Convenor: Francesco Gonnella (Birmingham)

Module Code: PP3

Start Date and Commitments

Start: 02/10/2024 - 10 lectures on Tue 11-12, Wed 12-13 (please note: first lecture will be on Wednesday 2/10 at 10:00-11:00)

Module Details

To provide an introduction to digital circuit design with particular regard to programmable logic devices, such as FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays). FPGAs are nowadays a fundamental element of data-acquisition systems in all the main particle physics experiments.

Course Syllabus

Digital circuits and number systems

- Transistor working principles
- MOSFET (Working principle, MOSFET as switch, CMOS inverter)
- Logic gates implementation with MOSFET
- Formal logic gates
- Truth tables
- Positional numeral systems: Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal
- Arithmetic operations, signed unsigned and 2’s complement

Combinational circuits:

- Boolean algebra and switching algebra
- De Morgan Theorems
- Boolean functions
- Minimisation of Boolean function
- Karnaugh Maps
- Comparators
- Encoder, Decoder
- Multiplexer, Demultiplexer

Sequential circuits:

- Memory element
- Latches and flip-flop
- Metastability
- Setup time and hold time
- Finite State Machine FSM
- Mealy and Moore FSM
- Designing an FSM
- Synchronous counters
- Shift register
- Memories (ROM and RAM)
- CPLDs and FPGAs

Assessment:

The course assessment is based on returned solutions to exercise sets. As soon as a topic is covered, the relative exercise set will be distributed to students. However, the deadline for the returned solutions will be after the end of the course.

Recommended Texts:

"Digital Design: Principles and Practices", 4th Edition, John F. Wakerly