Course content

The course will contain terminology, principles and concepts for construction and operation of different kinds of modern computers and other computer related equipment. Basic methods, analysis and design of of sequential logic and finite state machines. Principles of how computers (and other digital machines) are constructed from combinatoric and sequential logic logic blocks. Short historic overview into the evolution of computer technology. Architecture (organization), operation and realization of computers and computer systems. Construction of computers on different levels, instruction format, address modes, processor architecture and types, Hardware and software interface, connection of components, interrupt, busses, storage hierarchy, and cache. Examination of central computer technical equipment (peripheral units). Short introduction to distributed systems, embedded systems, parallel computers, new technologies and new applications.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:
- The student should know how computers work and how they are constructed
-The student should know the principles of design and analysis of sequential digital logic and finite state machines
- The student should know how a simple processor is constructed
- The student should understand the interface between hardware and software
- The student should know of central peripheral units
- The student should understand how abstraction and structure is used to handle complexity in computer systems

Skills:
- The student should be able to write simple programs in an assembly language
-The student should be able to exploit digital logic elements to construct basic sequentional digital logic and finite state machines.
- The student should be able to read schematics and block diagrams
- The student should be able to see how schematics and block diagrams at different abstraction levels relate to each other

General competence:
- The student should understand the general operation of a computer and be able to use this knowledge in projects at all abstraction levels.
-The student should have an understanding of the underlying digital logic of computers.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and exercises.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

TDT4100 Object-Oriented Programming, or equivalent knowledge in high level programming.

Course materials

- Tanenbaum: Structured Computer Organization (6th edition)
ISBN-13: 978-0132916523 or ISBN-10: 0132916525.
- Electrical Circuits and Digital Design, Part 2. Compilation for course TFE4101, selected chapters form D.D. Gajski "Principles of digital design". Compiled by K. Svarstad, P.G. Kjeldsberg, P. Svensson, and R. Hergum. Pearson 2014, ISBN 978-1-78434-312-5.
- Evaluation board for ARM-processor.

Credit reductions