FACULTY OF SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

SUMMER 2021
DR.MOHAMMAD AL HAKIM (dmmah@ewubd.edu)

Course Code: EEE 416

Course Title: VLSI Circuits and Systems
Pre-requisite: EEE 205

Course Content
MOS devices and technology: Different MOS models, simulation and associated accuracy; Brief
introduction to IC fabrication: Wafer processing, die preparation and interrelation between device
simulation, CAD layout and processing; Layout for VLSI: Standard cell layout, Design rules, Full and
semi-custom design, Floorplanning, Bit slice design; transmission gates, inverter, ring oscillator and
latch up effects; Interconnects; Performance estimation: rise time & fall times, gate sizing & power
consumption; VLSI architecture design and optimization: Basic gates: NAND, AND, NOR, OR, XOR,
multiplexor, shifters; Arithmetic circuits: Adder, subtractor, comparator, multiplier; Sequential cell
design: Latch, registers, counters; Embedded memories: RAM, EEPROM etc; simple microprocessor;
Digital design using System Verilog: Introduction to SystemVerilog, module design, place & route;
layout optimization; IC packaging and testing.

Rationale of the course

VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) technology started it's era in 1970’s when thousands of
transistors were integrated into one single chip. Nowadays , industries are able to integrate more
than a billion transistors on a single chip which has brought tremendous benefits to our everyday
life. VLSI circuits are used everywhere, real applications include microprocessors in a personal
computer or workstation, chips in a graphic card, digital camera or camcorder, chips in a cell phone
or a portable computing device, and embedded processors in an automobile. This course covers
different phases of designing integrated circuits that is somehow inevitable for EEE students for
understanding electronics now a day. It is expected that the course will provide students necessary
background to work in IC fabrication facilities.

Course Objectives
The course aims to provide an understanding of the design and layout of digital VLSI circuits/
systems and will allow design exercises using appropriate CAD tools. Having successfully completed
the module the students will be able to:
• Understand standard submicron CMOS devices and the principles of digital CMOS integrated
circuit design
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of VLSI architectures like basic gates, arithmetic
circuits, Sequential cell, Embedded memories, simple microprocessor and optimisation.
 • Identify issues related with transistor sizing, power consumption and parasitic effects on
system design.
• Manage a complex system through systematic approach of cell design, the use of hierarchy,
place & route and test strategy to reduce the problems of debugging large system.
• Design complex systems using a hardware description language.
• Verify function and performance of designs using digital and analogue simulators.

Course Outcomes:
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of digital CMOS integrated circuit design
considering fabrication steps starting from basic device simulation, transferring them into
CAD layout and possible fabrication steps through process simulation (CO1/Understand &
Apply).
• Analyze VLSI architectures considering issues related with transistor sizing, power
consumption and parasitic effects. (CO2/Analyze).
• Design a complete IC using systematic approach of cell design, the use of hierarchy, place &
route and performance verification (CO3/Design).
• Design complex systems using a hardware description language (CO4/Design).

Text books:
Basics of CMOS Cell Design by Etienne Sicard and Sonia Delmas Bendhia
CMOS VLSI Design by Neil Weste and David Harris

Tentative evaluation:
Attendance 10%
Class tests 10%
Lab 20%
Midterm I 10%
Midterm II 20%
Final 30%