CPLD-oriented design projects for the first course in digital systems

This paper reports on enhanced educational outcomes that have been achieved at Trinity College by introducing complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) and the hardware description language VHDL in the first course in digital design. Using Altera's Max+Plus II package and concurrent engineering practices, a team of eight students implemented a fully operational four-bit "tiny" CPU as a three-week final design project. Such successes demonstrate that modern CAD tools and use of CPLDs encourage creativity and system-level thinking in a first course.