Abstract:
This paper describes how an intelligent chip architecture has allowed a large cohort of undergraduate (UG) students to be given effective practical insight into integrate...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
This paper describes how an intelligent chip architecture has allowed a large cohort of undergraduate (UG) students to be given effective practical insight into integrated circuit (IC) design by designing and manufacturing their own ICs. To achieve this, an efficient chip architecture, the ¿Superchip,¿ was developed, which allows multiple student designs to be fabricated on a single IC, and encapsulated in a standard package without excessive cost in terms of time or resources. This paper demonstrates how the practical process has been tightly coupled with theoretical aspects of the degree course and how transferable skills are incorporated into the design exercise. Furthermore, the students are introduced at an early stage to the key concepts of teamwork, exposure to real deadlines, and collaborative report writing. This paper provides details of the teaching rationale, design exercise overview, design process, chip architecture, and test regime.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 53, Issue: 2, May 2010)
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Peter R. Wilson (M'99–SM'06) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and received the B.Eng. (Hons.) degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1988; the M.B.A degree from the Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1999; and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2002.
He worked in the Navigation Systems Division of Ferranti ...Show More
Peter R. Wilson (M'99–SM'06) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and received the B.Eng. (Hons.) degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1988; the M.B.A degree from the Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1999; and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2002.
He worked in the Navigation Systems Division of Ferranti ...View more
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Reuben Wilcock (M'01) received the B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2004, respectively.
He was appointed as a Research Fellow in the Electronic Systems and Devices Research Group at the University of Southampton from 2004 to 2005 and was later appointed as a Senior Design Engineer in a high-tech startup company from 2005 to 2006. In 2006, ...Show More
Reuben Wilcock (M'01) received the B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2004, respectively.
He was appointed as a Research Fellow in the Electronic Systems and Devices Research Group at the University of Southampton from 2004 to 2005 and was later appointed as a Senior Design Engineer in a high-tech startup company from 2005 to 2006. In 2006, ...View more
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Iain McNally received the B.Sc. degree in electronics from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 1986.
He has worked in research for British Telecoms, Marconi Maritime Labs, and the University of Southampton. He is currently a Senior Teaching Fellow at the university, where he has been teaching integrated circuit design since 1991.
Iain McNally received the B.Sc. degree in electronics from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 1986.
He has worked in research for British Telecoms, Marconi Maritime Labs, and the University of Southampton. He is currently a Senior Teaching Fellow at the university, where he has been teaching integrated circuit design since 1991.View more
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Matthew Swabey (M'08) received the B.Eng. (Hons.) and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2006, respectively.
He has worked as a Research Fellow in the fields of otoacoustics and renewable energy at the University of Southampton. He is currently a Teaching Fellow at the university, where he teaches analog electronics, digital electronics, and computer e...Show More
Matthew Swabey (M'08) received the B.Eng. (Hons.) and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2006, respectively.
He has worked as a Research Fellow in the fields of otoacoustics and renewable energy at the University of Southampton. He is currently a Teaching Fellow at the university, where he teaches analog electronics, digital electronics, and computer e...View more
Contents School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Peter R. Wilson (M'99–SM'06) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and received the B.Eng. (Hons.) degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1988; the M.B.A degree from the Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1999; and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2002.
He worked in the Navigation Systems Division of Ferranti in Edinburgh, Scotland from 1988 to 1990 on fire-control computer systems before moving in 1990 to the Radar Systems Division of GEC-Marconi Avionics, also in Edinburgh. From 1990 to 1994, he worked on modeling and simulation of power supplies, signal processing systems, and servo and mixed technology systems. From 1994 to 1999 he worked as European Product Specialist with Analogy Inc., based in Swindon, U.K. and Beaverton, OR. During this time, he developed a number of models, librarie,s and modeling tools for the Saber simulator, especially in the areas of power systems, magnetic components, and telecommunications. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in electronics at the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton. His current research interests include modeling of magnetic components in electric circuits, power electronics, renewable energy systems, integrated circuit design, VHDL-AMS modeling and simulation, and the development of electronic design tools. He has published more than 70 articles in these areas as well as one book.
Dr. Wilson is a Member of the IET and a Chartered Engineer, both in the U.K. He is Vice Chair of IEEE Std. 1076.1.1, for which work he received an IEEE award in 2006, Secretary of the IEEE Power Electronics Society Standards Committee, General Chair of Behavioral Modeling and Simulation 2009, and has served as Technical Program Chair of Behavioral Modeling and Simulation 2008 and Finance Chair of the European Test Symposium 2006.
Peter R. Wilson (M'99–SM'06) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and received the B.Eng. (Hons.) degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1988; the M.B.A degree from the Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1999; and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2002.
He worked in the Navigation Systems Division of Ferranti in Edinburgh, Scotland from 1988 to 1990 on fire-control computer systems before moving in 1990 to the Radar Systems Division of GEC-Marconi Avionics, also in Edinburgh. From 1990 to 1994, he worked on modeling and simulation of power supplies, signal processing systems, and servo and mixed technology systems. From 1994 to 1999 he worked as European Product Specialist with Analogy Inc., based in Swindon, U.K. and Beaverton, OR. During this time, he developed a number of models, librarie,s and modeling tools for the Saber simulator, especially in the areas of power systems, magnetic components, and telecommunications. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in electronics at the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton. His current research interests include modeling of magnetic components in electric circuits, power electronics, renewable energy systems, integrated circuit design, VHDL-AMS modeling and simulation, and the development of electronic design tools. He has published more than 70 articles in these areas as well as one book.
Dr. Wilson is a Member of the IET and a Chartered Engineer, both in the U.K. He is Vice Chair of IEEE Std. 1076.1.1, for which work he received an IEEE award in 2006, Secretary of the IEEE Power Electronics Society Standards Committee, General Chair of Behavioral Modeling and Simulation 2009, and has served as Technical Program Chair of Behavioral Modeling and Simulation 2008 and Finance Chair of the European Test Symposium 2006.View more
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Reuben Wilcock (M'01) received the B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2004, respectively.
He was appointed as a Research Fellow in the Electronic Systems and Devices Research Group at the University of Southampton from 2004 to 2005 and was later appointed as a Senior Design Engineer in a high-tech startup company from 2005 to 2006. In 2006, he rejoined the Electronic Systems and Devices Research Group at the University of Southampton as a Senior Research Fellow. His current research interests include high-frequency, low-power, analog circuit design in CMOS and analog design for yield techniques for deep submicron process technologies.
Dr. Wilcock is a member of the IET.
Reuben Wilcock (M'01) received the B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2004, respectively.
He was appointed as a Research Fellow in the Electronic Systems and Devices Research Group at the University of Southampton from 2004 to 2005 and was later appointed as a Senior Design Engineer in a high-tech startup company from 2005 to 2006. In 2006, he rejoined the Electronic Systems and Devices Research Group at the University of Southampton as a Senior Research Fellow. His current research interests include high-frequency, low-power, analog circuit design in CMOS and analog design for yield techniques for deep submicron process technologies.
Dr. Wilcock is a member of the IET.View more
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Iain McNally received the B.Sc. degree in electronics from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 1986.
He has worked in research for British Telecoms, Marconi Maritime Labs, and the University of Southampton. He is currently a Senior Teaching Fellow at the university, where he has been teaching integrated circuit design since 1991.
Iain McNally received the B.Sc. degree in electronics from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 1986.
He has worked in research for British Telecoms, Marconi Maritime Labs, and the University of Southampton. He is currently a Senior Teaching Fellow at the university, where he has been teaching integrated circuit design since 1991.View more
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Matthew Swabey (M'08) received the B.Eng. (Hons.) and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2006, respectively.
He has worked as a Research Fellow in the fields of otoacoustics and renewable energy at the University of Southampton. He is currently a Teaching Fellow at the university, where he teaches analog electronics, digital electronics, and computer engineering.
Matthew Swabey (M'08) received the B.Eng. (Hons.) and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K., in 2001 and 2006, respectively.
He has worked as a Research Fellow in the fields of otoacoustics and renewable energy at the University of Southampton. He is currently a Teaching Fellow at the university, where he teaches analog electronics, digital electronics, and computer engineering.View more
