INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT TEACHING THROUGH TOP-DOWN DESIGN

This paper describes the organization, development, and results of an integrated circuit design course where the bottom-up teaching approach adopted in textbooks has been managed in conjunction with the top-dow n strategy of modern design methodologies. The deliverables and milest ones established for the teaching, learning, and design activities hav e been successfully met up to the level of obtaining simulation result s demonstrating the functional and/or electrical performance of a numb er of application specific integrated circuits for communication syste ms which not only exhibit some innovative solutions but also demonstra te potential practical applicability in industry.