1) Knowledge of basic combinatorial circuits and related analysis and synthesis methodologies. 2) Knowledge of sequential circuits and related analysis and synthesis methodologies. 3) Knowledge and ability in the use of a Hardware Description Languages such as VHDL: description and synthesis of digital components. 4) Knowledge of modern configurable digital circuits (FPGAs). 5) Knowledge of memory structures and architectures, and their use in processing systems. 6) Knowledge of microcontrollers architectures and applications. 7) Knowledge and ability in the use of development tools for microcontrollers.

Boole's Algebra; elementary gates; basics in electronic devices; basics in C programming language and computer architecture.

Combinational circuits: relevant circuits, timing, synthesis techniques for basic circuits, arithmetic circuits. (0.5 CFU) Sequential circuits: elementary circuits, flip flops, FSMs. (1 CFU) Complex architectures (ASM charts, datapath and control unit). (1.5 CFU) Hardware Description Languages (VHDL): statements, data structures, and coding techniques for hardware description and modeling (2 CFU) Microcontrollers: internal architecture, programming model, peripherals, development tools (3 CFU) Memories: circuits, architectures, and applications. (1 CFU) Programmable devices (PLD, FPGA). (1 CFU)

Practice classes will focus on a number of assigned digital designs: 1) VHDL as a language for design entry (behavioural simulation, synthesis, post place & route simulation) 2) Application design on an FPGA board (design entry, simulation, synthesis) 3) FPGA configuration and test 4) Microcontroller technology : development of simple projects (C language), test on STM32 microcontroller Laboratory sessions consist of the development, synthesis, and implementation of dedicated digital designs described using VHDL language or microcontroller-based applications. Evaluation boards will be available to test the designs. Overall, laboratory assignments will be completed by groups of 3 or 4 students. A report is required for each laboratory session and it will be considered in the final grade. Assignments must be completed and delivered within specific dates distributed during the spring term.

The learning material used for the lessons is made available through the course website. This includes notes provided by the professor, datasheets of electronic components, free ebooks and past written tests. Reference textbooks: "Fundamentals of Digital Logic with VHDL Design (Third Edition)" Stephen Brown and Zvonko Vranesic , Mc Graw Hill “Introduction to Microcontrollers”, Günther Gridling, Bettina Weiss, Vienna University of Technology, 2007 “Mastering STM32”, Carmine Noviello, Lean Publishing, 2017. Free ebooks: “Free Range VHDL”, Bryan Mealy, Fabrizio Tappero, 2016 “The VHDL Cookbook”, Peter J. Ashenden, 1990 “Introduction to Embedded Systems - Interfacing to the Freescale 9S12”, Jonathan W. Valvano, 2010

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Group project;

The exam has three components: 1) Written test on the whole set of covered topics. Questions include at least one (simple) design problem to be solved and two/three open answer questions, where you have to describe what you know about a given subject. There are no multiple-choice questions. This component assigns up to 21 points in the 30-point scale. 2) Evaluation of the group projects, based on material delivered within the given deadlines. Late deliveries will not be evaluated. This component assigns up to 9 points. 3) Oral exam, mandatory, covering questions about the completed projects, questions about the written test (if necessary), additional questions on any course topic. In the written test, the available time is 2 hours. The questions cover all course topics and they intend to verify the acquired knowledge and capabilities. The design problem requires understanding the initial specifications, developing a detailed datapath architecture, to properly model the control unit, and describing one or multiple elements by means of VHDL. No books and notes are admitted. Each question has a uniform distribution of weights. However, these weights may be slightly modified (by no more than 20%) after the correction of tests, based on the statistical distribution of marks. The evaluation of the written test initially assigns a mark in the 0 to 30 range (passing threshold = 18). Passing marks are then multiplied by 21/30 (range 12.6 to 21) . The evaluation of the laboratory projects gives additional points up to a maximum of 9/30, depending on: quality of the delivered code (functional correctness, synthesizability, readability, …), and quality of the report (clarity, completeness, …). The oral exam is accessible only if the written test has been passed (mark >= 18/30 or >=12.6/21). One of the main roles of the oral exam is evaluating the individual contribution of a student in the delivered group projects. The oral exam can correct the mark resulting from the sum of the two previous evaluations by +/- 3 points.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Computer-based written test using the PoliTo platform; Group project;

The exam has three components: 1) Written test on the whole set of covered topics. Questions include at least one (simple) design problem to be solved and two/three open answer questions, where you have to describe what you know about a given subject. There are no multiple-choice questions. This component assigns up to 21 points in the 30-point scale. 2) Evaluation of the group projects, based on material delivered within the given deadlines. Late deliveries will not be evaluated. This component assigns up to 9 points. 3) Oral exam, mandatory, covering questions about the completed projects, questions about the written test (if necessary), additional questions on any course topic. In the written test, the available time is 2 hours. The questions cover all course topics and they intend to verify the acquired knowledge and capabilities. The design problem requires understanding the initial specifications, developing a detailed datapath architecture, to properly model the control unit, and describing one or multiple elements by means of VHDL. No books and notes are admitted. Each question has a uniform distribution of weights. However, these weights may be slightly modified (by no more than 20%) after the correction of tests, based on the statistical distribution of marks. The evaluation of the written test initially assigns a mark in the 0 to 30 range (passing threshold = 18). Passing marks are then multiplied by 21/30 (range 12.6 to 21) . The evaluation of the laboratory projects gives additional points up to a maximum of 9/30, depending on: quality of the delivered code (functional correctness, synthesizability, readability, …), and quality of the report (clarity, completeness, …). The oral exam is accessible only if the written test has been passed (mark >= 18/30 or >=12.6/21). One of the main roles of the oral exam is evaluating the individual contribution of a student in the delivered group projects. The oral exam can correct the mark resulting from the sum of the two previous evaluations by +/- 3 points. Both the written test and the oral exam can be taken onsite or online. Written test: organization In the online case, we will use the EXAM platform and the proctoring system Respondus. There will be two separate test sessions: 1. The first session is about the design of a complex digital system. The answer has to be typed on your PC according to a detailed template specified for every step in the design procedure (see the example given at the end of the document). During the test, you must also provide two or three drawings, each one on a separate paper, according to the rules specified in the exam text. Do not deliver any other drawing in addition to the one explicitly required. Before the end of the test, the student must frame each drawing with his webcam. Then, after the end of the test and within 5 minutes, the same drawings must be delivered, according to the following rules: a. Upload your drawings to the “Elaborati” section of the “Portale della didattica” by means of the Polito App. In case you are unable to do that, send the drawings by email and, in this case, compose the file names as: student ID followed by the word PHOTO and by a progressive number (example: S123456PHOTO1). b. You have to provide clear and complete pictures of the same drawings as the ones that were framed at the end of the written test. c. Please, provide good quality pictures with files of limited size (approximately no more than 1 or 2 MB per picture). d. Each photo must only contain the required drawing and your name; no other text descriptions are admitted. Any description, explanation or comment related to the design must be typed on your PC. e. Each photo must be a JPEG or PDF image saved in a separate file. Drawings delivered too late will not be considered. Drawings that were not properly framed with the webcam at the end of the test or different from the ones framed will not be considered. 2. The second session of the written exam includes two-three open answer questions. In this case, for each question, the student has to type the answer on the PC, with no extra material admitted. Each question will detail both the requested content and the template to be followed in providing the answer. There can be a word number limit for each answer. Oral exam: they can be organized onsite or, alternatively, online by using the BBB tool (Virtual Classroom platform).

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Computer-based written test using the PoliTo platform; Group project;

The exam has three components: 1) Written test on the whole set of covered topics. Questions include at least one (simple) design problem to be solved and two/three open answer questions, where you have to describe what you know about a given subject. There are no multiple-choice questions. This component assigns up to 21 points in the 30-point scale. 2) Evaluation of the group projects, based on material delivered within the given deadlines. Late deliveries will not be evaluated. This component assigns up to 9 points. 3) Oral exam, mandatory, covering questions about the completed projects, questions about the written test (if necessary), additional questions on any course topic. In the written test, the available time is 2 hours. The questions cover all course topics and they intend to verify the acquired knowledge and capabilities. The design problem requires understanding the initial specifications, developing a detailed datapath architecture, to properly model the control unit, and describing one or multiple elements by means of VHDL. No books and notes are admitted. Each question has a uniform distribution of weights. However, these weights may be slightly modified (by no more than 20%) after the correction of tests, based on the statistical distribution of marks. The evaluation of the written test initially assigns a mark in the 0 to 30 range (passing threshold = 18). Passing marks are then multiplied by 21/30 (range 12.6 to 21) . The evaluation of the laboratory projects gives additional points up to a maximum of 9/30, depending on: quality of the delivered code (functional correctness, synthesizability, readability, …), and quality of the report (clarity, completeness, …). The oral exam is accessible only if the written test has been passed (mark >= 18/30 or >=12.6/21). One of the main roles of the oral exam is evaluating the individual contribution of a student in the delivered group projects. The oral exam can correct the mark resulting from the sum of the two previous evaluations by +/- 3 points. Both the written test and the oral exam can be taken onsite or online. Written test: organization In the online case, we will use the EXAM platform and the proctoring system Respondus. There will be two separate test sessions: 1. The first session is about the design of a complex digital system. The answer has to be typed on your PC according to a detailed template specified for every step in the design procedure (see the example given at the end of the document). During the test, you must also provide two or three drawings, each one on a separate paper, according to the rules specified in the exam text. Do not deliver any other drawing in addition to the one explicitly required. Before the end of the test, the student must frame each drawing with his webcam. Then, after the end of the test and within 5 minutes, the same drawings must be delivered, according to the following rules: a. Upload your drawings to the “Elaborati” section of the “Portale della didattica” by means of the Polito App. In case you are unable to do that, send the drawings by email and, in this case, compose the file names as: student ID followed by the word PHOTO and by a progressive number (example: S123456PHOTO1). b. You have to provide clear and complete pictures of the same drawings as the ones that were framed at the end of the written test. c. Please, provide good quality pictures with files of limited size (approximately no more than 1 or 2 MB per picture). d. Each photo must only contain the required drawing and your name; no other text descriptions are admitted. Any description, explanation or comment related to the design must be typed on your PC. e. Each photo must be a JPEG or PDF image saved in a separate file. Drawings delivered too late will not be considered. Drawings that were not properly framed with the webcam at the end of the test or different from the ones framed will not be considered. 2. The second session of the written exam includes two-three open answer questions. In this case, for each question, the student has to type the answer on the PC, with no extra material admitted. Each question will detail both the requested content and the template to be followed in providing the answer. There can be a word number limit for each answer. Oral exam: they can be organized onsite or, alternatively, online by using the BBB tool (Virtual Classroom platform).