Digital Electronics

The teaching introduces the student to the understanding of digital electronic circuits, both from a theoretical point of view and with practical examples, and is divided into five parts:
1. Logic circuits: from Boolean algebra to physical implementation
2. Design of combinational and sequential logic circuits
3. Semiconductor memory systems
4. Programmable logic circuits
5. Signal distribution
The first part of the teaching will introduce the concepts and methodologies underlying digital electronics, with examples of simple circuits to be considered the primary elements for learning the remaining parts of the course.
In the second part of the teaching, gradually more complex digital circuits will be described, combinatorial and sequential in nature, emphasizing memory elements and criteria for synchronizing operations among the multiple aspects of a complex circuit.
In the third part of the teaching, a subclass of digital circuits necessary for the operation of semiconductor memories will be explored. The most common types of memory will be analyzed in terms of functionality and performance.
The fourth part of the lecture will introduce programmable logic devices, user-reconfigured by software, on which more and more digital apparatuses are based. Such systems are the new frontier of digital electronics, in which hardware and software are closely linked. The complexity of today's digital systems also necessitates automatic design techniques through specific programming languages such as VHDL. In the 1970s, a digital circuit was designed; since the 1990s, a digital circuit has been said to be "automatically synthesized" from a VHDL "listing." The essential elements of the VHDL language will be briefly explained.
In the fifth part of the teaching, the transmission line concept will be introduced, in light of which the distribution of high-frequency digital signals, clock signals, and power supply will be considered. Finally, more realistic high-frequency models for capacitors, inductors, and resistors will be introduced.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Represent digital electronic systems in a top-down approach
2. Understand the design flow of complex digital electronic systems
3. Understand the physical problem related to signal interconnections and how to deal with it under various circumstances
4. Understand the essential elements of Boolean algebra
5. Analyze and synthesize combinational logic circuits
6. Understand circuit diagrams of logic-arithmetic units (ALUs)
7. Understand the principles of operation of MOS transistors
8. Understand and design circuit diagrams of logic gates using CMOS devices
9. Understand and use the number representation systems most used in digital electronics
10. Understand and design simple sequential logic circuits
11. Understand the operation of essential memory elements, e.g., the bistable element, flip-flops, etc.
12. Understand and synthesize simple state machines
13. Understand and describe the basic architecture of the personal computer
14. Understand the essential characteristics and performance of volatile and nonvolatile memory circuits
15. Understand the operation of the main types of memories: registers in CMOS technology, SRAM, DRAM, EPROM, FLASH, etc.
16. Understand programmable logic devices, their advantages, and disadvantages compared to more traditional solutions
17. Understand the basic concepts of the VHDL language with simple, practical examples