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Section History
The research group on
Microlectronic started in 1982 with a few faculty of the
elective courses in Electrical Department under graduate
Program at Universidad del Valle. At the beginning, the
research was dedicated to I.C.s design, regarding several technologies
and applications, mainly CMOS digital circuits. Additionally,
some methodologies and integrated systems architectures were
explored. Projects like 16 bits RISC Microprocessor, serial
bit microcontroller and several ASIC development have
contributed to
consolidate the group. All these IC's were fabricated
outside by the Multi-User Project services through foreign
countries like as Spain, Brazil and France. As a result the
GMAD is able to offer an specialization in the implementation
of hardware systems in their several integration levels.
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Relevance
Microelectronic is a
transversal technology which considers a range of
disciplines, knowledge and techniques that make possible the
integration of systems on a single chip (SOC). The
integration technology has been the key to the advances in
quality and performance that can be verified in the hardware
of computer systems, in electronics systems,
telecommunications among others. Beside memory chips,
microcontrollers, digital signal processors, other components
such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) continue
to play an important
role in the electronic. This is due to a high degree of
integration which allows the implementation of complete
systems on a single chip. The microelectronic Group (GMAD)
looking for the best
preconditions to develope microelectronics research
activities which result in tasks for master
thesis which motivate students for their work. Equipment
includes dedicated workstations running a range of known
academic CAD systems in a real design environment. Links with
CMP services allow fabricate the prototypes.
Universidad del Valle recognized the
importance of microelectronic in education many years ago.
Already since the early eighties, students of electrical
engineering undergraduate program have had the possibility to
choose a microelectronics option courses with the following
main topics: semiconductor technology, microelectronic
circuits and systems, computer aided design methodologies in
microelectronic, physic of MOS transistor, etc. In 1993 the
Electrical Department becomes a School of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering involving two under graduate programs;
Electrical Engineering and Electronic Engineering. The
Electronic Engineering undergraduate Program has an academic
line in Microelectronic and Digital Systems which has been
set up with the GMAD as its responsible. The research and
education topics of this line are design methodologies and
the innovative application of complex microelectronic
systems. Microelectronic’s section works with research and
teaching related to the different aspects of the integration
of systems and circuits. Special emphasis in our Group is
given to the Digital Systems implementation. Additionally,
the group is currently active in Asynchronous Design, Low
Power CMOS circuits, FPGAs, (Rapid prototyping ).
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Objectives
- To explore and analyze
new high performance and low power architectural approaches using
prototypes synthesized on programmable logic arrays (FPGAs).
- To use techniques
of rapid prototyping oriented to the design and implementation of
prototype architectures regarding criptographic and domotic applications.
Also, to conceive and implement applications that
exploit the Internet and programming Java advantages
in order to develope engineering educational systems using new technolgies.
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Research activities
The
Digital Architectures and Microelectronic Group has
defined as priority research activity to execute
projects where different topics of the Design and test of ASICs
and electronic systems are involved.
Inside that main thematic two specific
topics where defined which are described subsequently:
Digital Systems
Design using programmable architectures.
This
topic includes the study of the different FPGA families in order to
develope generic cards which will be used as hardware platforms to
implement electronic systems prototypes.
High performance
and Low Power Integrated Circuits Design.
This
topic seeks to explore architectures and new low power circuit
topologies in order to implement high performance, low cost and
low power electronic circuits regarding to improve the product
power-performance.
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