Early Introduction to Programmable Devices and tools in Digital Laboratory Course

1. Early Introduction to Programmable Devices and tools in Digital Laboratory Course Parimal Patel Wei-Ming Lin Presented by Dr. Mehdi Shadaram Chirag Parikh John Prevost Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Texas at San Antonio

2. Outline • Introduction • Curriculum • 2004-2006 Catalog • 2006-2008 Catalog • Logic Design Laboratory Course • Undergraduate Student Feedback • Summary • Conclusion

3. TWD Grant: 010115-EE2003-0000 • Objective • Increase the number of high-quality graduates who are technically competent and competitive in the nation • Strategies • Student Retention and • Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement

4. Dr. Shadaram Add Your Slide

5. Dr. Shadaram Add Your Slide

6. Introduction • Logic devices can be classified into: • Fixed Logic device • Programmable Logic device (PLD) • As technology evolved Complex devices were developed • Two major types of programmable devices: • Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLD) • Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)

7. Introduction • Complex Programmable Logic Device • Supports lesser amount of logic compared to FPGA • Consumes less power • E.g. Xilinx Coolrunner CPLD can be run with citrus fruit • Inexpensive • Ideal for cost-sensitive, battery-operated portable applications • Mobile phones • Digital Hand-held Assistants

8. Introduction • Field Programmable Gate Arrays • Supports dense, complex systems • Special function architectural resources • To improve silicon efficiencies • Ideal for high density applications • Data processing and storage • Digital Signal Processing • CAD Tools are required to design and implement functions

9. Outline • Introduction • Curriculum • 2004-2006 Catalog • 2006-2008 Catalog • Logic Design Laboratory Course • Undergraduate Student Feedback • Summary • Conclusion

10. Curriculum • 2004-2006 • Electrical Engineering Undergraduate students were required to take • EE 2513 (Logic Design) • EE 3463 (Microcomputer Systems I) • EE 3563 (Digital Systems Design) • These courses were pre-requisites for • EE 4243 (Computer Organization and Architecture) • EE 4513 (Introduction to VLSI Design) • EE 4583 (Microcomputer Systems II)

11. Curriculum • Topics covered: • EE 2513 • Problem solving sessions to emphasize logic design principles • Conducted by Teaching Assistants • EE 3563 • Draw and simulate simple combinational circuits • Multiplexer, 16-bit adder, sequence detector • Tools used: • Mentor Graphics for schematic capture • ModelSim for simulation

12. Curriculum • Shortcomings in Digital Curriculum • EE 2513 • No laboratory experiments or tools exposure • EE 3563 • Barely introduced VHDL • One assignment involving VHDL (4-bit adder) • Overall limited exposure to VHDL and CAD tools • Lack of modeling even medium-complexity system • Students not exposed to hands-on experiments • Building circuits using real IC’s • Solution • Changes were made into current curriculum

13. Curriculum • 2006-2008 • Introduction of new course • EE 2511 (Logic Design Laboratory) • Requires simultaneous enrollment or completion of EE 2513 • One 1–hour lecture and 2-hour Laboratory class • Involves CAD tools for analysis and design of digital circuits • Hands-on experience with IC’s, CPLD kits and FPGA boards

14. Outline • Introduction • Curriculum • 2004-2006 Catalog • 2006-2008 Catalog • Logic Design Laboratory Course • Undergraduate Student Feedback • Summary • Conclusion

15. Logic Design Laboratory Course • New edition of textbook used • Hardware modeling concepts • CD containing LogicAid and SimuAid programs • Upon funding of proposal written to TETC • Xilinx CPLD based kits were phased in starting Fall 2005 • Designed and verified combinational circuit on hardware • Three experiments carried out during recitation sessions • Demonstration of experiment on sequential circuits

16. Logic Design Laboratory Course • In Fall 2006 • Introduced EE 2511 course • Course objectives • Implement concepts learned in EE 2513 using 74xx IC’s • Implement concepts learned in EE 2513 using CAD tools • Develop models in VHDL and implement using CPLD/FPGA based kits • Topics covered • Schematic captures, gate-level and timing simulation • Design implementation using IC’s and 7-segment • VHDL coding, behavioral/timing simulation, synthesis and implementation

17. Logic Design Laboratory Course • Coursework • Five tutorials and Seven lab assignments • Mid-term and final projects • Care taken that topics for laboratory assignments are covered in EE 2513 or EE 2511 beforehand • Enhance written and oral communication skills • Students asked to write formal report for projects • Students asked to give formal presentation for final project

18. Logic Design Laboratory Course • Tutorials were developed on • Logic reduction using Boolean Algebra (LogicAid) • Entering schematics for combinatorial circuits (SimuAid) • Simulation of sequential circuits (SimuAid) • Logic reduction using K-Maps (LogicAid) • VHDL modeling, synthesis and implementation (Xilinx ISE) • Simulation (ISIM and ModelSim simulators) • Hardware kits used • Freescale MCU Project board • Build circuits using IC’s and 7-segment • Xilinx’s CoolRunner XPLA3 CPLD-based kit • Combinatorial circuit design • Xilinx’x Spartan3E-based starter kit • Sequential circuit design

19. Logic Design Laboratory Course Topics covered in Logic Design Laboratory and theory class Spring 2007 Example

20. Logic Design Laboratory Course

21. Logic Design Laboratory Course

22. Logic Design Laboratory Course • LogicAid Tool • Useful for boolean expression minimization using • Boolean laws and theorem • K-Maps • Labs used • Lab 1, Lab 2, Lab 3

23. Logic Design Laboratory Course • SimuAid Tool • Useful for simple schematic capture and combinational and sequential circuits simulation • Labs used • Lab 2, Lab 3, Lab 4

24. Logic Design Laboratory Course • ISE and ISIM • Useful for Xilinx CPLD and FPGA kits • VHDL Modeling • Behavioral Simulation • Labs used • Lab 6, Lab 7 • Projects used • Mid-term and Final

25. Logic Design Laboratory Course • ICs based labs • ICs used • 7400, 7404, 7408, 7432 • Other devices used • Switches, LEDs, 7-segment • Labs used • Lab 3, Lab 6

26. Outline • Introduction • Curriculum • 2004-2006 Catalog • 2006-2008 Catalog • Logic Design Laboratory Course • Undergraduate Student Feedback • Summary • Conclusion

27. Student’s Perspective Introduction Hands-on approach Access to software alone not sufficient Build-to-learn Wired-up VHDL by practice Simulation Debugging

28. Student’s Perspective Process of design Problem statement Formulate design Build/Test/Debug Present/Demonstrate outcome Exposed to FPGA’s and CPLD’s Lecture theory only Labs/projects gave concrete examples Facilitated deeper level of understanding

29. Student’s Perspective • Summary • Enhanced learning • Stimulated interest • Left with desire to “do-more”

30. Outline • Introduction • Curriculum • 2004-2006 Catalog • 2006-2008 Catalog • Logic Design Laboratory Course • Undergraduate Student Feedback • Summary • Conclusion

31. Summary • Hardware boards • Freescale, Xilinx • Software tools • Logic Design by Charles Roth (Textbook) • Xilinx under University Program • Department cost • IC’s, bread-board wires • Course enrollment

32. Outline • Introduction • Curriculum • 2004-2006 Catalog • 2006-2008 Catalog • Logic Design Laboratory Course • Undergraduate Student Feedback • Summary • Conclusion

33. Conclusion • New course has helped us modify EE 3563 content • VHDL modeling (First week) • Spartan3E kits (Mid-semester) • Students implement complex finite state machines • Recommend use of • Tools, Hands-on experiments and programmable devices-based kits early in curriculum • Stimulate interests among students • Validate basic fundamentals using tools and hands-on experience