Teaching computer hardware design using commercial CAD tools

A project currently being implemented that is aimed at significantly enhancing the computer hardware design experience provided to undergraduate students through the use of industrial-grade CAD tools is discussed. A set of tools has been carefully chosen that can be used in a sequence of courses. The tool set is versatile and flexible and enables a designer to use different tools for different portions of a system design and then integrate the various parts together and simulate the overall system. Besides teaching logic design using MSI TTL components, instructors are able to use CAD tools for designing with PLDs, describing modules in VHDL, developing microcode, and designing microprocessor-based systems.<
>