Digital Signal Processing with Field-Programmable Gate Arrays

Abstract—In this paper, an innovative educational approach to introducing undergraduates to both digital signal processing (DSP) and field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based design in a one-semester course and laboratory is described. While both DSP and FPGA-based courses are currently present in different curricula, this integrated approach reduces the number of electives students would have to take and at the same time provides a hands-on DSP experience. Developing such a new course with no textbook avail-able is challenging. Therefore, the educational materials developed, the software tool evaluations, and topics to be covered in lectures and laboratories are described. Detailed evaluations of the selec-tion of appropriate software and hardware platforms, topics to cover, and student feedback are provided. Index Terms—Digital signal processing (DSP), DSPbuilder, field programmable gate array (FPGA), MatLab/Simulink, System-Generator. I