This course is one of the core courses for students majoring in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS). It is an entry to the digital world. It aims to present ways and methods to conceive and carry out a complex digital system design project. It focuses on providing students with the basic theories and methods for digital circuit analysis, design, and measurement. It is also the foundation for preparing follow-on courses in EECS.

To do that, students have to grasp the fundamentals of digital systems, at the same time they have to understand how digital circuit works in the real context. This course starts with basic definitions of digital concepts, and an introduction of number systems and codes are followed. The concept and operation of digital circuits are then emphasized. Combinational circuits (MSI building blocks) and sequential circuits (FSM, finite state machine) are two main parts after students have got concepts of digital circuits. Analysis, design principles, troubleshooting of digital systems is the basic ability and main goal for students following this course. Next, programmable logic devices (PLDs), CPLDs, and FPGAs are introduced generally, and Verilog is proposed as a typical HDL-based design language. Interfacing digital and analog systems using methods of ADCs and DACs is important in a digital circuit, basic principles of digital signal processing are thus introduced in the end.

The Chinese version of the "Digital Logic Circuits" course was rated as a National Excellent Online Open Course, and the English version was selected as an excellent course in Jiangsu Province for foreign students, both in 2018.

This course is intended for an introductory practice in digital logic design. It is a basic course in most electrical and computer engineering departments. 

After completing this course, students should have a good understanding of basic concepts and a firm grasp of the CAD design approach.

The main goals of the course are (1) to teach students the fundamental concepts in classical manual digital design and (2)  to introduce how digital circuits are designed today by CAD tools. 

To this end, modern CAD-tool-based methods are introduced progressively by examples of simple circuits, and sometimes comparisons of both manual techniques and CAD-based tools are presented.

The emphasis in this course is to successfully carry out digital designs by using modern design methodology and appreciate the benefits provided by design automation.

Circuits, Analog Circuits

[1] Thomas L. Floyd. Digital Fundamentals (11th Edition). Pearson, 2014

[2] M. Morris R. Mano, Michael D. Ciletti. Digital Design: With an Introduction to the Verilog HDL, VHDL, and SystemVerilog (6th Edition). Pearson, 2017

[3] Stephen Brown, Zvonko Vranesic. Fundamentals of Digital Logic with Verilog Design (3rd Edition). McGraw-Hill Education, 2013

[4] Anant Agarwal, Jeffrey H.Lang. Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits. Elsevier, 2005

[5] John F. Wakerly. Digital Design: Principles and Practices (4th Edition). Pearson, 2005

[6] Jan M.Rabaey,‎ Anantha Chandrakasan,‎ Borivoje Nikolic.‎ Digital Integrated Circuits (2nd Edition). Pearson, 2003

Q1: For students who do not have a solid foundation in "Circuit Analysis " or "Analog Circuits", will it be difficult to learn "Digital Logic Circuits"?

A: No. As a matter of fact, we pay more attention to "Logic" rather than "Circuit". The course mainly focuses on logic analysis and logic design methods. We only need basic knowledge in "circuits" and "analog circuits", such as Thevenin equivalence, basic principles and external characteristics of semiconductor devices, and so on. Therefore, welcome to the world of digital design!

Q2: What is the relationship between the "digital logic circuit" and FPGA design?

A: The knowledge of digital logic circuits affords you a profound understanding of digital design, and also explains the idea and process of FPGA design very well. In this course, through several digital design cases, the basic concepts and development process of FPGA design are fully described, which is a good foundation for students who aim to design complex digital systems independently.

Q3: After completing this course, what skills will I have?

A: We live now in the DIGITAL age. Digital circuits are ubiquitous in our daily life. Computers, mobile phones, MP3s, digital cameras ... all of these are in the realm of digital circuits. After completion of this course, you can design many interesting and practical digital circuits, such as traffic lights in the street, a digital clock at the bedside, a temperature and humidity meter in your kitchen, and a vending machine in the metro station. You can also show your skills in complex electronic systems such as digital communications and electronic measurement, and you will also have the ability to troubleshoot digital systems. Let's enjoy the charm of digital design together!