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Unit information: VLSI Design and Emerging Technologies in 2024/25

Unit name VLSI Design and Emerging Technologies
Unit code EEMEM0005
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Arab Hassani
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

None

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Faculty of Engineering

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) refers to the process of creating integrated circuits by combining thousands to billions of transistors onto a single chip. This is the foundation of nearly all modern electronic devices, from smartphones to computers and IoT (Internet of Things) devices. Understanding VLSI design is crucial for anyone looking to work in electronics, computer engineering, or related fields. In summary, a unit on VLSI Design and Emerging Technologies equips students with critical knowledge and skills essential for navigating and contributing to the rapidly evolving landscape of modern technology and electronics.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study

This unit is mandatory for the relevant PGT programmes of study and optional on undergraduate programmes. The unit provides students with the foundational knowledge of how complex circuits are created and integrated, enriches the programme by providing practical skills using industry-standard tools and ensures that students are prepared for advanced and dynamic roles in the microelectronics industry.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

Starting from a functional model of a MOSFET, analysis and design considerations for transistor-level implementations of basic logic gates for different digital logic families are covered. These include static and dynamic logic styles for both combinational and sequential circuits followed by principles of synchronous system design. Delving into non-traditional transistors and other micro/nano-scale devices then enables the development of ultra-high-speed and efficient processors and memory devices. The unit also covers case-studies of real-world VLSI applications in various technologies.

The students will make extensive use of industry-standard CAD tools for integrated circuit design, simulation and layout and gain experience in the design process from schematic entry to final tape-out of the chip.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

Students will gain a deep understanding of the principles and applications of VLSI design. This includes knowledge of semiconductor devices, circuit design, and the integration of emerging technologies like non-traditional transistors and other micro/nano-scale devices for various applications. Such technical skills are highly sought after in the microelectronics industry.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Design, optimise, and analyse transistor-based logic circuits in various design styles for functionality, performance, energy and power consumption.
  2. Construct the physical layout of small-scale circuits.
  3. Describe synchronous design principles and apply them in system analysis.
  4. Analyse non-traditional transistors and other micro/nano-scale devices for replacing traditional transistors to improve the performance, energy and power consumption of digital circuits. 

How you will learn

The unit will have a blended learning approach incorporating a combination of asynchronous lectures where various aspects of core knowledge are explained, problem-solving sessions to solve exercises related to the core knowledge, and practical lab classes to design and analyse digital circuits using CAD tools.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Quizzes on asynchronous lecture materials and a single formative coursework submission with the focus on lab-based circuit design and analysis. Feedback will be provided on submitted works to help towards understanding the core knowledge that will be assessed via the summative assessment.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

The unit will be assessed by a single closed-book exam in the TB2 assessment period. The exam will assess all Learning Outcomes.

When assessment does not go to plan

In the event of unsatisfactory performance in the examinations, there may be an opportunity to resit the assessment during the reassessment period at the end of the academic year.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EEMEM0005).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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