Module description
This module provides the foundations for analysing and designing combinational and sequential digital electronic circuits for computer architecture and digital system design. The module specifically teaches about Number systems and arithmetic; Boolean algebra; Basic logic gates; Implementation and analysis of combinational networks; Minimising Boolean functions; Formation of sequential elements from gates; flip flops; Clocked and master-slave flip flops; Finite state machine analysis and design; combinational and sequential medium scale integrated devices; introduction to hardware description languages.
Assessment details
Written examination
Coursework - Homework & Class Test
Educational aims & objectives
To provide the essential foundations associated with analysing and designing combinational and sequential digital electronic circuits in preparation for more advanced courses on computer architecture and digital system design.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module student
will learn to represent, convert between and perform arithmetic with numerical values in different bases, in particular in a variety of
digital formats: binary, octal, hexadecimal, binary coded decimal and Gray code,
will have skills to manipulate Boolean algebraic representations of logic functions.
will be able to perform minimisation of combinational circuits.
will learn to translate English-language descriptions of logic behaviour into algebraic expressions.
will appreciate the design and use of medium and large scale integration combinational devices, such as multiplexors, read-only
memories, adders/subtractors.
will understand the fundamental features and components of sequential digital systems.
will be able to analyse and design simple sequential digital systems using finite state machines.
will appreciate the design and use of medium scale integration sequential devices such as counters and registers.
will appreciate the use of computer-aided tools for design and realisation of modern digital systems.