CS 3700-001 Spring 2025 Digital System Design

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Syllabus

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Instructor

Instructor: Dr. Luis Garcia Email: la.garcia@utah.edu
Webpage: Dr. Luis Garcia's Webpage Links to an external site. Office MEB 3450
Class: Tuesdays/Thursdays 2:00 - 3:20 PM (Web L103) Lab Location: MEB 3133
Communication & Office Hours:  Review the "Communication" section below for more information.
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Email: TBD

Course Description

Overview

Course ECE/CS 3700
Department Electrical Engineering & Computer Engineering / Computer Science
Pre-Requisites
  • CS 1410 (C- or better)
  • ECE 1240 AND ECE 1245 (C- or better) OR Corequisite of PHYS 2220 (C- or better)
  • Full Major status in Electrical Engineering OR Computer Engineering
Credit Hours 4
Semester Spring 2025
Book Stephen Brown and Zvonko Vranesic, Fundamentals of Digital Logic with Verilog Design, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill (should be available on Bookshelf)
Description Techniques for reasoning about, designing, minimizing, and implementing digital circuits and systems. Combinational (logic and arithmetic) and sequential circuits are covered in detail leading up to the design of complete small digital systems using finite-state machine controllers. Use of computer-aided tools for design, minimization, and simulation of circuits. Laboratory is included involving circuit implementation with MSI, LSI, and field programmable gate arrays.
Midterm  02/27/2025 in class (Tentative)
Final  04/25/2025, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM in class

Goals & Objectives

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Understand the basics of combinational and sequential logic circuit design
  • Develop the needed skills to be able to build a working prototype of a digital circuit starting from a verbal, non-technical description of the design
  • Obtain hands-on experience with digital logic components (SSI and MSI)
  • Be prepared for advanced courses in logic design and computer architecture

 

Communication

Please review the communication methods and requirements for this course:

Preferred Contact Methods

Please use Piazza to discuss any topics in the course. I'll also post announcements there, so please sign up! https://piazza.com/utah/spring2025/csece3700 Links to an external site. 

Otherwise, please contact your instructor via email. The instructor and teaching assistants will respond to students in a timely manner: within 48 hours, not including weekends and holidays.

 

Office Hours

The instructor will hold office hours according to the following schedule:

  • Prof. Garcia:
    • Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 PM (MEB 3450)
    • Thursdays 3:30- 4:30 PM (MEB 3450)
    • By Appointment (Zoom)
  • TA's:
    • TBD

 

Schedule

The following is a brief schedule for this semester:

Week Lecture Subject Homework/Lab/Exam Deadline
1 Number systems and conversion HW 1
2 Boolean Algebra and Logic gates HW 2, Lab 1 HW 1
3 Gate level Minimization (Karnaugh Map) HW 3, Quiz 1 HW 2
4 Combinational Logic circuits HW 4, Lab 2 HW 3, Lab 1
5 Combinational circuit designs HW 5, Quiz 2 HW 4
6 Arithmetic Circuits HW 6, Lab 3 HW 5, Lab 2
7 Decoders, Multiplexers HW 7 HW 6
8 Recap and Midterm Exam Midterm
9 Latches and Flip-Flops HW 8, Lab 4 HW 7, Lab 3
10 Analysis of sequential circuits HW 9, Quiz 3 HW 8
11 Design of sequential circuit HW 10, Lab 5 HW 9, Lab 4
12 Registers and counters HW 11, Quiz 4 HW 10
13 Digital System Design HW 12 HW 11, Lab 5
14 Optimization in Digital Systems
15 CAD Tools HW 12
16 Final Exam

Evaluation

Your performance in this course will be evaluated by:

  • Quiz: 15%
  • Homework: 15%
  • Midterm: 20%
  • Lab: 20%
  • Final Exam: 30%
  • Participation in polls: 1% extra

Labs

Lab Sessions will begin from the 2nd week of class

  • Lab sessions officially begin Tuesday January 14 onwards
  • Place: MEB 3133
  • Times:
    • TBD
  • Lab week goes from Tuesday to Friday. [Tuesday April 22 is last day of class!]
  • Labs will start from the second week of class. The first lab is an intro to the kit which will be checked out to you, and a simple logic circuit design using the kit.
  • Labs will be held in MEB 3133, Junior Hardware Lab (formerly, also known as the Digital Systems Lab (DSL)).
  • You will be provided "card access" to this lab.
  • Get and check in your lab kit from Phillip Allan Saer (phil.saer@utah.edu)
    • Place: MEB 3133
    • Time:
      • Tuesday 8/20: 11 AM - 6:00 PM
      • Wednesday 8/21: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
      • Friday 8/22: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
      • The very first lab session
    • You have to check out your kit by the end of the semester or whenever you want to drop the course.
  • You can attend other lab sections if there is space. The priority is for the ones who have signed up for that section.

Lab Resources

There will be several videos going over different portions of the labs that may be made available on the Media Gallery page.

Documents and other examples will be under Files > Documents and Examples

There is a discord server for students to discuss and get help from one another for this as well as many other courses (https://discord.gg/TMjhuDCCfy Links to an external site.). Students in previous classes were made good use of this Discord.

Course Policies

Submitting Assignments

All assignments, unless otherwise announced, must be submitted through Gradescope. DO NOT submit assignments via email. The deadline for all assignments is Fridays 8:00 PM MT.

Late Assignments

Homework and lab reports have to be delivered on time. Delivery not later than 24hours incurs -25%. Delivery after 24 hours IS NOT ACCEPTABLE as the solutions would be uploaded.

Grading

  • Please upload your assignments in good quality and good handwriting via Gradescope. If there is any request for regrading, please submit it through Gradescope, not via email.
  • For assignments, you can get help from online resources (including AI models), and people who you know. However, what you write should be your own answer.
  • The quizzes and exams would be closed book. For exams, you can bring a one-page double-sided A-4 of your notes.
  • The two lowest homework grades as well as the lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

University of Utah grading scale

Letter Scoring
A 100% - 94%
A- 93.9% - 90%
B+ 89.9%–87%
B 86.9%–84%
B- 83.9% - 80%
C+ 79.9%–77%
C 76.9%–74%
C- 73.9% - 70%
D+ 69.9%–67%
D 66.9%–64%
D- 63.9% - 60%
E 59.9%–0%

Accommodations

Disclaimer

Accommodations will be considered on an individual basis and may require documentation.

Please contact your instructor and/or teaching assistant as soon as possible (preferably shortly before the semester begins) to request accommodations of any kind.

 

Extreme personal circumstances

Please contact your instructor as soon as possible if an extreme personal circumstance
(hospitalization, death of a close relative, natural disaster, etc.) is interfering with your ability to
complete your work.

Religious Practice

To request an accommodation for religious practices, contact your instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Active Duty Military

If you are a student on active duty with the military and experience issues that prevent you from participating in the course because of deployment or service responsibilities, contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Disability Access

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services (CDS). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations Links to an external site..

If you will need accommodations in this class, contact:

Center for Disability Services
801-581-5020
disability.utah.edu Links to an external site.
162 Union Building
    200 S. Central Campus Dr.
     Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Changes to the Syllabus

This syllabus is not a contract. It is meant to serve as an outline and guide for your course. Please note that your instructor may modify it to accommodate the needs of your class.

You will be notified of any changes to the Syllabus.

University Policies

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities.

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability & Access Links to an external site. (CDA). CDA will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations.

In compliance with ADA requirements, some students may need to record course content. Any recordings of course content are for personal use only, should not be shared, and should never be made publicly available. In addition, recordings must be destroyed at the conclusion of the course.

If you will need accommodations in this class, or for more information about what support they provide, contact:

Center for Disability & Access

  801-581-5020
  disability.utah.eduLinks to an external site.
  162 Union Building
  200 S. Central Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Safety at the U

The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more safety information and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.

To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, contact:

Campus Police & Department of Public Safety

  801-585-COPS (801-585-2677)
  dps.utah.edu
  1735 E. S. Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Addressing Sexual Misconduct

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information.

If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to university officials: 

Title IX Coordinator & Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

  801-581-8365
  oeo.utah.edu
  135 Park Building
  201 Presidents' Cir.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Office of the Dean of Students

  801-581-7066
  deanofstudents.utah.edu
  270 Union Building
  200 S. Central Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

To file a police report, contact:

Campus Police & Department of Public Safety

  801-585-COPS (801-585-2677)
  dps.utah.edu
  1735 E. S. Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

If you do not feel comfortable reporting to authorities, the U's Victim-Survivor Advocates provide free, confidential, and trauma-informed support services to students, faculty, and staff who have experienced interpersonal violence.

To privately explore options and resources available to you with an advocate, contact:

Center for Student Wellness

  801-581-7776
  wellness.utah.edu
  328 Student Services Building
  201 S. 1460 E.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Academic Misconduct

It is expected that students comply with University of Utah policies regarding academic honesty, including but not limited to refraining from cheating, plagiarizing, misrepresenting one’s work, and/or inappropriately collaborating. This includes the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools without citation, documentation, or authorization. Students are expected to adhere to the prescribed professional and ethical standards of the profession/discipline for which they are preparing. Any student who engages in academic dishonesty or who violates the professional and ethical standards for their profession/discipline may be subject to academic sanctions as per the University of Utah’s Student Code: Policy 6-410: Student Academic Performance, Academic Conduct, and Professional and Ethical Conduct.

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on an individual assignment, and/or failure in the course. Academic misconduct, according to the University of Utah Student Code:

“...Includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one’s work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information…It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic misconduct.”

For details on plagiarism and other important course conduct issues, see the U's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

UOnline Expectations

UOnline Student Expectations

Though the online format allows students greater flexibility to complete their work, this course does have a structure and timeline! As such, the following is expected of all students in this class:

  • Students must be self-motivated, organized, and willing to stay on top of their schedules. Students should take control of their learning while in this course.
  • Students are expected to follow the Core Rules of Netiquette Links to an external site. at all times while participating in the class and communicating with others.
  • Students will log in to the course a minimum of 3 times per week.
  • Students are not expected to interact with their classmates in person. Students may be expected to work with classmates via online communication options like Canvas Discussions, video conferencing, or other communication technologies of choice (Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, etc).
  • Students will regularly check for course updates and will update their Canvas notification settings to ensure they receive timely notifications from the course.
  • Students will contact their instructor or teaching assistant promptly if they have any questions, are struggling with course materials, or need further assistance from their instructor.
    • If you do not hear back within 3 days after sending a message, please contact your instructor/TA again.
  • Students will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, academic dishonesty, and other rights and responsibilities of students outlined in the University of Utah Student Handbook Links to an external site. and Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities Links to an external site..

UOnline Instructor Expectations

Your course instructor is an expert in the topics you will learn about this semester. Your instructor is your mentor and facilitator of the classroom experience, aided by teaching assistants. Instructors are committed to:

  • The instructor will design the course to include lectures, learning materials, and assignments that are accessible and provide students with opportunities to learn and practice course content.
  • The instructor and teaching assistants will ensure that the course remains a safe space where students can engage with difficult content thoughtfully and respectfully.
  • The instructor and teaching assistants will interact with the class regularly via announcements, virtual office hours (one-on-one video conferencing), emails/the Canvas Inbox, feedback on assignments, and comments on Discussions, among other methods.
  • The instructor and teaching assistants will respond to students promptly: within 48 hours, not including weekends and holidays.
  • The instructor and teaching assistants will be available for an individual consultation via virtual office hours (one-on-one video conferencing), email, or phone and will not require students to meet in person.
  • The instructor and teaching assistants will provide relevant feedback promptly.
  • The instructor and teaching assistants will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, accommodations, and other important duties.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due