120 credits including Computer Architecture, a basic course in digital circuits (especially state machines) and a basic course in programming. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
On completion of the course, you should be able to: define complex digital circuits using hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog test, debug, and verify digital designs using test benches and simulation tools integrate custom programmable logic components with processor-based systems analyse power and performance of accelerating key system components demonstrate how a processor interacts with an accelerator through software Content: Syntax and semantics of hardware description languages, and their use to define digital systems. Design and implementation of test benches and the use of simulation-based and on-chip debugging facilities for verifying system designs. Parallelisation of key algorithms for higher throughput and lower latency. Integration of hardware accelerators at the system- and software levels. Overview of different design styles and abstraction methods. An extensive project in simulation and synthesis, designing a realistic accelerator for a system-on-chip processor system.
