Entry requirements

120 credits including Computer Architecture, a basic course in digital circuits (especially state machines) and a basic course in programming.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• define complex digital circuits using hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog
• test, debug, and verify digital designs using test benches and simulation tools
• integrate custom programmable logic components with processor-based systems
• analyse power and performance of accelerating key system components
• demonstrate how a processor interacts with an accelerator through software

Content

• Syntax and semantics of hardware description languages, and their use to define digital systems.
• Design and implementation of test benches and the use of simulation-based and on-chip debugging facilities for verifying system designs.
• Parallelisation of key algorithms for higher throughput and lower latency.
• Integration of hardware accelerators at the system- and software-levels.
• Overview of different design styles and abstraction methods.
• An extensive project in simulation and synthesis, designing a realistic accelerator for a system on chip processor system.

Instruction

Lectures, labs, exercises, project.

Assessment

Exercises, project work with report and presentation