Design of a Computer System

Computer system design analyzed from 4 different views Behavioural :Input output relationship Structural : Interconnection structure realizing intended behaviour Layout :Physical layout of the components(Where the components are placed and how interconnections routed Testing : Different fault models and testing strategies employed for error free design

Design Layers
Behavioural Structural

Testing

Layout

Behavioural
Hardware architecture defined in terms of various hardware functions and their interrelationship Input-output behaviour of each component of Processor memory structure expressed as algorithm to describe the function to be realized by it The behaviour of each RTL component is expressed as a Boolean function ,truth table which are realized by logic gates &flip-flops The behaviour of logic gate circuit expressed as a function of transistor, switches

Structural Description
Architecture realization is referred as ProcessorMemory (PM) switch level structure( various subsystems interconnected to realize a system) RTL components are classified into 2 groups Combinational RTL components(word gate,multiplexer etc..) Sequential RTL components(register,counter etc) Boolean Function ,truth table ,etc realized by logic gates and flip- flops. Switching function of a NAND gate realized by interconnecting two MOS transistors in series

Layout
At lowest level ,a MOS transistor is realized by specifying a set of polygons on the silicon floor (cell) A number of such cells are properly placed & interconnected to build a chip Placement & routing of interconnections of a set of interconnected chips on a Printed Circuit Board makes physical module at next higher level Finally boards are placed on the machine frame & interconnected by wires to realize complete system hardware

Testing
Testing carried out at every level (system leve,functional level,logic gate level,transistor level) to check the proper working of various modules Make the system error free

References
P.Pal Chaudhuri,Compter Organization and Design,2nd Edition ,PHI,2003