CSU, Chico Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

EECE 444: Microprocessor System Design

Prerequisites:EECE 344

Required for CMPE majors

Catalog Description: Advanced microprocessor design concepts and techniques. Timing considerations and calculations for reliable high-speed processor operating frequencies. Interrupts for real-time processing; interfacing microprocessors to Dynamic Random Access Memories. Designing DRAM controllers using state machine design procedures. Direct Memory Access Controllers (DMAs) and multi-master systems. Programmable Parallel Ports and Timers. Special purpose processors for digital signal processing, communications and multimedia applications. Special fee required; see The Class Schedule. Formerly ECE 285.

Course Objectives:

• understand advanced concepts and hardware/software techniques of exception processing
• appreciate the use of timers, especially for real-time processing
• develop an in-depth knowledge of Direct Memory Access
• understand Dynamic Random Access Memory systems
• become knowledgeable about the application of special purpose processors, such as the use of digital signal processors for implementing real-time digital signal processing functions
• become proficient at designing, building, testing and debugging of microprocessor-based systems

Course Outcomes:

Students shall be able to:

• design and implement interrupt generation and acknowledgement circuits and interrupt subroutines in microprocessor systems.
• design, build ,test and troubleshoot microprocessor interfaces to DRAM modules
• Independently define some small but highly complex microprocessor-based project, design, implement, and successfully debug it.
• independently define some small but highly complex microprocessor-based project; design, implement, and successfully debug it
• use Computer-Aided Logic Design, Analysis and Simulation tools to design and simulate
• use modern logic analyzers and multi-channel digital oscilloscopes to analyze and solve highly complex logic timing problems such as found in DRAM systems.

Class/Laboratory schedule:

• One hundred and fifty minutes a week lecture
• One hundred minutes a week laboratory

Contribution of Course to Meet the Professional Component:

• Engineering Science: 1 units
• Engineering Design: 3 units

Relationship of Course to Program Outcomes and Objective:

This course makes significant contributions the following program outcomes:

• An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data
• An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
• An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems

This course supports the achievement of the following elements of the program objective:

• Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to identify, formulate, and solve computer engineering problems
• Use industry standard tools to analyze, design, develop and test computer-based systems containing both hardware and software components.
• Achieve success in graduate programs in computer engineering, electrical engineering or computer science.
• Continue to develop their knowledge and skills after graduation in order to succeed personally and contribute to employer success.

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