Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session: 2632

Merging Theory and Implementation: A Framework for Teaching DSP Hardware Design

Tyson S. Hall and David V. Anderson Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0250 {tyson,dva}@ece.gatech.edu

Abstract

In this paper, we present a framework for teaching DSP hardware design and provide the necessary technical infrastructure for enabling this convergence of theory and implementa- tion. Even though many curricula include separate classes in both DSP theory and VHDL modeling, there are few opportunities given to students to combine these two skills into a working knowledge of DSP hardware design. We have developed a pedagogical framework whereby students can leverage their previous knowledge of DSP theory and VHDL hardware design techniques to design, simulate, synthesize, and test digital signal processing systems. The synthesized hardware is implemented on FPGAs, which provides a fast and cost-effective way of prototyping hardware systems in a laboratory environment. This framework allows students to expand their previous knowledge into a more complete understanding of the entire design process from specification and simulation through synthesis and verification.

1 Introduction

Students often struggle to bridge the gap between the theory and the hardware implementa- tion of digital signal processing (DSP) systems. Even though many curricula include separate classes in both DSP theory and VHDL modeling, there are few opportunities given to stu- dents to combine these two skills into a working knowledge of DSP hardware design [1, 2]. We have developed a pedagogical framework whereby students can leverage their previous knowledge of DSP theory and VHDL hardware design techniques to design, simulate, syn- thesize, and test digital signal processing systems [3].

There are examples within the literature of DSP hardware courses being started [4, 5, 6, 7]. However, these programs rely on DSP microprocessors as their primary implementation medium. Thus, the emphasis is more on software programming then hardware design. By using FPGAs as the core technology, students can be given the opportunity to design cus- tom hardware implementations [8]. In addition, FPGAs can synthesize microprocessor cores allowing students to investigate the trade–offs between hardware and software implementa- tions.

This system provides a purely digital prototyping and testing platform for implementing

Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright c 2004, American Society for Engineering Education

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Hall, T., & Anderson, D. (2004, June), Merging Theory And Implementation: A Framework For Teaching Dsp Hardware Design Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13290