VLSI Design and Methodology
Description
This subject covers the complete VLSI design flow from system specification to physical implementation. Students learn about digital design principles, logic synthesis, place and route, timing analysis, and verification methodologies used in modern chip design.
Learning Objectives
Students will master the complete VLSI design flow from specification to tape-out, develop proficiency in hardware description languages and design tools, implement effective verification strategies for complex designs, optimize designs for power, performance, and area constraints, understand physical design challenges and solutions, and demonstrate competency with industry-standard EDA tools and methodologies.
Topics (15)
Study of synthesis algorithms, optimization objectives, technology mapping, and constraint specification for logic synthesis tools.
Study of floorplanning techniques, placement algorithms, clock tree synthesis, and routing strategies for physical implementation.
Study of bus architectures, IP integration, SoC verification challenges, and system-level design considerations.
Study of physical verification, design rule checking, layout versus schematic verification, and tape-out procedures.
Study of requirement analysis, architectural trade-offs, performance budgeting, and system partitioning for complex digital systems.
Comprehensive coverage of HDL syntax, modeling techniques, simulation, and synthesis considerations for both Verilog and VHDL.
Study of coding styles, design patterns, finite state machines, and optimization techniques for synthesizable RTL design.
Comprehensive study of setup and hold timing, clock domains, timing constraints, and optimization techniques for timing closure.
Study of static and dynamic power, power estimation methods, clock gating, power islands, and voltage scaling techniques.
Study of fault models, test pattern generation, scan design, BIST techniques, and test coverage analysis.
Comprehensive coverage of testbench development, assertion-based verification, constrained random testing, and coverage metrics.
Study of metastability, synchronizer design, clock domain crossing techniques, and analysis methods for multi-clock systems.
Study of crosstalk, power supply noise, electromagnetic interference, and design techniques for signal integrity.
Hands-on experience with synthesis, simulation, place-and-route, and verification tools from major EDA vendors.
Study of SRAM design, memory compilers, memory timing, and integration of memories in SoC designs.