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SoC Architecture (Fall 2025)

This course provides an introduction to system-on-chip (SoC) architecture, focusing on practical design methodologies and implementation strategies for modern embedded systems. Students will explore the fundamentals of digital and embedded SoC design, including Verilog-based hardware modeling, processor integration, bus protocols, and memory hierarchy. Emphasis will be placed on optimization techniques to enhance performance and power efficiency in mobile and resource-constrained environments. Students will finally gain experience in designing and analyzing SoC architectures, from digital building blocks to complete embedded systems, preparing them to address real-world challenges in SoC development.

Announcements

Class Time

Monday, 12:00-15:00 PM (Room A411, Engineering Bldg. or Recorded)

Office Hour

Wednesday 3:00-4:00 PM, or by appointment (Room C383-1, Engineering Bldg.)

Syllabus

Week Overview Lecture Contents Remark
1 Introduction Introduction to Embedded SoC
2 Digital System Review Digital Building Blocks (Gate and Memory etc.)
3 HDL Review I Verilog HDL
4 HDL Review II Verilog Design Examples
5 ARM Processor I Development of ARM Processors
6 Chuseok No Class
7 ARM Processor II Design Example with Embedded ARM Processors
8 Midterm Exam
9 Embedding Custom Blocks I On-Chip Bus Protocols
10 Embedding Custom Blocks II Custom Slaves
11 ISA I Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) Review
12 ISA II RISC-V ISA and Datapath
13 Optimization Pipelining and Hazards
14 RISC-V Design I Single-Cycle Datapath Design
15 RISC-V Design II Pipelined Datapath Design
16 Final Exam