2024 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Department of Information and Communications Engineering Graduate major in Information and Communications Engineering
VLSI System Design
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Information and Communications Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Tsuyoshi Isshiki
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue / 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ICT.I415
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is designed to cover the underlining theories and technologies which support the systematic design process of current VLSIs.
Course description and aims
Develop deep understanding of mathematical theories and algorithms for solving important CAD problems for VLSI system designs, especially in logic synthesis and high-level synthesis.
Keywords
VLSI, system design, logic synthesis, high-level synthesis, optimization problems
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Various optimization problems and the corresponding algorithms will be explained, and assignments on the related problems will be given.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction - VLSI design methodology and computer-aided design (CAD) tools | Understand the VLSI design methodology and the role of CAD tools |
| Class 2 | Introduction - Hardware description language and hardware behavior model | Understand Hardware Description Language |
| Class 3 | Logic synthesis - Conversion from RTL description to logic equations | Understand the relationship between RTL description and logic function |
| Class 4 | Logic synthesis - Two-level logic minimization | Understand two-level logic minimization methods and related theories |
| Class 5 | Logic synthesis - Multi-level logic minimization | Understand multi-level logic minimization methods and related theories |
| Class 6 | Logic synthesis - Area-optimal technology mapping | Understand technology mapping methods and related dynamic programming techniques |
| Class 7 | Logic synthesis - Delay-optimal technology mapping | Understand delay-optimal technology mapping methods |
| Class 8 | Logic synthesis - Fan-out optimization | Understand fan-out optimization techniques and overall technology mapping flow |
| Class 9 | Cell libraries and datapath libraries | Understand design methodologies for cell libraries |
| Class 10 | High-level synthesis - Design methodology | Understand the design methodology using high-level synthesis |
| Class 11 | High-level synthesis - Operation scheduling | Understand operation scheduling methods |
| Class 12 | High-level synthesis - Resource allocation | Understand resource allocation methods and related optimization techiques |
| Class 13 | Advanced topics in system-level design issues (1) | Understand latest research activities in system-level design issues |
| Class 14 | Advanced topics in system-level design issues (2) | Understand latest research activities in system-level design issues |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Not determined
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Lecture materials will be distributed
Evaluation methods and criteria
Grades based on assignment reports
Related courses
- ICT.I211 ： Theory and Design of Logic Circuits
- ICT.I216 ： Computer Logic Design (ICT)
Prerequisites
Knowledge on logic circuit is desired