Large scale VLSI design with attention to performance constraints in real-world designs. Topics include: circuit modeling, communication parasitics, architecture optimization, and packaging. Large scale project will be fabricated using silicon compilation tools.
4
UnitsLetter
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeGraduate students only
Level LimitEngineering
CollegeThis is unusual to grade because lectures are not really needed in this class so my only complaint about them being off topic is not really legit. other than that he is a great guy, class was easy and fair and we could get a lot of help form prof and TA's on our projects.
He helped almost every group as much as he could, really cared for all the first years and tried to help them make their ideas become reality.
I've had him for multiple classes, and his worst habit is going off topic. #1 tip: he does not take things personally and it's a much better use of everyone's time if someone politely calls him out to pivot. He's one of the best in the ECE dept but can be a complete fire hose as a lecturer. So steer him with questions/interest & you'll learn a ton.
His lectures are mostly unrelated to the homework topics, it is better to search for the answers than attempt to solve the problems yourself. The labs take another 4-6 hours even with using outside resources like he suggests himself. Don't try to do the work yourself and just study the answers and you will get a better grade.
Awesome class. The labs take time but are also fun. Loved Brewer's lecturing style - he talks about things deeper than what a textbook can teach you - you just have to have an open mind to understand what he is trying to teach. Really helpful class for understanding how to build practical systems. Didn't mind the work because it taught me a lot.
This course take a lot of time. There is no scheduled lab time for this course as you are expected to complete the lab over however long a period it takes. Each weekly lab takes 10+ hours and each homework often takes over 6 hours. The lectures are mostly useless and often unrelated; Dr. Brewer goes off on tangents that don't relate to the material