In this course, we will study the fundamental structures of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) Systems at the lowest levels of system abstraction, namely those associated with the direct application of VLSI devices to particular problems of interest.  At its most basic level, VLSI design is concerned with the set of principles governing MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) devices and their behaviors.  We start by looking at the CMOS transistors (n-channel and p-channel) and the ways in which we can use them to create the most basic structure—the digital switch.  We can proceed to build a range of VLSI structures from this switch, including NAND/NOR gates, Multiplexers, Latches and Registers.  Continuing in a bottom-up fashion, we can examine the structure of more complex VLSI design components (those at Digital Logic and Register Transfer levels of abstraction) using these primitives.

         While learning how to construct fundamental VLSI systems structures from primitive circuit structures, we also will learn about the processes associated with fabricating CMOS devices.  Using CMOS as our technology, we examine the circuit level design rules associated with circuit geometries and their layout according to a set of process technology-specific design rules.  We also look at factors affecting design: capacitance, clocking, delay and power.  These characteristics of a circuit technology have a profound affect on the circuit's behavior as we move to ever smaller geometries. circuit feature sizes, and device densities.

          Finally, we will develop a complete picture of the VLSI systems design flow, starting at the Systems level, proceeding through the Register Transfer Level, to the Digital Logic, Circuit and the Device Geometry levels—therefore having a complete picture of the VLSI systems architecture and engineering design process and associated design methods.