Duration
26h Th, 26h Pr, 40h Proj.
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Detailed study of a processor and of an assembly language. Basic and advanced processor implementation techniques: e.g. pipe-lines, cache memory.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, the student will have a concrete knowledge of the design of a processor and of how it operates.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Although not a prerequisite, basic knowledge of digital circuits (logic gates, flip-flops, registers, RAM, ROM) is useful; those notions will be quickly reviewed at the start of the course. We assume knowledge of binary encoding (including two's complement of signed integers) and hexadecimal encoding. Familiarity with programming is mandatory.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures are given in English. The problem sessions cover the design of a microcode based processor and assembly language programming. The course also includes programming assignments and building a processor within a digital circuit simulator.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
1st quadrimester.
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
Due to COVID-19, the course will be delivered as an inverted classroom: lectures will be pre-recorded using podcast, and there will be a weekly gathering for questions and clarifications, face-to-face or virtually. Questions can also be asked on the appropriate eCampus forum.
Our strong preference will be to organize an exam on the University premises. The grade will be the weighted average of the assignment mark (30%) and of the written exam mark (70%).
If the exam cannot take place on the University premises, we will organize a remote written exam, with the same weighted average.
Recommended or required readings
Reference text; notes and transparencies available on the course space on eCampus.
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
See "Organisational adjustments related to the current health context"
There is no guaranteed support for resits.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The contents of the theoretical and practical sessions, as well as the assignments and useful links, will be made available on the e-Campus space for the course.
Contacts
Teachers: Pascal Fontaine, Laurent Mathy Phones: 04 366 28 75, 04 366 27 03 e-mails: Pascal.Fontaine@uliege.be, Laurent.Mathy@uliege.be Assistants: Romain Mormont, François Piron e-mails: r.mormont@uliege.be, Francois.Piron@uliege.be
Items online
Course material available on eCampus
Course material available on eCampus