Back to VLSI CAD Part I: Logic
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

VLSI CAD Part I: Logic

A modern VLSI chip has a zillion parts -- logic, control, memory, interconnect, etc. How do we design these complex chips? Answer: CAD software tools. Learn how to build thesA modern VLSI chip is a remarkably complex beast: billions of transistors, millions of logic gates deployed for computation and control, big blocks of memory, embedded blocks of pre-designed functions designed by third parties (called “intellectual property” or IP blocks). How do people manage to design these complicated chips? Answer: a sequence of computer aided design (CAD) tools takes an abstract description of the chip, and refines it step-wise to a final design. This class focuses on the major design tools used in the creation of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or System on Chip (SoC) design. Our focus in this first part of the course is on key Boolean logic representations that make it possible to synthesize, and to verify, the gate-level logic in these designs. This is the first step of the design chain, as we move from logic to layout. Our goal is for students to understand how the tools themselves work, at the level of their fundamental algorithms and data structures. Topics covered will include: Computational Boolean algebra, logic verification, and logic synthesis (2-level and multi-level). Recommended Background Programming experience (C, C++, Java, Python, etc.) and basic knowledge of data structures and algorithms (especially recursive algorithms). An understanding of basic digital design: Boolean algebra, Kmaps, gates and flip flops, finite state machine design. Linear algebra and calculus at the level of a junior or senior in engineering. Exposure to basic VLSI at an undergraduate level is nice -- but it’s not necessary. We will keep the course self-contained, but students with some VLSI will be able to skip some background material.e tools in this class.

Status: Algorithms
Status: Verification And Validation
IntermediateCourse23 hours

Featured reviews

SG

5.0Reviewed Sep 3, 2020

One of the best courses that I have come across in the Coursera platform which is very interesting, I'm very glad that I took this course which leads to exploring some concepts of VLSI.

VT

4.0Reviewed Jul 15, 2020

Excellent course in VLSI tools design, that covers most of the basic algorithms and basic idea of tools.

KK

5.0Reviewed Nov 27, 2021

The course content is really amazing , very in depth concepts of CAD design tools internal mechanism! for a beginner it's good.

SR

5.0Reviewed Aug 26, 2023

Excellent course with lots of lots of new things to learn. Mandatory for people doing research in VLSI and digital circuits.

ER

5.0Reviewed May 18, 2020

Great Course!! Worth spending time on this course for those who want to or currently pursuing their career in the EDA domain.

ND

5.0Reviewed Jun 25, 2018

the course is designed so well I didn't face any problems while doing this course the technical support is always availableThank you

AS

5.0Reviewed Jul 31, 2020

This course was exceptionally Awesome. Mr. Rutebar is really motivating in terms of explaining the complicated details of the boolean world.

KG

5.0Reviewed Aug 6, 2020

Well done. I've taken a similar course. The notation is significantly different but the ideas are the same.

RR

5.0Reviewed Feb 23, 2019

It’s a great course with good compilation of source materials. Thanks to the Professor and the university for this wonderful online course.

AS

5.0Reviewed Jul 5, 2020

Anyone who aspires for having some depth in the field of CAD should atleast do this course.

SM

5.0Reviewed Jun 6, 2020

It's an amazing course. Those who have ideas about boolean logic will be very much satisfied with the course.

RK

5.0Reviewed Jun 21, 2020

One of the good course VLSI CAD for fabrication and i successfully completed part 1 thanks to ILLINOIS

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