout of VLSI functional blocks on a chip in 0.35µm CMOS Technology.
The core of the course is the project, which will be selected and carried out by a group of 4-to-8 students in an independent manner. The complete chip-design should be ready by the end of Vt2, and a written report should be handed to a supervisor (one for a design team). The chips can be fabricated provided the design is accepted and the students declare to attend the course Evaluation of an Integrated Circuit.
The course runs over the entire spring semester.Examination
UPG1 Entrepreneurship Assignments 3 credits U, G LAB1 Laboratory Work 1.5 credits U, G PRA1 Project Work 7.5 credits U, G Grades are given as ‘Fail’ or ‘Pass’.Grades
Two grade scale, older version, U, GOther information
Supplementary courses: Evalution of an Integrated circuit.
About teaching and examination language
The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows:
- If teaching language is Swedish, the course as a whole or in large parts, is taught in Swedish. Please note that although teaching language is Swedish, parts of the course could be given in English. Examination language is Swedish.
- If teaching language is Swedish/English, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English (depending on teaching language).
- If teaching language is English, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
Other
The course is conducted in a manner where both men's and women's experience and knowledge are made visible and developed.
The planning and implementation of a course should correspond to the course syllabus. The course evaluation should therefore be conducted with the course syllabus as a starting point.
Department
Institutionen för systemteknikDirector of Studies or equivalent
Mikael OlofssonExaminer
Atila AlvandpourCourse website and other links
http://www.isy.liu.se/en/edu/kurs/TSEK06/Education components
Preliminary scheduled hours: 60 h
Recommended self-study hours: 260 hCourse literature
Jan M. Rabaey, Anantha Chandrakasan, Borivoje Nikolic, "Digital Integrated Circuits", Prentice Hall, Second Edition (International edition), ISBN 0-13-120764-4 Kompendium om projektmodellen LIPS (köps på Bokakademin).
| Code | Name | Scope | Grading scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPG1 | Entrepreneurship Assignments | 3 credits | U, G |
| LAB1 | Laboratory Work | 1.5 credits | U, G |
| PRA1 | Project Work | 7.5 credits | U, G |
Grades are given as ‘Fail’ or ‘Pass’.
Course syllabus
A syllabus must be established for each course. The syllabus specifies the aim and contents of the course, and the prior knowledge that a student must have in order to be able to benefit from the course.
Timetabling
Courses are timetabled after a decision has been made for this course concerning its assignment to a timetable module.
Interrupting a course
The vice-chancellor’s decision concerning regulations for registration, deregistration and reporting results (Dnr LiU-2015-01241) states that interruptions in study are to be recorded in Ladok. Thus, all students who do not participate in a course for which they have registered must record the interruption, such that the registration on the course can be removed. Deregistration from a course is carried out using a web-based form: https://www.lith.liu.se/for-studenter/kurskomplettering?l=en.
Cancelled courses
Courses with few participants (fewer than 10) may be cancelled or organised in a manner that differs from that stated in the course syllabus. The Dean is to deliberate and decide whether a course is to be cancelled or changed from the course syllabus.
Guidelines relating to examinations and examiners
For details, see Guidelines for education and examination for first-cycle and second-cycle education at Linköping University, Dnr LiU-2019-00920 (http://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/VisaBeslut/917592).
An examiner must be employed as a teacher at LiU according to the LiU Regulations for Appointments, Dnr LiU-2017-03931 (https://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/VisaBeslut/622784). For courses in second-cycle, the following teachers can be appointed as examiner: Professor (including Adjunct and Visiting Professor), Associate Professor (including Adjunct), Senior Lecturer (including Adjunct and Visiting Senior Lecturer), Research Fellow, or Postdoc. For courses in first-cycle, Assistant Lecturer (including Adjunct and Visiting Assistant Lecturer) can also be appointed as examiner in addition to those listed for second-cycle courses. In exceptional cases, a Part-time Lecturer can also be appointed as an examiner at both first- and second cycle, see Delegation of authority for the Board of Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Forms of examination
Principles for examination
Written and oral examinations and digital and computer-based examinations are held at least three times a year: once immediately after the end of the course, once in August, and once (usually) in one of the re-examination periods. Examinations held at other times are to follow a decision of the board of studies.
Principles for examination scheduling for courses that follow the study periods:
- courses given in VT1 are examined for the first time in March, with re-examination in June and August
- courses given in VT2 are examined for the first time in May, with re-examination in August and October
- courses given in HT1 are examined for the first time in October, with re-examination in January and August
- courses given in HT2 are examined for the first time in January, with re-examination in March and in August.
The examination schedule is based on the structure of timetable modules, but there may be deviations from this, mainly in the case of courses that are studied and examined for several programmes and in lower grades (i.e. 1 and 2).
Examinations for courses that the board of studies has decided are to be held in alternate years are held three times during the school year in which the course is given according to the principles stated above.
Examinations for courses that are cancelled or rescheduled such that they are not given in one or several years are held three times during the year that immediately follows the course, with examination scheduling that corresponds to the scheduling that was in force before the course was cancelled or rescheduled.
When a course is given for the last time, the regular examination and two re-examinations will be offered. Thereafter, examinations are phased out by offering three examinations during the following academic year at the same times as the examinations in any substitute course. If there is no substitute course, three examinations will be offered during re-examination periods during the following academic year. Other examination times are decided by the board of studies. In all cases above, the examination is also offered one more time during the academic year after the following, unless the board of studies decides otherwise.
If a course is given during several periods of the year (for programmes, or on different occasions for different programmes) the board or boards of studies determine together the scheduling and frequency of re-examination occasions.
Retakes of other forms of examination
Regulations concerning retakes of other forms of examination than written examinations and digital and computer-based examinations are given in the LiU guidelines for examinations and examiners, http://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/VisaBeslut/917592.
Registration for examination
Until January 31 2021, the following applies according to previous guidelines: In order to take an written, digital or computer-based examination student must register in advance at the Student Portal during the registration period, which opens 30 days before the date of the examination and closes 10 days before it. Candidates are informed of the location of the examination by email, four days in advance. Students who have not registered for an examination run the risk of being refused admittance to the examination, if space is not available.
From February 1 2021, new guidelines applies for registration for written, digital or computer-based examination, Dnr LiU-2020-02033 (https://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/VisaBeslut/622682).
Symbols used in the examination registration system:
** denotes that the examination is being given for the penultimate time.
* denotes that the examination is being given for the last time.
Code of conduct for students during examinations
Details are given in a decision in the university’s rule book: http://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/VisaBeslut/622682.
Retakes for higher grade
Students at the Institute of Technology at LiU have the right to retake written examinations and digital and computer-based examinations in an attempt to achieve a higher grade. This is valid for all examination components with code “TEN”, “DIT” and "DAT". The same right may not be exercised for other examination components, unless otherwise specified in the course syllabus.
A retake is not possible on courses that are included in an issued degree diploma.
Grades
The grades that are preferably to be used are Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass not without distinction (4) and Pass with distinction (5).
- Grades U, 3, 4, 5 are to be awarded for courses that have written or digital examinations.
- Grades Fail (U) and Pass (G) may be awarded for courses with a large degree of practical components such as laboratory work, project work and group work.
- Grades Fail (U) and Pass (G) are to be used for degree projects and other independent work.
Examination components
The following examination components and associated module codes are used at the Faculty of Science and Engineering:
- Grades U, 3, 4, 5 are to be awarded for written examinations (TEN) and digital examinations (DIT).
- Examination components for which the grades Fail (U) and Pass (G) may be awarded are laboratory work (LAB), project work (PRA), preparatory written examination (KTR), digital preparatory written examination (DIK), oral examination (MUN), computer-based examination (DAT), home assignment (HEM), and assignment (UPG).
- Students receive grades either Fail (U) or Pass (G) for other examination components in which the examination criteria are satisfied principally through active attendance such as tutorial group (BAS) or examination item (MOM).
- Grades Fail (U) and Pass (G) are to be used for the examination components Opposition (OPPO) and Attendance at thesis presentation (AUSK) (i.e. part of the degree project).
In general, the following applies:
- Mandatory course components must be scored and given a module code.
- Examination components that are not scored, cannot be mandatory. Hence, it is voluntary to participate in these examinations, and the voluntariness must be clearly stated. Additionally, if there are any associated conditions to the examination component, these must be clearly stated as well.
- For courses with more than one examination component with grades U,3,4,5, it shall be clearly stated how the final grade is weighted.
For mandatory components, the following applies: If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component. (In accordance with the LiU Guidelines for education and examination for first-cycle and second-cycle education at Linköping University, http://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/VisaBeslut/917592).
For written examinations, the following applies: If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives. (In accordance with the LiU Guidelines for education and examination for first-cycle and second-cycle education at Linköping University, http://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/VisaBeslut/917592).
Reporting of examination results
The examination results for a student are reported at the relevant department.
Plagiarism
For examinations that involve the writing of reports, in cases in which it can be assumed that the student has had access to other sources (such as during project work, writing essays, etc.), the material submitted must be prepared in accordance with principles for acceptable practice when referring to sources (references or quotations for which the source is specified) when the text, images, ideas, data, etc. of other people are used. It is also to be made clear whether the author has reused his or her own text, images, ideas, data, etc. from previous examinations, such as degree projects, project reports, etc. (this is sometimes known as “self-plagiarism”).
A failure to specify such sources may be regarded as attempted deception during examination.
Attempts to cheat
In the event of a suspected attempt by a student to cheat during an examination, or when study performance is to be assessed as specified in Chapter 10 of the Higher Education Ordinance, the examiner is to report this to the disciplinary board of the university. Possible consequences for the student are suspension from study and a formal warning. More information is available at https://www.student.liu.se/studenttjanster/lagar-regler-rattigheter?l=en.
Regulations (apply to LiU in its entirety)
The university is a government agency whose operations are regulated by legislation and ordinances, which include the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance. In addition to legislation and ordinances, operations are subject to several policy documents. The Linköping University rule book collects currently valid decisions of a regulatory nature taken by the university board, the vice-chancellor and faculty/department boards.
LiU’s rule book for education at first-cycle and second-cycle levels is available at http://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/Innehall/Utbildning_pa_grund-_och_avancerad_niva.
Jan M. Rabaey, Anantha Chandrakasan, Borivoje Nikolic, "Digital Integrated Circuits", Prentice Hall, Second Edition (International edition), ISBN 0-13-120764-4
Kompendium om projektmodellen LIPS (köps på Bokakademin).
Note: The course matrix might contain more information in Swedish.
I = Introduce, U = Teach, A = Utilize
| I | U | A | Modules | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. DISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE AND REASONING | ||||||
| 1.1 Knowledge of underlying mathematics and science (G1X level) |
|
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Basic mathematic knowledge such as algebra, transform methods, electronics and circuit theory. |
|
| 1.2 Fundamental engineering knowledge (G1X level) |
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Design of digital/ analoga CMOS integrated circuits |
|
| 1.3 Further knowledge, methods, and tools in one or several subjects in engineering or natural science (G2X level) |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Design, power/performance analyses and optimization of integrated circuits using latest IC design CAD tools and environment. |
|
| 1.4 Advanced knowledge, methods, and tools in one or several subjects in engineering or natural sciences (A1X level) |
|
X
|
X
|
LAB1
PRA1
|
Physical design of integrated circuits in advanced CMOS technologies |
|
| 1.5 Insight into current research and development work |
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Pre-studies and reading research papers related to the actual IC design project |
|
| 2. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES | ||||||
| 2.1 Analytical reasoning and problem solving |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Physical limitations |
|
| 2.2 Experimentation, investigation, and knowledge discovery |
X
|
X
|
X
|
LAB1
PRA1
|
Design and simulation of analog/digital integrated circuits |
|
| 2.3 System thinking |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Design of analog/digital system on chip including several system sub-blocks |
|
| 2.4 Attitudes, thought, and learning |
|
X
|
X
|
LAB1
PRA1
|
Analytical and practical design methodology and approach |
|
| 2.5 Ethics, equity, and other responsibilities |
|
X
|
X
|
LAB1
PRA1
|
Close project group collaboration, teamwork, with responsibilities |
|
| 3. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION | ||||||
| 3.1 Teamwork |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Project in group |
|
| 3.2 Communications |
|
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Project in group |
|
| 3.3 Communication in foreign languages |
|
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Project in group |
|
| 4. CONCEIVING, DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING SYSTEMS IN THE ENTERPRISE, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT | ||||||
| 4.1 External, societal, and environmental context |
|
|
|
|||
| 4.2 Enterprise and business context |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Design techniques and methods for high volume high yield IC production, and 3hp entrepreneurship course |
|
| 4.3 Conceiving, system engineering and management |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
IC desing techniques and methods |
|
| 4.4 Designing |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Design of analog/digital system on chip |
|
| 4.5 Implementing |
X
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Design of a complete IC, fully simulated, with ready and qualified database to be submitted for chip fabrication |
|
| 4.6 Operating |
|
|
|
|||
| 5. PLANNING, EXECUTION AND PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH RESPECT TO SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS | ||||||
| 5.1 Societal conditions, including economic, social, and ecological aspects of sustainable development for knowledge development |
|
|
|
|||
| 5.2 Economic conditions for knowledge development |
|
|
|
|||
| 5.3 Identification of needs, structuring and planning of research or development projects |
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Project group work, planning and identification of application specific circuit techniques and IC system architectures |
|
| 5.4 Execution of research or development projects |
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Development and design of application specific integrated circuit on chip in CMOS technology |
|
| 5.5 Presentation and evaluation of research or development projects |
|
X
|
X
|
PRA1
|
Project reports for IC desing milestones , a final Project report, as well as final oral presentation |
|
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