EECE 277: FPGA Design

2005 Spring Semester

 

Class Time and Location: MWF 10:10am – 11am, 211 FGH

 

Instructor:

William H. Robinson

Office Address:

248 Featheringill Hall

Office Phone:

322-1507

E-Mail:

william.h.robinson@vanderbilt.edu

Office Hours:

12:30pm – 2:00pm, Mondays and Wednesdays

 

Teaching Assistant:

Stephen D. Rochelle

Office Address:

252 Featheringill Hall

Office Phone:

322-7759

E-Mail:

stephen.rochelle@vanderbilt.edu

Office Hours:

11:30am – 1:00pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays

 

 

Prerequisite: EECE 116, EECE 218, or approval from instructor 

 

Required Textbooks:

 

 

 

Supplemental Reference Textbooks:

 

 

  • The Design Warrior’s Guide to FPGAs, by Clive “Max” Maxfield, Elsevier, 2004. ISBN 0-7506-7604-3

 

  • FPGA-Based System Design, by Wayne Wolf, Prentice Hall, 2004. ISBN 0-13-142461-0
     

  • Introductory VHDL: From Simulation to Synthesis, by Sudhakar Yalamanchili, Prentice Hall, 2001. ISBN 0-13-080982-9

 

Course Description:

This course presents both the design and the applications of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Topics include: (1) Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools for design, placement, and routing, (2) Hardware Description Languages (HDL) for simulation and synthesis, and (3) state machine specification, design, and simulation. Practical experience is gained by implementing various designs on a prototype FPGA board. A project is required for the course.

 

Course Web Page:

http://eecs.vanderbilt.edu/courses/eece277/

 

Attendance:

Since class lectures include material that is not included in the book, class attendance is required. If a class is missed, a student should make arrangements to get notes from other students. The importance of regular class attendance and good note taking cannot be understated. Students are responsible for all material covered in class and posted online, including changes in exam schedules announced in class.

 

Homework:

Homework will consist of questions from the end of the chapters in the textbook, as well as written answers to discussion questions. Homework problems at the end of the chapters will be assigned and listed on the class web page. All assignments are due at the start of class on the specified due date; late assignments will NOT be accepted. If exceptional circumstances preclude the timely submission of an assignment, please inform me before the due date (if this is not possible, then as soon thereafter as feasible) to allow alternative arrangements to be made.

 

Laboratory Assignments:

There will be laboratory assignments given during the semester with students working together in teams of two. Collaboration among teams is allowed only under the following conditions: Students may discuss the assignments and their approaches with one another and they may compare results. However, each team must write up its own report. Copying of code, results, and analyses of results is not allowed.

 

Final Project:

There will be final project assigned at the end of the semester with students working together in teams of two. This project will build upon the skills learned from the series of laboratory assignments. Again, collaboration among teams is allowed only under the following conditions: Students may discuss the assignments and their approaches with one another and they may compare results. However, each team must write up its own report. Copying of code, results, and analyses of results is not allowed.

 

Exams:

There are two in-class exams and a final exam. All exams are closed-book and closed-notes. Calculators are allowed. All exams are comprehensive (i.e., they may draw on all material covered in class thus far). If necessary, each exam average is curved up to 75.

 

Missed Exam Policy:

Exams are taken at the scheduled class time or at the scheduled final period. In the rare case when this is not possible, a make-up exam may be possible. However, this must be approved by the instructor before the scheduled exam time. Make-up exams are not guaranteed to be the same as the exam given in class. If arrangements have not been made in advance, a missed exam will be recorded as a zero. Family deaths and extreme medical emergencies are handled specially.

 

Grading Breakdown and Schedule:      
       
Class participation 5%    
Homework 15%    
Laboratory assignments 25%    
Exam I 15%   Wednesday, February 16
Exam II 15%   Wednesday, April 6
Final Project 25%   Saturday, April 30 (2pm – 5pm)

 

Grading Policy:

Grades are assigned as follows: [90-100] = A, [80-90) = B, [70-80) = C, [60-70) = D, [0-60) = F. Your final numeric grade will be a weighted summation of all the assignments. If necessary, each exam average is curved up to 75. I will not curve down! Midterm grades will be based upon your relative performance on the assignments given before drop day. Do not assume that plus/minus grades will be given.

 

Policy on W and I Grades:

Vanderbilt policy allows you to withdraw from a course with a grade of W on or before Friday, March 18th. After this date, your instructor cannot give you a W, but must assign you a grade based on your work.

 

This course has been designed so that you can complete all the work in one semester. Thus incomplete grades will be given only in the most exceptional circumstances, and then only by prior arrangement. The professor has the final say in this matter.

 

Honor Code:

As a Vanderbilt University student, it is your responsibility to read and understand the guidelines of the Honor Code. The Vanderbilt University Honor Code can be found at the following web address:

 

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/student_handbook/Honor_System.htm

 

The VU Honor Code policy for EECE 277 is straightforward: Do not turn in any work in EECE 277 unless it is your work and yours alone. All work must be individual work unless otherwise stated. This policy will be observed for all homework assignments, midterm exams, and the final exam. This policy also applies to any work done on a computer (i.e. layout or simulation files). It is your responsibility to resolve any ambiguities about this policy by speaking to your instructor prior to turning in an assignment. All cases of provable academic misconduct in EECE 277 will be reported to the Vanderbilt University Honor Council.

 

Examples of acceptable forms of collaboration in this course:

  • Discussion of the general approach taken to solve the problem with other students in the class

  • Comparison of your answers or results to the answers or results of other students without comparing the entire written solution

Examples of unacceptable forms of collaboration in this course:

  • Copying a student’s homework verbatim, or allowing your own homework to be copied verbatim

  • Creating a “co-authored” homework solution with one or more students that results in each student turning in an identical solution

  • Copying all or part of another student’s computer files (if part of a homework assignment), or allowing your own computer files to be copied

  • Any communication between students during a test, including cellular, wireless, or infrared means

Office Hours:

You are always welcome at my office hours. If you are not able to make my office hours, contact me and we will make arrangements to meet.

 

General Notes on Communicating with the Instructor:

My office telephone number is 322-1507. However, the best way to communicate with me outside of class hours is via e-mail. Please feel free to use e-mail to set up an appointment, or if something is unclear, or for anything else at all. I ask that the e-mail subject line includes the following text:

 

EECE 277

 

This will allow me to identify your e-mails. Generally speaking I attempt to answer all student inquiries as soon as possible. That said please keep in mind the following two facts:

  1. You should not expect me to answer email or phone calls after I leave campus, 6pm Monday through Friday. You will receive a reply at my first opportunity the next day.
     

  2. As well, I am not guaranteed to answer email or phone calls over the weekend. If you leave a message for me over the weekend, you should not expect a reply until Monday.

If I will be away for an extended period, I will let you know my email availability prior to my departure.

 

Ice:

If the roads are covered with ice I will not be able to drive to Vanderbilt. If class is canceled, I will send a broadcast e-mail to all students if ice is preventing me from driving to Vanderbilt.

 

Disabilities:

Vanderbilt is committed to equal opportunity for students with disabilities. If you have a physical or learning disability, you should ask the Opportunity Development Center to assist you in identifying yourself to your instructors as having a disability, so that appropriate accommodation may be provided. Absent notification, your instructors assume that you have no disability or seek no accommodation.

 

Emergency Evacuation Plans:

In the event of a fire or other emergencies, the occupants of this class should collect coats and personal belongings and leave the building according to the designated evacuation plan for the classroom:

 

211 – SE Wing 3 Quadrant – take Stairway 4 to the Community Partnership House/Branscomb Quadrangle area

 

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY POLICY FORBIDS REENTRY TO A BUILDING IN WHICH AN ALARM HAS OCCURRED WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION BY VANDERBILT SECURITY.

 

Disclaimer:

Every effort has been made to provide accurate information in this document. However, I reserve the right to make changes to any facet of the course should circumstances warrant it. Any such changes will be announced in the lecture.

 

EECS Department | School of Engineering | Vanderbilt University

For more information,
please contact Dr. William H. Robinson

Last modified on February 04, 2005