ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
Orientation
Dr. Paul D. Franzon
Purposes
Put this class (and other classes) within the context of
your career
Understand how silicon systems are designed in a global
economy
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 1
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
High value
The Global Enterprise (Example)
Low cost
Fabs
System Integrator IP Providers Serdes/package team Design Services
Chip Integrator Logic team Verification team
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 2
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
Design Flow
High Value Teams Low Cost Teams
System Concept
System Specification
Simulatable
System Partitioning
Modeling
Chip Specifications
Simulatable
Partitions Modeled
Issues: HW, SW, physical, logic,
circuit, power, performance
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 3
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
Design Flow (2)
High Value Teams Low Cost Teams
Design Execution Logic Design to Spec (RTL)
Against system models
Constant monitoring of all teams
Circuit Design to Spec
C, Java coding to Spec
High IP / High complexity content
Designs
Design components with high
novelty element
Generation of new or modified IP
by IP companies
High Value Design Services
Complex CAD tools
Early planning for performance
attainment
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 4
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
Design Flow
High Value Teams Low Cost Teams
Verification Coding for verification
System model and metrics
Speeding up verification
convergence
Debug and repair
Performance Verification
Achieving clock and power goals
CAD flow management
Debug and repair
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 5
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
Design Flow
High Value Teams Low Cost Teams
System Integration & Verification Detailed Package Design and Signal
Packaging and component Integrity Verification
integration
Prototyping and transition to Manufacturing transition and scale-up /
manufacuturing cost-reduction
Debug and repair
Marketing
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 6
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
Defense and Security
Entire Design usually done in the United States
Often using commercially provided chips, and sub-
systems not originally intended for defense
Tends to emphasize
Unique System Integration Approach
Lots of embedded software
Lots of FPGAs
Specialized ultra-high-performance defense-
specific components (which are often new chips)
All new design (logic, analog, etc.) done in the
United States
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 7
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
What this means to you
Assuming you want a high value (i.e. high wage) job.
Defense and Security
US Citizenship
Wide variety of point skills particularly at high performance edge
Develop system integration skills (breadth as well as depth, project
management, etc.)
Commercial
Have to know detailed design in order to do system design and manage
design process
Need broad knowledge in order to have system view
Need to be on the leading edge of innovation (patents, IP, techniques)
PhD beneficial
Develop deep skills in design services speciality
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 8
ECE 520 / ECE 733 Class Notes
What this means at NCSU
Innovations in Curricula:
Introduced ECE 745 ASIC Verification as a graduate course (deep skill set)
Introduced ECE 720 Electronic System Level (ESL) design in Spring 2011
Pre-requisite: ECE 520
Many advanced design teams demand circuit level knowledge even for
digital designers (ECE 546 / 733)
Encourage students to obtain application domain knowledge
Encourage students to deepen software engineering skills
Scripting (Python/Perl)
C / C++
2012, Dr. Paul D. Franzon, www.ece.ncsu.edu/erl/faculty/paulf.html 9
