Electrical Engineering MA, Embedded Computing, 9 credits

Aim

The purpose with this course is to give the student deeper knowledge about specification, design and implementation of FPGA based embedded Systems on Chip (SoC).

Course objectives

For VHDL,
After completion of the course, the student shall be able to:
- Design, implement, verify and document an FPGA based hardware system,
- Draw conclusions about the design, engineering and verification of a hardware system.

For SoC Design,
After completion of the course, the student shall be able to:
- Use tools for software-hardware co-design using reusable IP-components,
- Write C-code for an application supported by an operating system,
- Embed custom developed hardware and software drivers into a reusable IP-component,
- Document and orally present experiments with SoC,
- Analyze the selected design methodology for a given project assignment,
- Analyze the selected circuit technology for a given embedded system,
- Analyze the hardware architecture for a given embedded system.

Content

For VHDL:
- Planning, specification and documentation of a laboratory assignment
- Modelling of hardware using VHDL for implementation in an FPGA
- Complementary theory needed for the specific project
- Teamwork in laboratory

For SoC Design:
- Design methodologies
- Circuit technology
- Characterization of application complexity
- Hardware-Software partitioning
- Computing hardware architectures
- Memory architectures
- Direct Memory Access and Interrupts
- Communication busses
- System specification, design, implementation and verification
- Programming in C
- Software development for microprocessors using an operating system
- Software-hardware co-design using IP-components
- Teamwork in project

Entry requirements

Electrical Engineering BA (AB), 60 credits, including digital electronics, microprocessors and analogue electronics.

Selection rules and procedures

The selection process is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the local order of admission.

Teaching form

Teaching is provided in the form of lectures, seminars and supervision.
Student must perform extensive self studies in addition to scheduled hours in class.

Examination form

L10X: VHDL, Laboratory assignment with written report, 3 Credits
Grade scale: Fail (U) or Pass (G)

P10X: SoC, Project assignment with oral presentation and technical documentation, 4 Credits
Grade scale: Seven-grade scale, A, B, C, D, E, Fx and F. Fx and F represent fail levels.

R101: Report on project, 2 Credits
Grade scale: Seven-grade scale, A, B, C, D, E, Fx and F. Fx and F represent fail levels.

Grading criteria for the subject can be found at www.miun.se/gradingcriteria.

The examiner has the right to offer alternative examination arrangements to students who have been granted the right to special support by Mid Sweden University’s disabilities adviser.

Examination restrictions

Students are entitled to three examination opportunities within one year according to the examination format given in this version of the course syllabus. After the one-year period, the examination format given in the most recent version of the course syllabus applies.

Grading system

Seven-grade scale, A, B, C, D, E, Fx and F. Fx and F represent fail levels.

Other information

This course cannot be included in the same degree as EL043A.