Digital Systems: From Logic Gates to Processors from Coursera

This course gives you a complete insight into the modern design of digital systems fundamentals from an eminently practical point of view. Unlike other more "classic" digital circuits courses, our interest focuses more on the system than on the electronics that support it. This approach will allow us to lay the foundation for the design of complex digital systems.

You will learn a set of design methodologies and will use a set of (educational-oriented) computer-aided-design tools (CAD) that will allow you not only to design small and medium size circuits, but also to access to higher level courses covering so exciting topics as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) design or computer architecture, to give just two examples.

Course topics are complemented with the design of a simple processor, introduced as a transversal example of a complex digital system. This example will let you understand and feel comfortable with some fundamental computer architecture terms as the instruction set, microprograms and microinstructions.

After completing this course you will be able to:

* Design medium complexity digital systems.

* Understand the description of digital systems using high-level languages such as VHDL.

* Understand how computers operate at their most basic level (machine language).

What's inside

Syllabus

All you need to know to start the course

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We have collected here everything you need to know before starting the course.

This week is divided into three sections:

The first is the one you're reading about now and includes a number of general explanations about how the course will run and about the virtual machine you should install on your computer to answer the different quizzes .
The second (Previous knowledge: A review) presents a series of tests you can use to check your level of knowledge about numbering systems and the use of pseudocode to describe algorithms.
The third block contains the first real topic of the course: What Digital Systems are?

Check your knowledge about binary and hexadecimal numbering systems, and the description of algorithms using a pseudocode

Click on "v More" to read the purpose of this module

This module is an introduction to Digital Systems. Here you will find:

A set of videos_L covering issue 1 and the corresponding exercises,
Two videos_P introducing the processor that we will design along the course, and
Some video-based explanations; a wiki and some FAQs about how VerilUOC_Desktop tool functions.
You will have to use VerilUOC_Desktop in the next module

Read the "Lesson Index" in the "Index and PDF files" section and the "README" in the VerilUOC_Desktop section for more information.

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This module introduces combinational circuits, logic gates and boolean algebra, all of them items necessary to design simple combinational circuits.
Read the "Index of lessons" for more information.

To solve the exercises in this module you will need to use VerilUOC_Desktop. Look at the module "VerilUOC_Desktop tools" to learn how to use it.

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From this week you will need to use VerilUOC_Desktop to do some of the exercises in the quizzes. VerilUOC_Desktop is a software package based on Logisim, enhanced with a number of modules to enable:

Enter Boolean equations (BoolMin),
Enter digital circuits and check them according the problem statement (VerilCirc), and
Enter chronograms (time-charts) and check that they are correct (VerilChart).

This section contains two videos explaining how these three tools work. By now you only need to use VerilCirc and BoolMin, so if you are pushed for time, you might postpone VerilChart for later. Obviously, it is impossible to cover in these two videos all eventualities you can find while working with VerilUOC_Desktop tools. In case of doubt, look at the VerilUOC_Desktop wiki, look at the FAQs or post your problems in the forums. There are specific forums for VerilCirc, BoolMin and VerilChart.

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We continue the study of combinational circuits. While in the previous module we were working on the classical design techniques of combinational circuits, this one is focused on other issues such as a brief introduction to computer aided design tools (CAD tools), or the direct synthesis of combinational circuits from its algorithmic description.
Read the "Lesson index" for more information.

To solve the exercises in this module VerilUOC_Desktop is needed. Remember that the "VerilUOC_Desktop" section in module 2 contains all the information you need about this tool.

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Arithmetic circuits are an essential part of many digital circuits and thus deserve a particular treatment.

The first part of this module presents some implementations of the basic arithmetic operations. Only operations with naturals (non-negative integers) are considered.
The second part of this module introduces the basics of VHDL with the goal of providing enough knowledge to understand its usage throughout this course and start developing basic hardware models.

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This is the first module dedicated to Sequential Circuits (Digital Systems with Memory).
To solve the quizzes you will need VerilUOC_Desktop. Remember that the first week includes a complete description of VerilUOC_Desktop. In particular, VerilChart is presented in the second video.

Click on "v More" to read the purpose of this module

This second module dedicated to Sequential Circuits deals with particular sequential circuits that are building blocks of larger circuits, namely registers, counters and memory blocks.

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This module deals with two topics:

In previous lessons, the relation between algorithms (programming language structures) and combinational circuits has been commented. This relation also exists between algorithms and sequential circuits. We will explore this relation in the current module.
The second topic we will see is the definition and VHDL modelling of Finite State Machines.

Click on "v More" to read the purpose of this module

This last module presents some basic information about manufacturing technologies, as well as about implementation strategies, and synthesis and implementation tools.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops a foundation in engineering systems through practical design of electronic and digital circuits

Covers tools for modern digital systems' design

Led by faculty of Universitat Politécnica de València (UPV)

Requires third-party software that may need a specific computer setup

Assumes basic proficiency in digital circuits

Not recommended for learners seeking comprehensive software design

Reviews summary

Comprehensive digital systems & processor design

According to learners, this course offers a strong foundational understanding of digital systems, moving from logic gates to processor design. Students particularly praise the engaging practical exercises and the step-by-step approach to building a simple processor, which effectively integrates the concepts. The instructor's clear explanations are frequently highlighted. While the VerilUOC_Desktop CAD tool is central to hands-on learning, some learners found its setup and initial use challenging. Additionally, the VHDL coverage is introductory, potentially requiring external resources for deeper mastery. Some also noted that the pace can be quick, suggesting it benefits learners with some prior foundational knowledge.

Essential for hands-on practice, though user experience varies.

"The VerilUOC_Desktop tool is fantastic for hands-on practice, although it took a bit to get used to."

"VerilUOC_Desktop was a bit clunky but manageable, ultimately very helpful for the labs."

"The VerilUOC_Desktop software was difficult to install and use on my system, which was frustrating."

"I experienced some bugs with the VerilUOC tool, which made completing assignments challenging."

Delivers a robust foundation for advanced topics in digital systems.

"This course provides an excellent foundation for digital systems design."

"It's a solid introduction to digital systems, covering all the crucial groundwork."

"Highly recommend this course for anyone interested in computer architecture; it builds a strong base."

A highly engaging and effective component that integrates concepts.

"I particularly enjoyed the processor design part, it really tied everything together."

"I loved building the processor from scratch; it was incredibly insightful."

"The step-by-step approach to building a processor is brilliant and truly helps understanding."

Provides an introduction, but deeper study may require external resources.

"I found the VHDL section a bit too brief; I had to supplement with outside resources for a deeper understanding."

"The VHDL part felt too advanced for me without more prior knowledge or dedicated instruction."

"The VHDL intro is very basic, serving as a good starting point but not a comprehensive guide."

Can be fast-paced, often beneficial for those with some prior background.

"Some explanations felt rushed, making it hard to grasp complex topics without pausing constantly."

"I think the difficulty ramps up quite quickly in the later modules, so be prepared."

"The pace can be fast; I felt the course expects some prior exposure to digital logic, not a true beginner course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Digital Systems: From Logic Gates to Processors with these activities:

Review combinational circuits

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Review the basics of combinational circuits, including logic gates and Boolean algebra.

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Read the first three chapters of the textbook.
Solve the practice problems at the end of each chapter.
Take an online quiz on combinational circuits.

Attend a meetup or conference on digital systems

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This activity will help you connect with other people who are interested in digital systems and learn from their experiences.

Browse courses on Digital Systems

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Find a meetup or conference
Attend the event
Network with other attendees

Solve combinational circuit problems

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Practice solving combinational circuit problems using logic gates and Boolean algebra.

Browse courses on Combinational Circuits

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Find a set of practice problems online or in a textbook.
Solve the problems using the techniques you learned in the first three chapters of the textbook.
Check your answers against the provided solutions.

11 other activities

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Review Introduction to Digital Systems

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This book is an excellent resource for reviewing the basics of digital systems and will help prepare you for the course.

View Intensive Longitudinal Analysis of Human... on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: Introduction
Read Chapter 2: Number Systems and Codes
Read Chapter 3: Logic Gates and Boolean Algebra
Read Chapter 4: Combinational Circuits

Follow online tutorials on digital systems

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This activity will help you supplement your learning and gain a deeper understanding of digital systems.

Browse courses on Digital Systems

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Find online tutorials
Watch the tutorials
Take notes

Practice solving digital logic problems

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This activity will help you improve your problem-solving skills and your understanding of digital logic.

Browse courses on Digital Logic Design

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Find practice problems
Solve the problems
Check your answers

Review sequential circuits

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Review the basics of sequential circuits, including flip-flops and registers.

Browse courses on Sequential Circuits

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Read chapters 4 and 5 of the textbook.
Solve the practice problems at the end of each chapter.
Take an online quiz on sequential circuits.

Build a simple combinational circuit

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This project will give you hands-on experience with designing and building digital circuits, which will help you understand the concepts covered in the course.

Browse courses on Combinational Circuits

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Design a simple combinational circuit
Build the circuit on a breadboard
Test the circuit

Take a workshop on digital systems

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This activity will help you learn about digital systems in a hands-on environment.

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Find a workshop
Attend the workshop
Complete the workshop exercises

Design a combinational circuit

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Design a combinational circuit to solve a specific problem.

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Identify the problem that you want to solve.
Design a truth table for the circuit.
Implement the circuit using logic gates.
Test the circuit to make sure that it works correctly.

Solve sequential circuit problems

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Practice solving sequential circuit problems using flip-flops and registers.

Browse courses on Sequential Circuits

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Find a set of practice problems online or in a textbook.
Solve the problems using the techniques you learned in chapters 4 and 5 of the textbook.
Check your answers against the provided solutions.

Create a presentation on digital systems

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This activity will help you deepen your understanding of digital systems and improve your communication skills.

Browse courses on Digital Systems

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Research digital systems
Create a presentation outline
Develop the presentation slides
Practice presenting the presentation

Write a report on a digital system

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This activity will help you develop your writing skills and your understanding of digital systems.

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Research a digital system
Write an outline for the report
Write the report
Edit and proofread the report

Design a sequential circuit

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Design a sequential circuit to solve a specific problem.

Browse courses on Sequential Circuits

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Identify the problem that you want to solve.
Design a state diagram for the circuit.
Implement the circuit using flip-flops and registers.
Test the circuit to make sure that it works correctly.

Career center

Learners who complete Digital Systems: From Logic Gates to Processors will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

FPGA Engineer

FPGA engineers design, develop, and test field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), which are programmable logic devices that can be used to implement digital circuits. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as FPGA architecture, FPGA programming, and FPGA design tools, which are all essential for understanding how FPGAs work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for FPGA Engineer

IC Design Engineer

IC design engineers design, develop, and test integrated circuits (ICs). This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as IC fabrication, IC testing, and IC design tools, which are all essential for understanding how ICs work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for IC Design Engineer

Semiconductor Design Engineer

Semiconductor design engineers design, develop, and test semiconductors. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as semiconductor fabrication, semiconductor testing, and semiconductor design tools, which are all essential for understanding how semiconductors work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Semiconductor Design Engineer

Logic Design Engineer

Logic design engineers design, develop, and test logic circuits. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as combinational circuits, sequential circuits, and state machines, which are all essential for understanding how logic circuits work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Logic Design Engineer

VLSI Design Engineer

VLSI design engineers design, develop, and test very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuits. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as VLSI fabrication, VLSI testing, and VLSI design tools, which are all essential for understanding how VLSI circuits work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for VLSI Design Engineer

Hardware Architect

Hardware architects design the hardware architecture for computer systems. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as computer architecture, operating systems, and networking, which are all essential for understanding how computer systems work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Architect

Computer Hardware Engineer

Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it helps build a foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as combinational and sequential circuits, which are essential for understanding the design and implementation of computer hardware. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Hardware Engineer

Microprocessor Design Engineer

Microprocessor design engineers design, develop, and test microprocessors. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as computer architecture, operating systems, and networking, which are all essential for understanding how microprocessors work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microprocessor Design Engineer

PCB Design Engineer

PCB design engineers design, develop, and test printed circuit boards (PCBs). This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as PCB layout, PCB fabrication, and PCB testing, which are all essential for understanding how PCBs work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for PCB Design Engineer

System Design Engineer

System design engineers design, develop, and test systems. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as computer architecture, operating systems, and networking, which are all essential for understanding how systems work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for System Design Engineer

Hardware Design Engineer

Hardware design engineers design, develop, and test hardware for computer systems. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as computer architecture, operating systems, and networking, which are all essential for understanding how computer systems work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Design Engineer

Computer Systems Analyst

Computer systems analysts design and implement computer systems that meet the needs of businesses and organizations. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital systems design. The course also covers topics such as computer architecture, operating systems, and networking, which are all essential for understanding how computer systems work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Systems Analyst

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and maintain electrical systems and components. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as power systems, electronics, and control systems, which are all essential for understanding how electrical systems work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Electronics Engineer

Electronics engineers design, develop, test, and maintain electronic systems and components. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as analog circuits, power electronics, and embedded systems, which are all essential for understanding how electronic systems work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronics Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

Embedded systems engineers design, develop, and maintain embedded systems, which are computer systems that are embedded in other devices, such as cars, appliances, and medical devices. This course may be helpful to individuals in this role as it provides a solid foundation in digital circuits and systems. The course also covers topics such as embedded software, real-time systems, and hardware/software co-design, which are all essential for understanding how embedded systems work. Additionally, the course introduces Verilog, a hardware description language that is commonly used in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer