All programmes > Computer Architectures

Computer Architectures (B-KUL-T2VCA2)

3 ECTSEnglish38 Second termCannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Geurts Luc (coordinator) |  Geurts Luc |  Bruynseels Ludo (cooperator) |  Vranken Gil (cooperator)
OC Elektronica-ICT - Campus Groep T Leuven

Aims

(K1) Scientific-disciplinary basic knowledge and comprehension in the field of Engineering Technology
(I1) Analyzing and solving problems
(I2) Designing and/or developing

Objectives

  • The student knows the basic principles of the structure and operations of a microprocessor. (K1)
  • The student has a good understanding of the techniques used in computer systems. (K1)
  • The student can develop basic applications in Assembly: conceiving the structure of the program, coding, simulating, testing and debugging (I1, I2)
  • The student has a good understanding of the underlying processes at hardware level of these implementations. (K1)

Previous knowledge

The student know the basic principles of digital electronics and programming.

Order of Enrolment

Mixed prerequisite:
You may only take this course if you comply with the prerequisites. Prerequisites can be strict or flexible, or can imply simultaneity. A degree level can be also be a prerequisite.
Explanation:
STRICT: You may only take this course if you have passed or applied tolerance for the courses for which this condition is set.
FLEXIBLE: You may only take this course if you have previously taken the courses for which this condition is set.
SIMULTANEOUS: You may only take this course if you also take the courses for which this condition is set (or have taken them previously).
DEGREE: You may only take this course if you have obtained this degree level.


(SIMULTANEOUS(T2VDO1) OR SIMULTANEOUS(T2VDO2)) AND ((FLEXIBLE(T1AEA1) OR FLEXIBLE(T1AEA2)) AND (FLEXIBLE(T1ACD1) OR FLEXIBLE(T1ACD2)))

The codes of the course units mentioned above correspond to the following course descriptions:
T1AEA1 : Elektronica
T1AEA2 : Electronics
T1ACD1 : Computationeel denken
T1ACD2 : Computational Thinking
T2VDO1 : Digitale ontwerpprincipes
T2VDO2 : Digital Design Concepts

This course unit is a prerequisite for taking the following course units:
T3WBS1 : Besturingssystemen
T3WBS2 : Operating Systems
T4VRD2 : R&D Experience

Identical courses

This course is identical to the following courses:
JPI159 : Computerarchitecturen
T2VCA1 : Computerarchitecturen
JPI279 : Computerarchitecturen (schakel) (No longer offered this academic year)
ZA0219 : Computerarchitecturen
B3075P : Computerarchitecturen
YI1433 : Computerarchitecturen

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

2 ects. Computer Architectures: Lecture (B-KUL-T2hCA2)

2 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture18 Second term
Geurts Luc
OC Elektronica-ICT - Campus Groep T Leuven

Content

  • Internal structure of the microprocessor; architectures, program and data memory, registers; control and execution, pipelining
  • From bits and bytes to chars, ints, fixed points and floats; arithmetic; precision; efficiency
  • Elementary instruction set: addressing modes
  • Software development tools; debugger, simulator, compiler
  • Subroutines and interrupts; stack;
  • I/O; Peripheral mapped vs. memory mapped I/O; polling (hardware vs. software); DMA
  • Computer memories; segmentation & virtual memory

Course material

Powerpoint Slides with notes on Toledo

Textbook: Structured Computer Organization 6e, Tanenbaum

1 ects. Computer Architectures: Lab Session (B-KUL-T2pCA2)

1 ECTSEnglishFormat: Practical20 Second term
Geurts Luc |  Bruynseels Ludo (cooperator) |  Vranken Gil (cooperator)
OC Elektronica-ICT - Campus Groep T Leuven

Content

  • Software development tools; debugger, simulator, compiler
  • Assembly
  • Calculations with bits and bytes
  • Addressing modes
  • Subroutines and interrupts
  • Talking with the outside world
  • Working with memories

Course material

Lab assignment and data sheet on TOLEDO

Evaluation

Evaluation: Computer Architectures (B-KUL-T72148)

Type : Partial or continuous assessment with (final) exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Written, Project/Product, Participation during contact hours
Type of questions : Open questions, Closed questions
Learning material : Calculator

Explanation


Weights for the total mark:

  - Lectures: 65%

  - Lab: 35%

Lectures: written examination during the examination period

Lab: The evaluation is based on the cooperation during the lab session, and the obtained result. In case a student cannot complete all assignments during the session, they can continue to work on it until the start of the next session, except for the last session. Warning: for every session, the result (the code) has to be handed in in electronic form. If two or more students hand in similar files, this will result in a zero score for the lab sessions. 

The final result is calculated according to the clauses of the education- and exam regulations, including the amendments of the faculty.

Participation in the continuously assessed activities is mandatory. Students who miss one or more sessions due to circumstances they do not control (e.g. illness) must justify their absence in writing (e.g. a doctor's note). They must reach an agreement with the lecturer on how they will make up for the activities they missed.

 

Information about retaking exams

This course unit allows partial mark transfers in case of partial pass mark:

  • T2hCA2 - Computer Architectures: Lecture (during and beyond academic year)
  • T2pCA2 - Computer Architectures: Lab Session (during and beyond academic year)

Lectures: same modalities

Labs: A lab exam.

An examination in the third examination period on educational activities that are continuously assessed can only improve a score, but does replace continuous assessment for those who have withdrawn from the continuous assessment, e.g. by not participating in the laboratory activities