Interactive practical teaching of digital circuits design by means of Field Programmable Gate Arrays

Abstract

A computer assisted instruction system is presented here. It is focused on the interactive practical teaching of the digital circuit design based on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA's). The working methodology comprises the proposal of a problem, the search for a circuital solution and the implementation and verification of the designed circuit. This methodology is intended to develop some skills required by the students for the mastery of new technologies and the acquisition of hands-on experience, so important for their future professional life.

The proposed system is made up of some design and verification tools. A program package of ViewLogic is used for the circuit design and simulation. Two software tools have been created, oriented to the programming of FPGA's and the real time verification of the designed circuits. A hardware device have been built to support the software tools designed. It permits the connection of FPGA's for their programming and verification.