FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING B
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The goal of the course is to give the students the basic principles of computer architectures: from Boolean algebra and logic circuits to simple models of computer system architectures.
Course contents summary
Boolean Algebra and logic circuits.
Introduction to computer systems. Models, description techniques and levels of abstraction.
Introduction to Boolean Algebra, postulates and truth tables. Functions, canonical forms and basic circuits.
Karnaugh maps and optimization of simple functions.
Sintesi mediante mappe ed esercizi.
Combinatorial circuits and sequential circuits. Memory elements. FLIP-FLOP.
Synchronous and asynchronous sequential circuits.
Esercizi di progettazione elementare di sistemi sequenziali.
Synthesis of simple sequential circuits.
Introduction to computer architecture
RTL components: decoder, multiplexer, PLA, …
Memory elements. Registers, counter and shift registers.
RTL architectures. A simple example: the multiplier.
VonNeuman architecture. Simple CPU architecture and instruction execution.
Introduction to assembly language. Subprograms and interrupts.
Memory systems. Technology.
Locality. Memory hierarchies.
Recommended readings
o M. M. Mano, C. R. Kime. Reti Logiche, Addison-Wesley/Pearson Education Italia, 2002-
o G. Bucci, Architettura e organizzazione dei calcolatori elettronici FONDAMENTI, McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Slides used during lectures.
