ECE 2031 - Digital Design Laboratory
ECE 2031 is a 2 credit ECE laboratory class and is a requirement for both electrical engineering and computer engineering majors.[1] ECE 2031 is effectively the laboratory class for ECE 2020, and it introduces students to design and implementation methods for digital systems.
ECE 2031 is also a requirement for the systems and architecture and devices threads in computer science.[2][3]
Topic List[edit | edit source]
- CAD Tools
 - Logic Synthesis using an HDL
 - HDL models of basic gates and logic operations
 - Combinational design using multiple methods: primitive gates, schematic capture for FPGAs, and VHDL
 - HDL based simulation and synthesis with FPGAs
 - Examination of real timing issues on hardware using timing simulation, oscilloscope, and logic analyzer
 - State machine specification, design, and simulation
 - State machine implementation with multiple methods
 - Design verification with logic analyzer
 - HDL models of data storage elements
 - ROM and RAM implementations on FPGA boards
 - Hardware design of a simple computer with ALU, registers, control unit, memory, instructions, and I/O
 - HDL-based simple computer simulation and implementation on FPGA board
 - Machine language and assembly language programming for the simple computer
 - Simulation and implementation of programs on the FPGA board
 - Final design project problem specification (examples: video game, control application, robot, or contest)
 - Hardware and tools available to solve the final design project problem
 - Project engineering issues: top-down vs. bottom-up design, hierarchical decomposition, and modularity
 
This topic list is from spring 2019.[1]
Workload[edit | edit source]
Labs are released weekly and must be checked off by undergraduate teaching assistants. Pre-lab quizzes are administered prior to lab check offs.
Emphasis is placed on developing technical communications skills; laboratory reports are graded to strict formatting and content standard. The semester concludes with a team project, requiring cooperation with a group of three to four other students.
Prerequisite Knowledge[edit | edit source]
ECE 2020 with a grade of C or higher. ECE 2035 can be taken before or concurrently with this course.
Registration[edit | edit source]
ECE 2031 is not a linked course.
Resources[edit | edit source]
- Course Website: includes pre-lab and lab guides; lab checkoffs are done through this website.