FPGAs belong to the family of embedded systems. Compared to microcontrollers, they allow massively parallel data processing by interconnecting look-up tables (LUTs), more complex functions (multipliers) and SRAM memory. More complex logic functions can be mapped in these LUTs by approximating the truth table.

The lecture explains the basics for understanding the functionality and structure of FPGAs. Based on this, the advantages in comparison to other embedded systems, including the fields of application, are named.

After the introduction to the logic and transistor basics, the hardware description language Verilog is discussed in order to realise the synthesis of initial simple logic circuits, memory instantiation and sequence control with state machines. These can be used to realise communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART) and arithmetic functions (addition, multiplication). The focus of the lecture is on the design of sensor-based data stream processing, in which the overall system includes methods for digital data pre-processing, such as signal filtering with FIR and IIR filters, and simple AI accelerators with deep neural networks (dense layers, ReLU activation function). At the end of the lecture series, optimisations for the ASIC integration of possible data signal processors are shown and extended with guest lectures from research and/or industry.

In the practical part of the lecture, programming tasks are offered that enable the creation of such logic circuits in modules and test environments. The online tool eda playground is used for this purpose.

Learning objectives:

• Understanding the functionality and structure of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)
• Using the hardware description language Verilog
• Structure of modules, instances and test environments
• Synthesis of logic circuits, state machines,
• Embedding in communication interfaces (SPI, UART, I2C) and accelerators for arithmetic operations, filter circuits and simple AI models with dense layers

Literature:

• Introduction to Logic Circuits & Logic Design with Verilog, Brock J. LaMeres, Third Edition (2024)
• Verilog by Example: A Concise Introduction for FPGA Design, Blaine Readler, 2013
• Digital Design and Computer Architectures,
• David Harris and Sarah Harris, 2012

Recommended prerequisites:

• Logic
• Fundamentals of Computer Engineering

The aim of this course is to teach object-oriented programming and the basic components of an application. Java, a statically typed, object-oriented language, is used as the programming language. The content of the lecture has been adapted to the current version, Java 25.

The following topics will be discussed in the lecture:

• Programming in Java
• Object-oriented programming
• Databases
• Network programming
• Concurrency
• Graphical user interfaces

Exercises:

Parallel to the lecture, students will develop an application individually under the supervision of teaching assistants. This project replaces the previous exercises and is also a prerequisite for admission to the written examination. The exact format of the project and the requirements for admission will be announced in the first lecture and on Moodle.

Exam:

There still will be a written exam, but now with the additional admission requirement. The exam will last 60 minutes.