Course Description: Design of digital systems. Topics include switching algebra and switching funcitons, logic design of combinational sequential circuits using TTL, combinational logic design with MSI and LSI, busing, flip-flops, registers, counters, programmable logic devices, memory devices, register-level design, and microcomputer system organization. Students must show competency in the computer-aided design (CAD) and laboratory implementation of digital systems.

Prerequisite: CSA 174 or equivalent

Objectives: Students will learn principles of digital systems design. They will combine classic design methodologies with a series of laboaratory assignments in which they will demonstrate their ability to successfully design, implement, test, and debut digital systems using state-of-the-art computer-aided design (CAD) tools and physical prototyping. Each student will ultimately be able to:

• Analyse a given combinational or sequential circuit, producing an appropriate truth table or state table and state diagrams.
• Design combinational and sequential systems of moderate complexity to satisfy given specifications for function and predict its timing behavior.
• Produce an appropriate state table and state diagrams to solve or meet system specifications.
• Utilize CAD tools to design combinational and sequential circuits of moderate complexity.
• Implement, test, and debug prototype digital systems using standard laboaratory equipment
• Use accepted standards to document sequential logic designs.
• Articulate the benefits and uses of the various design technologies for realizing digital systems.

 Key Topics:

• Fundamentals of Boolean Algebra, including the minimization of logic functions to SOP or POS form.
• Analysis of logic circuits.
• The design and testing digital designs using SSI and MSI components.
• Optimization techniques to minimize gate count, IC count, or time delay.
• The design and use of simple memory devices, flip-flops, and sequential circuits.
• Decoders, multiplexers, and bus logic.
• Documentation standards for logic designs.
• Standard sequential devices, including counters and registers.
• Programmable devices, including PLDs, RAMS, and ROMS.
• Sequencing and Control.

Required Topics: (approximate weeks allocated):

• Number systems and binary arithmetic (1)
• Boolean algebra and theorems (0.5)
• Karnaugh maps (0.5)
• Introduction to digital design, signals, gates (0.5)
• Introduction to CAD software (0.5)