2007 Final Program

2007 International Conference on 
Microelectronic Systems Education

June 2-4, 2007

"Educating Systems Designers for the 

Global Economy and a Secure World"

Final Program

Saturday, June 2, San Diego Convention Center

Free tutorials will be presented by Synopsys, Synplicity and Cypress on the day before the conference.

8:30am - 12:00pm (Room 23A): 

        Cypress - Programmable System-on-Chip

12:00 - 1:30pm:                     Lunch on your own

1:30 - 5:00pm                        (Room 23A): 

        Synopsys -  TCAD Sentaurus: Quick Start Workshop

1:30 - 5:00pm                        (Room 23C): 

        Synplicity -  Optimizing DSP Algorithms for Hardware Implementation

Sunday, June 3, Marriott Hotel - San Diego Ballrooms A and B

  San Diego Ballroom B for lunch and dinner

  San Diego Ballroom A for all other events

8:00 - 8:30am     Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 10:40am    Session 1: Embedded Systems

  Introduction: Mark Johnson, Purdue University (General Chair)

  Opening Keynotes:

     "Model-Based Design of Embedded Systems" - 

     Dr. Pieter Mosterman, Senior Research Scientist, The Mathworks, Inc.

     "Trends in Embedded Systems -- A Microsoft Perspective" -

     Dr. Stewart Tansley, External Research and Programs, Microsoft Research

  Paper Presentations:

     "Reflections on Implementing and Teaching an Advanced Undergraduate Course in 

      Embedded Systems" - D. Helvick, R. Mercado, Z. Zhang, D. T. Rover

         Iowa State University

     "A Senior-Level Course in Hardware/Software Codesign"

     P. Schaumont - Virginia Tech

10:40am - 12:00pm Session 2: Poster Session I

  Poster Chair: John Nestor, Lafayette College

"A Novel Graduate Course Takes a Systematic Approach to Teaching Digital System Timing"

     J. D. Lynch - Oregon Health & Science University

"Simulink Based Real-Time Laboratory Courses Development"

     J. Kang, B. Olson, A. Felzer, R. Chandra, S. Oldak – 

     Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona

"A Unified Environment For Design Entry and 3D Animation of Analog Circuit Schematics"

     J. Becker, S. Trendelenburn, Y. Manoli - IMTEK, Albert-Ludwigs University, Germany

"AnaDig - an Educational Chip for VLSI Device Characterization"

     E. Piwowarska, W. Kuzmicz, G. Farkas, A. Poppe, M. Hristov, E.  Manolov, B. Weber, J. 

     Butas, G. Jablonski, A. Jarosz, A. Kos, A.  Golda, R. Dlugosz – 

     Warsaw University of Technology, Poland

"Capstone Design Project for a Ubiquitous Sensor Network"

     N. Chang, Y. Kim -  Seoul National University, Korea

"Stream Manager, Easy CAD Tools Switching"

     J. M. Galliere, G. Cathebras - Polytech University of Montpellier, France

"Graduate School in Information and Communication Technologies - Experiences at Tallinn University of Technology"

     G. Jervan, M. Kruus, E. Rustern - Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia

"Development and Distribution of TSMC 0.25 um Standard CMOS Library Cells"

     J. D. Djigbenou, D. S. Ha - Virginia Tech

"Teaching Informatics Students the Secrets of Hardware Design"

     T. Pionteck - University of Lubeck, Germany

"Using an FPGA Processor Core and Embedded Linux for Senior Design Projects"

     T. S. Hall, J. O. Hamblen - Georgia Tech

"A Pioneering Integrated Circuit Design Program - High Volume Fast

Track Hiring and Integration of Engineers"

     R. C. H. Ng - Intel Microelectronics, Penang, Malaysia

"Simulating a Reconfigurable Cache System for Teaching Purposes"

     E. Herruzo, R. Quislant, J.I. Benavides, E. L. Zapata, O. Plata

     University of Cordoba and University of Malaga, Spain

"Multi-user/Multi-test-bed Remote Hardware Laboratory with Job Management System"

     N. Fujii, N. Koike - Hosei University, Japan

"Applying e-Environments in Teaching the Basics of Digital Logic"

     T. Robal, A. Kalja - Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia

"Design and Implementation of a Miniscule General Purpose Processor in

an Undergraduate Computer Architecture Course"

     A. Chidanandan, J. P. Mellor, L. D. Merkle - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana

"Graduate Education to Fight System Level Design Productivity in SoC Design"

     O. Hamami, M. O. Cheema - Ecole Nationale Superieure de Techniques Avancees, France

"Distributed Collaborative Adaptive Sensing: A Unifying Theme for a

Junior Level Embedded Systems Course"

     D. Kumar, W. Burleson - University of Massachusetts

"A CAL Tool to Aid the Understanding of Logic Synthesis"

     R. Tavares, W. Lautenschlager, R. Reis - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

"Education for 21st Century Microelectronics and Semiconductor Technology"

     S. Kurinec, L. Fuller, M. Abushagur - Rochester Institute of Technology

"Rice WARP, a Unified Wireless Network Testbed for Education and Research"

     K. Amiri, Y. Sun, P. Murphy, C. Hunter, J. R. Cavallaro, A. Sabharwal - Rice University

"Knowledge Module for Logic Design to Introduce Majority Logic

Synthesis Using Karnaugh Maps"

     S. Srivastava, S. Bhanja - Univesity of South Florida

"A Student-Oriented Course in Digital VLSI Design"

     K. Jeppson - Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

"KARMA: a Didactic Tool for Two-Level Logic Synthesis"

     C. Klock, F. Schneider, M. Gomes, D. Moura, R. Ribas and A. Reis

     Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

"Creating a Special Topics Course in Aerospace Applications"

     D. Fay, S. Campbell, G. Miller, D. Connors - University of Colorado

"An Entrepreneurship Emulation Platform"

     R. S. Tsay - National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

"Design-For-Debug: A Vital Aspect In Education"

     P. Nagvajara, B. Taskin - Drexel University

"Hardware Security: Preparing Students for the Next Design Frontier"

     F. Koushanfar, M. Potkonjak - University of California, Los Angeles

"HDL-s for Students with Different Background"

     U. Reinsalu, A. Arhipov, T. Evartson, P. Ellervee - Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia

"TACT as a Learning Tool for Radio Design"

     D. Rodriguez de Llera Gonzalez, W. Xu, A Rusu, M. Ismail

     Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden

"A Hollistic Approach Towards a Unified CpE Laboratory Platform"

     P. Athanas, C. Patterson - Virginia Tech

"Accurate Back-of-the-Envelope Transistor Model for Deep Sub-micron MOS"

     Z. Qi, M. Stan - University of Virginia

"Building an Evolvable Low-Cost HW/SW Educational Platform

Application to Virtual Instrumentation"

     A. Cicuttin, M. L. Crespo, A. Shapiro, N. Abdallah - ICTP, Trieste, Italy and Actel Corp.

"Experiences Teaching Physical Synthesis of FPGAs and ASICs"

     D. Bouldin, P. Chimakurthy - University of Tennessee

12:00 - 1:30pm    Lunch

  Luncheon Speakers

  "Microelectronic Systems Education in the Global Economy Era"

     Dr. Andrzej Rucinski, University of New Hampshire

     Dr. Don Bouldin, University of Tennessee

1:30 - 3:30pm     Session 3 : EDA Panel Discussion

     Introduction: James Duckworth, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (moderator)

         Participants include (alphabetical by last name):

         Anna Acevedo

           Manager, Xilinx University Program

           Xilinx, Inc.

         Ian Burgess

           Development Manager, 

           Mentor Graphics Corporation

         Rich Goldman, 

           Vice President Strategic Marketing Development, 

           Synopsys, Inc.

         Patrick Kane, 

           Cypress University Alliance Program    

           Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

         Sandra Larrabee

           Senior Manager

           University, Partner & Marketing Solutions

           Synplicity, Inc.

         Grant Martin

           Chief Scientist

           Tensilica, Inc.

         Shekhar Sharad,

           Academic Product Marketing Manager

           National Instruments

3:40 - 5:00pm     Session 4: Poster Session II

  Poster Chair: John Nestor, Lafayette College

"Multifunctional Digital Embedded Platform"

     P. Van Pelt, P. Pelgrims, T. Tierens, W. Dams, B. Van de Vondel

         Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst, Belgium

"Teaching Top-Down ASIC/SoC Design vs Bottom-Up Custom VLSI"

     M. Stan, A. Cabe, S. Ghosh, Z. Qi - University of Virginia

"Improving Student Confidence with Analog Circuits"

     T. A. Hudson, M. Goldman - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana

"Experiences Teaching Functional Verification Techniques with Practical Designs"

     T. Li, G. Yang, S. Li, W. Dong, R. Deng - National University of Defense Technology, China

"A Low Cost and Interactive Rapid Prototyping Platform"

     D. S. Kang, S. Y. Hwang, K. S. Jhang, K. Yi - Chungnam National University, Korea

"MP3 Portable Player System-level Glue Logic on FPGA"

     K. J. Raut, S. S. Shriramwar - Sachdeva Institute of Technology, India

"Readout and Control Circuit for a Four Pixel Digital Camera as Semester Project"

     B. B. Larsen, L. R. Cenkeramaddi, J. Typpo

     Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

"Extensive Coverage of Functional Verification of Hardware Designs"

     M. E. Radu - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana

"A Laboratory for Wireless and Embedded Systems"

     Z. Zilic, J.S. Chenard, M. Prokic - McGill University, Montreal, Canada

"Abstract Verilog: A Hardware Description Language for Novice Students"

     C. Ebeling, B. French - University of Washington

"Simulation and 3D Characterization of Microsystems"

     B. Bercu, L. Montes, P. Morfouli, N. Mathieu - INPG, Grenoble, France

"Globally-Collaborative 'Homeland' Security System Design"

     H. Spaanenburg, A. Rucinski, K. Chamberlin, T. Kochanski, L. Long

     University of New Hampshire

"VLSI CAD Education and Exercise Course with Public Domain Tools"

     S. Komatsu, K. Takagi, M. Fujita, K. Asada - University of Tokyo, Japana

"Developing and Integrating Lab Projects as Important Learning

Components in an Embedded Systems Course"

     L. Sousa, F. Alegria, J. Germano - INESC-ID, Lisbon, Portugal

"The RoboCup Nanogram League: An Opportunity for Project-Based

Undergraduate Education in Microsystems"

     S. L. Firebaugh, J. A. Piepmeier - United States Naval Academy

"Introducing Embedded Design Concepts to Freshmen and Sophomore

Engineering Students with LEGO Mindstorms NXT"

     S. Sharad, K. Kesler - National Instruments, Austin, Texas

"Student-Specified versus Instructor-Specified Projects: A Comparison of Outcomes"

     E. A. Hughes - Virginia Commonwealth University

"Experiences Using the Xilinx Microblaze Softcore Processor and uCLinux

in Computer Engineering Capstone Senior Design Projects:

     R. H. Klenke - Virginia Commonwealth University

"Active Learning Techniques in a CAD Course"

     S. Hauck - University of Washington

"An FPGA Design Project: Creating a PowerPC Subsystem plus User Logic"

     R. Foist, A. Ivanov, R. Turner - University of British Columbia, Canada

"A Paradigm of Government/Industry/University Cooperation: A PSoC

Controller for a NASA Robotic Arm"

     D. Baker, E. Goodman, P. Kane, M. Shanblatt - Michigan State University

"Study on Rapid Prototyping Methodology of the Lecture Contents for the

IT SoC Certificate Program" 

     E. Kim, J. Park - Electronic and Telecommunication Research Institute, Korea

"Open Hardware Platform Helps Students Getting Started in Analog and

Digital Design"

     W. Dams, M. Roggemans, P. Pelgrims, T. Tierens, D. Pauwels

     Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst, Belgium

"Interdisciplinary Embedded System Design in Education"

     T. Tierens, P. Pelgrims, W. Dams, P. Van Pelt

     Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst, Belgium

"Exploring RFID Prototyping in the Virtual Laboratory"

     A. K. Jones, S. R. Dontharaju, L. Mats, J. T. Cain, M. H. Mickle - University of Pittsburgh

"A Technique to Remote Access a Laboratory for Design and Test"

     R. Hashemian, J. Riddley - Northern Illinois University

"Collaborative VLSI-CAD Instruction in the Digital Sandbox"

     A. K. Jones, S. Levitan, R. A. Rutenbar, Y. Xie - University of Pittsburgh

"Integrating Validation and Verification in the Digital Design Curriculum"

     S. M. Yardi, M. S. Hsiao - Virginia Tech

"An Electronic System Design Platform for SYSTEMatic Learning in ECE

and ICT Curricula"

     M. Ravel, M. McDermott - University of Texas, Austin

"Rapid Prototyping Course on Mobile Computer Systems"

     A. Smailagic, D. P. Siewiorek - Carnegie Mellon University

"An Educational Tool for Design Automation of CMOS Cells"

     A. Ziesemer, C. Lazzari, R. Reis - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

"Teaching Reconfigurable Hardware Using an Multidisciplinary Problem

Based Model to Strengthen Digital System Design Skills in Electronic

Engineering Undergraduates"

     J. E. Loya-Hernandez, J. L. Gonzalez-Vazquez, M. I. Garduno-Mota

     Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Mexico

"Integration of Statistical Techniques in Design Curriculum"

     F. Koushanfar, M. Potkonjak - University of California, Los Angeles

"Introducing TCAD Tools in a Graduate Level Device Physics Course"

     D. Parent, L. Del Rio-Parent - San Jose State University

5:00 - 6:00pm     Mixer

6:00 - 7:30pm     Dinner

     Dinner Speaker:  Shay Benchorin, Director, Business Development, Synopsys

     "Software-driven system design for time-to-market sensitive consumer products"

Monday, June 4, Marriott Hotel

  San Diego Ballroom B for lunch, Ballroom A for all other events

7:30 - 8:30am     Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 10:30am    Session 5 : SoC

  Moderator: Dave Parent, San Jose State University

  Final Keynotes:

     "Leveraging FPGA Technology for Digital Logic and Embedded Systems Education" -

     Dr. Stephen Brown, University of Toronto and Altera Toronto Technology Center

     Dr. Ivo Bolsen, Chief Technology Officer, Xilinx, Inc.

  Regular paper presentations

     "NetFPGA - An Open Platform for Instructing Students to Route and

      Switch with Reconfigurable Hardware", N. McKeown, J. W. Lockwood, G. Watson, G. 

      Gibb, P. Hartke, J.  Naous, R. Raghuraman, J. Luo - Stanford University

     "Using a Low-Cost SoC Computer and a Commercial RTOS in an Embedded

     Systems Design Course", J. O. Hamblen - Georgia Tech

10:30 - 11:00am Break

11:00am - 12:20pm Session 6: Innovative Teaching Methods and Curricula

    Moderator: Mihaela Radu, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

    "Introduction to Digital Design: A Paradigm-based Approach"

     M. Potkonjak, J. L. Wong - University of California, Los Angeles

    "Experience with the CADAPPLETS Project"

     J. A. Nestor - Lafayette College

    "Incorporating Large-Scale FPAAs in Analog Design Courses"

     C. M. Twigg, P. E. Hasler - Georgia Tech

    "FreePDK: An Open-Source Variation-Aware Design Kit"

     J. E. Stine, I. Castellanos, W. R. Davis, P. D. Franzon, M. Bucher, S.  Basavarajaiah, 

     J. Oh, R. Jenkal - Oklahoma State University

12:20pm            Closing Remarks

12:30pm            Lunch on your own

Free Exhibits at DAC

1:00 - 6:00pm     Demos at the DAC Univ. Booth

Demonstrations of EDA tools, design projects, and instructional

materials will be held in the SIGDA University Booth during DAC.