Top 10 VLSI Projects

to Kickstart Your Career

Perfect for Students & Freshers | Beginner to Intermediate

Kittu K Patel

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Why VLSI? Your Career
Launchpad
Learn Concepts
Grasp VLSI fundamentals

Build Projects
Apply knowledge hands-on

Showcase Skills
Highlight your abilities

Succeed in VLSI
Secure placements/internships

VLSI is a booming domain. Hands-on projects are crucial. Skills plus projects lead to
placement.
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Project #1: 8-bit ALU Design (Verilog)
Core Operations Key Learning

• Addition (ADD) • RTL design principles

• Subtraction (SUB) • Testbench creation

• Logical AND • ModelSim simulation

• Logical OR

Design an 8-bit Arithmetic Logic Unit using Verilog. Simulate its operations.

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Project #2: UART Protocol Design

SoC Application
Verification
Understand real-world use
Receiver Design
Simulate proper data
Transmitter Design
Serial to parallel conversion transfer
Parallel to serial conversion

Implement Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) protocol. Crucial for System-on-Chips.

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Project #3: I2C Protocol
Implementation
Master-Slave
Communication hierarchy

ACK/NACK
Acknowledgement handling

Start/Stop Bits
Frame integrity

Embedded Integration
VLSI and embedded systems

Implement Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) communication protocol.

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Project #4: SRAM Cell Design
(6T)
1 Design Phase
Cadence Virtuoso

2 Layout Creation
Physical representation

3 Read Stability
Data integrity

4 Write Stability
Reliable data storage

Design and layout a 6-transistor Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM) cell.

Understand memory basics.
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Project #5: FIFO Design (SystemVerilog)

Asynchronous FIFO Pointer Logic

Different clock domains Read/Write tracking

Depth Control Data Integrity

Buffer size management No data loss

Design a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) buffer using SystemVerilog. Learn blocking vs. non-blocking assignments.

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Project #6: DFT - Scan Chain Insertion

Scan Flip-Flops ATPG Basics Testability Intro

Enhance testability Automatic Test Pattern Generation Design for Test (DFT)

Implement Design for Testability (DFT) by adding scan chains. Learn about ATPG.

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Project #7: Traffic Light Controller (FSM)
RTL Logic
1 Beginner-friendly design

Timing Optimization
2
Efficient operation

Moore/Mealy FSM
3
State machine implementation

Design a traffic light controller using a Finite State Machine (FSM).

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Project #8: AXI4-Lite Interface Design

1 2
Read Channel Write Channel
Data retrieval Data transmission

3 4
Protocol Basics Industrial Relevance
Minimal complexity Widely used

Design an AXI4-Lite interface. Understand its read and write channels.

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Project #9: UVM-Based Verification of SPI
This project offers a deep dive into modern verification
methodologies:

• Build a robust Testbench with UVM components.

• Implement comprehensive Coverage and Assertions.

• Gain real-world verification experience.

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Project #10: RISC-V Core Design

IF (Instruction Fetch)
Retrieve instructions

ID (Instruction Decode)
Decode instructions, fetch operands

EX (Execute)
Perform ALU operations

MEM (Memory Access)

Access data memory

WB (Write Back)
Write result to register file

Design a basic 5-stage RISC-V pipeline using Verilog/SystemVerilog. This project is a stellar resume builder, showcasing your pr ocessor design skills.
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Essential VLSI Tools to Master
Familiarize yourself with industry-standard software across key
VLSI domains:

Simulation
ModelSim, Vivado

Layout
Cadence, Synopsys

Verification
Questa, VCS

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Showcase Your Projects
Effectively
Host Code
Use GitHub for version
control and visibility.

Document Learning
Explain your process and insights clearly.

Remember, your Portfolio speaks louder than your resume. Start small, build
confidence. Projects are proof of potential!

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