The course is aimed to introduce the main concepts, principles, and techniques of digital encodings and information processing, starting from the definition of information and presenting Boolean algebra, switching networks, logic gates, combinational networks, finite state machines, sequential circuits, and top-down/bottom-up approaches to logic-level design. The course entails project work and practical design experience.

01. Introduction:
01.01 Information.
01.02 Brief History of digital information processing.

02. Information Theory:
02.01 Digital Encodings.
02.02 Representation of Numerical Sets and Binary Arithmetic.
02.03 Representation of Non-Numerical Sets.
02.04 Special Encodings: Redundancy and Compression.
02.05 Lab. Encoding and decoding

03. Combinational networks:
03.01 Boolean Algebra. 
03.02 Logic synthesis. 
03.03 Switching Networks and FCMOS gates.
03.04 Combinational Circuits.
03.05 Lab. Logic-Level Design and Simulation 

04. Sequential networks
04.01 Asynchronous sequential circuits, latches, flip-flops.
04.02 Finite State Machines.
04.03 Synchronous sequential systems.
04.04 Lab: Design and Simulation of latches and flip flops

05. Digital systems:
05.01 Design metrics and Gate Level design of arithmetic units
05.02 Register-Transfer Level design
05.03 Communication and synchronization among components
05.04 Address issuing and decoding
05.05 Lab. Design and simulazione of digital synchronous systems

There are no mandatory prerequisites for this exam.

This course is a prerequisite for Computer architecture

It is worth noticing that the topics covered by this course will be used in Databases and Operating Systems.

Knowledge and understanding

The student will acquire the fundamental knowledge in the field of logic networks and in its foundations, with particular attention to: digital representations, switching theory, logic gates, Boolean networks, combinational and sequential circuits, synchronous digital systems, design metrics. The student will also acquire the basic knowledg to conduct a design space exploration by evaluating design metrics and comparing possible solutions.

Applying knowledge and understanding
The student will be able to design and simulate small digital systems and their arthmetic-logic components, working al logic, gate, and RT levels. The students will be able to apply elementary logic synthesis techniques, together with top-down and bottom-up design strategies. 

Making judgements
The student will be able to evaluate and compare alternative solutions that implement a given functional specification, estimating the main design metrics in order to meet requirements and make optimal design choices.

Communication skills
The student will be able to appropriately use the specific terminology of computer architecture together with the terminology of the other topics of the degree program. The student will have the opportunity to experience team work and to present a project.

Learning skills
The student will acquire the ability to fully understand the critical issues of digital representations, information processing, and digital design, together with the solutions adopted to address them. Such ability will be autonomously exploited to understand and learn the related issues and solutions not covered by the course.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Learning notes, handouts, and video tutorials.

Teaching

Theory lectures and laboratory exercises, both face-to-face and on-line.

Attendance

Although recommended, course attendance is not mandatory.

Course books

Lecture notes (in English)

C. Brandolese, F. Salice, Di Sciuto, C. Bolchini, Reti logiche, Seconda edizione, APOGEO, 2013

Assessment

Individual project, written exam and (optional) oral exam.

The individual project, which has to be submitted at least three days before the oral exam, is passed if the mark (which is valid for all the exam calls of the same Academic Year) is at least 18/30. 

The written exam takes 1 hour. 

The written exam is passed if the mark (which is valid for all the exam calls of the same Academic Year) is at least 18/30. 
The oral exam, which can be taken only if the project and the written exam have been passed, determines a spread between -5/30 and 5/30 of the average of the two previous marks, thus yielding the final mark.
There are no limitations to the number of trials per session per year.
The individual project and the written exam can be taken in any order. 
If a student decides to take the written exam more than ones before taking the oral exam, the mark of the last trial is the one used to compute the final mark.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Students not attending the course can take advantage of the blended learning and e-learnin platforms (in English).

Attendance

Strongly recommended, but not mandatory.

Course books

As for attending students

Assessment

As for attending students

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The course offers additional e-learning facilities on the Moodle platform > elearning.uniurb.it