NDU - Cadence University Program Member
The Department of Electrical, Computer & Communication Engineering (ECCE) at the Faculty of Engineering (FE) of the
Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), Lebanon, has joined the
Cadence Academic Network in Spring 2010 as a contributor in the area of robust low power design methodologies.
The Cadence Academic Network was launched in 2007 by Cadence EMEA. The aim is to promote the proliferation of leading-edge technologies and methodologies at universities renowned for their engineering and design excellence. A knowledge network among selected universities, research institutes, industry advisors, and Cadence was established to facilitate the sharing of technology expertise in the areas of verification, design, and implementation of microelectronic systems. The Cadence Academic Network, therefore, significantly supports and improves the universities' activities.
The Academic Network became an integral part of CDNLive where universities and industry members are offered a knowledge exchange platform in order to demonstrate scientific achievements, present ideas and establish further collaborations.
The Cadence Academic Network manages a page for discussions and opportunities on Linkedin, and information can also be found on the Cadence Academic Network
webpage. On Linkedin, the groups are moderated by the lead institutions of the Academic Network ensuring a constant flow of reviewed information relevant to academia.
Education
The ECCE department has an extensive experience in undergraduate education. This education aims at nurturing the students' knowledge and competence.
Towards this end, the Cadence software tools provide the students with the opportunity to have hands-on experience with the dynamics of basic as well as state-of-the-art electronic circuits. The students can also substantiate their knowledge by applying the theories directly in simulations using cutting-edge technology processes. Definitely, the level of involvement with the tools should match the level of the course itself.
At NDU, the Cadence Custom IC Design software tools are used in basic and advanced electronic circuits and IC design courses such as EEN 310, EEN 311, EEN 512/612, and EEN 538/638. The Digital Design software tools are used in VLSI courses such as EEN 621. As for the AWR tools, they are used in electromagnetics and antenna courses such as EEN 331 and EEN 430.
All these tools are used for senior student projects as in EEN 598/599. So far, the tools have been used by more than 600 students. A description of the above courses can be found in the university catalog.
Research
The Cadence software tools constitute an integral part of the research infrastructure at the ECCE department. We are currently active in the field of robust low power design methodologies targeting high-throughput wired communications, wireless communications, and biomedical applications.
Activities
2021
Cadence Certifications
Two NDU students successfully pass the required courses and attain the Cadence Certified Lab Instructor status, issued by the Cadence Academic Network. Mr. Raffi Der Yeghiayan is certified in “Custom Design Virtuoso Technology - Front End” and Mr. Mohamad El Mokdad is certified in “Custom Design Virtuoso Technology - Back End”.
2020
Cadence Virtuoso 6.1.7 Tutorial v. 4
The 4th version of the self-paced Cadence Virtuoso 6.1.7 Tutorial is finalized. This tutorial is developed primarily by senior NDU students and is readily used in several courses. The tutorial covers basic front-end tasks, advanced front-end tasks, as well as back-end tasks. It follows the strategy and approach outlined in earlier CDNLive EMEA conferences.
2017
Cadence Academic Network CDNLive EMEA 2017
Dr. Jad Atallah, faculty member at the ECCE department, gives a presentation with the title: "Undergraduate Peer-to-Peer Tutorial Authoring". The presentation provides guidelines for undergraduate peer-to-peer tutorial authoring targeting the Cadence family of tools. The work is based on an experiment that involves such an activity, followed by an assessment done by undergraduate students. The results show that, at the undergraduate level, there are certain presentation-related features that the students appreciate to have in order to make the tutorial more effective for them. These features include, among other things, accessibility through electronic media, conciseness, focus on why things are done in addition to the how, thus creating a link between the tool and theory, in addition to good usage practices and warnings against common mistakes. These features are distilled and combined in this work in the form of a suggested tutorial template that can be adapted to any Cadence-related tool. Consequently, the tutorials based on this template can serve a complementary function to existing manuals and workshops, possibly within the framework of the Cadence Rapid Adoption Kits.
2016
Student Internship at Cadence Design Systems
Ms. Christina Chaccour, undergraduate student at the ECCE department at NDU, does her Summer 2016 practical training at the Cadence Design Systems in Munich, Germany. Her work consists of authoring two labs in the form of tutorials covering the Cadence Virtuoso tools version 6.1.7 and targeting undergraduate students. The first lab deals with basic front-end tasks and the second deals with advanced front-end tasks. These tutorials are currently offered at several universities internationally, including NDU. They are a successful example of peer- to-peer education.
2015
Panel Session and Interview at the Cadence Academic Network CDNLive EMEA 2015
Dr. Jad Atallah, faculty member at the ECCE department, participates in a panel session regarding the trends in microelectronic education, which was followed by an interview.
2014
Cadence Academic Network CDNLive EMEA 2014
Dr. Jad Atallah, faculty member at the ECCE department, presents a paper with the title: "Revisiting the Education in Basic Electronic Circuits". The aim of this revisit is to introduce the students to the broad application base of electronic circuits right from the start, while taking a practical approach that is independent of the specific type of technology used. This is particularly important at this time in the evolution of technology where we are seeing new transistor topologies that will coexist with previous topologies, thus creating a challenge from an education point-of-view.
The methodology concentrates on the introduction of the transistor as a black box whose complex inner-workings need not be considered when it comes to devising its terminal characteristics through hands on simulations. This approach is a continuation of a trend that started more than thirty years ago. That trend has its roots in delimiting the boundary between circuit design and device physics, thus making the field of circuit design more accessible to a larger audience. While this is being done, the students are introduced to the various types of circuits such as analog, mixed signal, and digital. This is accompanied by simulation sessions and assignments using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools such as Cadence Virtuoso.
A case study is presented showing the road map being devised at the Notre Dame University - Louaize (NDU) so that the time allocated to this topic within a broad curriculum is used efficiently.
2012
Cadence Academic Network CDNLive EMEA 2012
Dr. Jad Atallah, faculty member at the ECCE department, presents a paper with the title: "Cadence Tools in Undergraduate Education". The paper outlines the experience at NDU in using the Cadence tools in undergraduate education. It showcases the need to integrate the use of IC simulation tools in basic undergraduate electronics courses along with the main challenges that are faced and how we are dealing with them.
The recommendations shed the light on the contribution that can be spearheaded by the Cadence Academic Network (CAN) in order to streamline the process in other universities, while taking into account the main factors that govern undergraduate electronics education.
Another major outcome of this work is that simulation tools such as Cadence are not only important in today's undergraduate education, but also should serve as a cornerstone for such an education; a point of view that stands in stark contrast with classical electronics education whose roots reside in device physics.
2010
6th RaMSiS Summer School
The Faculty of Engineering at the Notre Dame University - Louaize (NDU), Lebanon, and the RaMSiS (Radio and Mixed Signal Integrated Systems) Group of the ICT School at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden successfully organizes the 6th RaMSiS Summer School from July 12 until July 14, 2010 on the NDU Campus.
The School title is "Next Generation Mobile Communications: Chipset Design and Applications". It includes lectures from internationally-renowned experts in the fields of wireless semiconductors and wireless communication systems. These experts are from Canada, Germany, Lebanon, Sweden and the USA.
Contact
Jad G. Atallah, PhD
Associate Professor, NDU/FE/ECCE
Telephone: +961 9 218 950 Ext.: 2172 or +961 9 208 414
Cadence is a registered trademark of Cadence Design Systems, Inc., 2655 Seely Avenue, San Jose, CA 95134.
© NDU/FE/ECCE Last Modified 2022-01-27