Digital Systems Certificate

To study the fundamentals of microcontroller-based embedded systems, and the software and hardware design techniques for peripheral interfacing and communication, input/output signal interfacing, real-time processing and control, and embedded system development. Focuses on hands-on software development with a high-level programming language such as C, and hardware design, implementation, and experiments with a microcontroller development platform.

Introduction to VLSI design using CAD tools, CMOS logic, switch level modeling, circuit characterization, logic design in CMOS, systems design methods, test subsystem design, design examples, student design project.

Fundamentals of embedded system organization including CPU architectures, memory systems, basic input/output and software development for embedded systems in assembly and C.

Study of modern digital circuit implementation technologies, with emphasis on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Traditional and computer-based digital synthesis techniques for combinational and sequential circuits are covered. Complex systems, such as reaction timers, processors and buses, are built from simpler circuits. A modern hardware description language, such as Verilog or VHDL, is used throughout the course.