Embedded and Microelectronics

MM01

Advanced Programming Techniques

Content of course “Advanced Programming Techniques”

Review of fundamental concepts of a widely used object oriented programming language. The course will cover

- introduction to the UML

- OOA and OOD techniques

- class design and class relations in C++,

- C++ operator overloading,

- advanced data structures, design patterns and algorithms

- systematic test techniques

Design aspects like modularity and software re-use will be discussed. Developing software designs using the UML and CASE tools as well as extensive hands-on programming assignments in C/C++ are an integral part of the course.

MM02

VLSI Design and Testing

Module Content

Content of course “VLSI Design and Testing - Lecture”

This course aims at the design perspective of CMOS circuits and the testing of integrated circuits. The course will cover

- combinational circuit design,

- memory circuit design,

- design methods (from full-custom to model-based design),

- design verification,

- IC fabrication,

- IC testing

Content of course “VLSI Design and Testing - Lab”

Practical design assignments on different hardware platforms are part of the course.

- Model-based design on SoC/MPSoC platforms

- Design verification using FIL

- Design for testability

MM03

Advanced Microcontroller Systems and Embedded Operating Systems

Content of the course Advanced Micro-Controller Systems

- Hardware Architecture of current Micro-Controller Systems

- RTOS implementation

- Tasks, Events, Messages, Semaphores

- Critical Sections, Priority Ceiling, Deadlocks

- Scheduling algorithms

- Safety and Memory-Protection

- Hardware Security Features

- Hardware Device-Driver development

- Efficient Implementation of DSP algorithms

Content of the course Advanced Micro-Controller Systems and Embedded Operating Systems (Lab)

- Design and implementation of deep embedded software on a 32-bit Micro-controller

- Configuration and application of embedded operating system services

MM04

FPGA-based System on Chip Design

FPGA-based System on Chip Design - Lecture

The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid understanding of designing complex FPGA System on Chip (SoC) architectures, starting with the creation of high-level functional specifications up to the design, implementation and testing on FPGA SoC platforms using hardware description and software programming languages. In particular, the course will cover

- an introduction to FPGA based System on Chip design – Applications, limitations and challenges.

- the anatomy of modern embedded System on Chip architectures: The hard processor system and FPGA fabric, booting and configuration, PCB issues and design strategies.

- RTL hardware design including simulation, and verification using SystemVerilog HDL.

- methodologies for successful timing closure, multi-clock domains and synchronization techniques.

- design strategies for architecting for performance, area and power.

- embedded processors in SoC FPGAs: Hard and soft-processor systems, on-chip bus systems

- the design and implementation of custom hardware accelerators: Integration of co-processors, ISA customization in soft-processor systems, design of customized HW/SW interfaces.

- the optimizing of design metrics using HW/SW co-design approaches.

- High-Level-Synthesis: Algorithm and interface synthesis, design evaluation and optimization.

FPGA-based System on Chip Design – Lab

The lab focuses on teaching practical skills related to FPGA based SoC design using C and SystemVerilog:

- Design and implementation of custom hardware accelerators (Co-Processors, ISA extensions).

- HW/SW integration of custom accelerators into existing FPGA based SoC architectures followed by profiling and benchmarking of the respective solutions.

MM05

Embedded Architectures and Applications

Content of course “Embedded Architectures and Applications - Lecture”

Participants will be exposed to and gain working experience with complex embedded systems and architecture development. The course will cover

- introduction to multitasking concepts and operating systems,

- structure and functionality of selected industrial embedded Operating Systems

- design of reactive systems, state machine design and coding,

- architectural development of embedded, realtime, multitasking systems

- analysis of embedded industrial architectures and design patterns (Basic Software, Application Software, Runtime Environment)

- automotive architectures, AUTOSAR

- embedded control system design

- multicore architectures

- safety architectures

Content of course “Embedded Architectures and Applications - Lab”

Practical programming assignments in C/C++ using state of the art operating systems are part of the course.

- Configuring an embedded Operating System

- Developing a simple multithreading, reactive application

- Separating basic software and application software introducing a runtime environment

MM06

System-Driven Hardware Design

Content of the course “System Driven Hardware Design – Lecture”

Participants will gain work experience in developing hardware and software of an electronic system. The course will cover:

- Partitioning of a system in hardware, software parts and necessary peripherals components

- interface design to peripheral components, to other systems and to humans

- designing of a PCB, taking signal integrity, hardware and software test possibilities and production rules into account

- software development for hardware test

- view on mechanical constraints

- production methods

Content of the course “System Driven Hardware Design – Lab”

Development of a system consisting of software and hardware parts:

- Developing a PCB

- Soldering a PCB

- test of hardware – software interaction

- hardware and software start-up

- debugging

MM07

Embedded Signal Processing Systems

Module Content

Embedded Signal Processing Systems - Lecture

The aim of this course is to provide students with a solid understanding of designing complex embedded signal processing systems using modern µC and FPGA architectures. Key subjects are the design, modelling and simulation of fixed-point DSP algorithms as well as their HW/SW implementation on state-of-the-art processing platforms. In particular, the course will cover

- an introduction to modern DSP systems – Emerging applications, architectures and challenges.

- the theory of discrete-time systems and fixed-point mathematics.

- the design and implementation of digital filters (FIR/IIR digital filter design and specification, re-timing: cut-set and delay scaling, the transpose FIR, pipelining and multichannel architectures).

- the synthesis of digital signals (NCO Design, DDFS, CORDIC algorithm, IIR oscillators).

- digital correlator architectures (Auto/cross-correlation techniques).

- the Discrete Fourier Transform, various FFT algorithms and architectures, as well as design issues related to FFT word-length growth and accuracy.

- HLS and Model based DSP design: Synthesis of custom DSP accelerators.

- Design and implementation of digital control systems: Mapping analog control loops to digital platforms.

Embedded Signal Processing Systems - Lab

The lab focuses on teaching practical skills related to the design and implementation of embedded signal processing systems using C and SystemVerilog:

- Analysis, modelling and simulation of various DSP algorithms.

- Mapping DSP algorithms (Filters, signal synthesisers) to µC and FPGA platforms followed by profiling and benchmarking of the respective HW/SW solutions.