Equipment
The laboratory has the latest equipment and software to support the entire development process, from idea to FPGA prototyping and the verification of externally produced chip designs. The equipment includes:
- Design software: Specialized CAD tools for the automated design of integrated circuits (ICs) and microchips. This software enables users to design, simulate, and verify complex circuits. The laboratory provides access to all the software tools needed for chip design, including tools from Cadence, Synopsys, and Siemens.
- Prototyping platforms: Platforms and development kits that allow users to implement and test their hardware designs. This includes FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)-based hardware and other prototyping platforms. These range from simple FPGA platforms (e.g., Arty-A7 or Zedboard) to high-performance SoC-FPGA systems (e.g., AMD UltraScale+ ZU19EG). Additionally, all necessary software for FPGA design (Xilinx/AMD, Altera/Intel, CologneChip, etc.) is available. Various expansion modules with different sensors and communication interfaces are also available.
- Test and measurement equipment: High-precision test equipment such as oscilloscopes (Peaktech 1404), logic analyzers (Digilent Digital Discovery), frequency generators, and programmable power supplies for characterizing and verifying the functionality and performance of developed circuits and chips.
- Manufacturing equipment: The laboratory includes equipment for prototyping on breadboards and for soldering, including important basic components and for additive manufacturing (3D printing) of accessory and housing parts.
- Training materials: In addition to the equipment, users have access to training materials, technical literature, and instructions to support them in the development and understanding of chip design concepts. The laboratory is integrated into the courses of the Chair for Chip Design for Embedded Computing (C3S), where students can acquire the necessary knowledge in handling the equipment. The hardware laboratory forms the basis of the bachelor's study program, and in the master's study program, there are specialized courses and internships on topics such as VLSI chip design (VLSI Lab), application-specific processors (ASIP Lab), FPGA technology, and memory systems.
The Chip Design Laboratory includes:
Purpose
The Chip Design Laboratory serves as a creative space where students and staff can collaboratively work on innovative projects that have the potential to push the boundaries of today's technology and unlock new applications in areas such as electronics, communication, medical technology, and much more.
Projects and TeamProjects
If you enjoy chip design, FPGA design, general hardware development, and other challenges, then you are in the right place with us! If you're interested, please feel free to contact us via email (wm-eis(at)tu-bs.de).
For further information about team projects and project work, please refer to the module handbooks of your degree program.
Current/Finished Project Topics
see here
