Course Title: MicroNanoEngineering Simulation Tools

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: MicroNanoEngineering Simulation Tools

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

EEET2429

City Campus

Postgraduate

125H Electrical & Computer Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2016

Course Coordinator: Dr Omid Kavehei

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2450

Course Coordinator Email: omid.kavehei@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 10.07.10


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You are expected to have good understanding of Engineering Math, Circuit Theory, Fundamentals of Electronics, basic circuit characterisation and at least completed the following courses or their equivalents

  • MATH2160 Engineering Mathematics A,
  • MATH2161 Mathematics for ECE,
  • EEET2248 Engineering Methods, and
  • EEET2249 Circuit Theory

Prior knowledge of SPICE schematic or netlist is necessary. Those who already worked with a form of SPICE, including PSPICE, with the above mentioned background are encouraged to take the course. The course focuses on integrated circuits and systems simulation with emphasis on digital electronics.

It is not recommended for students who took EEET1415 or EEET1467, Circuit & System Simulation, in 1st semester of 2016, to take this course.


Course Description

This course will introduce you to the concepts behind numerical simulation used in the engineering of micro and nanoscale materials, devices and systems. The introduction of the course cover general approaches to simulation used across multiple disciplines and reviews a number of specific tools and design frameworks used by industry for the design of electronics, electromagnetics, photonics, microfluidics and electro/mechanics devices and systems. Note the course does not aim to teach every tools and software on those topics rather it will focus on nano/microelectronics integrated circuits and systems. In this course we use an industry standard software package for the specific mentioned topic.

The course is of research nature and aim to cover the following major topic areas:

  • Basic introduction of numerical methods behind nano/microelectronic stimulators.
  • Specifications and desirables vs system performance and realities.
  • Behavioural modelling, methods and simulations.
  • Implementing appropriate simulation setups.
  • Design-simulation-fabricate-design / design-simulate-design feedback loops.
  • Statistical simulation for non-idealities such as fabrication uncertainties and spatiotemporal variations, including Monte Carlo method.
  • Parametric analysis, sensitivity, worst-case, noise and thermal effects.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

You will gain advanced guided research oriented training in the specialised field of micro-nano engineering with a focus on micro-nano electronics, speciality of design and simulation of microelectronic circuits and systems.

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for MC206 Master of Engineering (Micro-Nano Engineering):

  • High levels of technical competence in the field.
  • Be able to apply problem solving approaches to work challenges and make decisions using sound engineering methodologies.
  • Communicate effectively across all modes: listen, speak, write and draw


On successful completion of this course, you will:

  1. Be familiar with an industry standard design tool and its frameworks as well as its function.
  2. Be able to use these tools to solve problems and design and simulate functional devices, circuits and systems.
  3. Be able to apply a systematic design approach to engineering projects and have strong design skills in the chosen discipline specialisation.
  4. Research, implement, analysis and improve circuits and systems implementation and performance.
  5. Conduct different forms of circuits and systems simulations, including parametric, worst-case, Monte Carlo, sensitivity analysis, and noise.
  6. Extract and analyse simulation results. Interpret simulation results adequately.


Overview of Learning Activities

The course will provide an interactive learning experience through lectures with significant tutorial and workshop-style content and hands on lab experience with an industry standard simulation tool.


Overview of Learning Resources

Learning resources in this course will include lecture notes, reading material and access to the simulation framework to gain hands on experience. All resources will be made available online are accessible on campus.

 

RMIT provides free access to IEEE digital library to its staff and students. Our secondary source of material, though limited, will be IEEE library and students will be given information on which journals or conferences are trustworthy. Simulation tools related resources will also be shared with the students via RMIT's online blackboard.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

For more information on assessment tasks please check Part B of the Course Guide.

 

Assessment Tasks

Assessment tasks are:

Assessment Task 1: Lab Assignment 1
Weighting 20% - This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 and 4

Assessment Task 2: Lab Assignment 2
Weighting 30% - This assessment task supports all CLOs

Assessment 3: Advanced Research Project Report and Presentation
Weighting 50% - This assessment supports all CLOs