Rules | Recent posts | topic RSS | Search | Register  | Log in

DSP vs VLSI

 
Post new topic  Reply to topic    EDAboard.com Forum Index -> Elementary Electronic Questions
Author Message
skyglin



Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 23


Post19 Dec 2004 22:43   DSP vs VLSI

I'm currently a college undergraduate who is trying decide take a course of either DSP or VLSI for the next semester, both field seems to be very interesting, but considering the workload I will have next semester I can only choose one of these. So i'm seeking advice on these areas, the difference, the applications, the future career path....anything related would be very appreciated...I'm pretty sure I can make a conscious decision after this, thank u guys...

btw...I took VHDL, and I will be taking SystemC, how is this course?
Back to top
rkarthik1



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 38


Post20 Dec 2004 1:57   Re: DSP vs VLSI

Right now i am doing a project based on a combination of VLSI and DSP!! You are right both subjects are brilliant. But the fact is that u need both subjects. Knowing DSP alone is going to get you nowhere(unless u are interested in developing algorithms), the design of VLSI architectures is essential. Hmmm.. put it this way, you can do VLSI without doing DSP but it is difficult to appreciate DSP without some knowledge of VLSI.
Back to top
masai_mara



Joined: 13 Aug 2004
Posts: 118
Helped: 6


Post20 Dec 2004 6:56   Re: DSP vs VLSI

Hi,
DSP Vs VSLI: actually they are not one to one comparable as done previously. DSP is a domain which deals with the processing of information digitally for various applications and hence rooted in the mathematical analysis of signals and their transformation. It forms a core part of an engineering curriculum as opposed to VLSI which is more of an Industrial activity in the sense that its more related to manufacturing. Ofcourse a lot of VLSI concepts is dealt in academics but it remains that they are driven primarily by how a physical thing can be fabricated in practice and hence more tightly coupled to industrial processes.
So DSP is indispensable for people in electrical engineering to understand much of what they do later and for which a comprehensive treatment is given in academics. This you wont get when you get into industry but ofcourse you gather some practical DSP implementation practices.
VLSI on the other hand is not so indispensable when you're in university eventhough it does help to get you some good start. You basically do it allover again when you get into industry as its an industrial technology driven topic. Of course there are some fundamental things which remain to be learnt which you can get by studying on your own unlike DSP. Moreover VLSI is as I said a process in which is DSP applications is one among a host of others.
It depends on where you want to make your career, there are both DSP software and DSP hardware. In DSP software you concentrate more on algorithms and in DSP harware you concentrate more on architectures where VLSI comes into play so both these demand in depth dsp concepts and later on some specialization.

hope this helps a little.

cheers.
Back to top
ue



Joined: 22 Jan 2004
Posts: 32
Helped: 2


Post20 Dec 2004 8:25   Re: DSP vs VLSI

hi

considering you have already done HDL as course then i would personally suggest to go for DSP as previously said vlsi design can be done by self reading but dsp is anyway required for understanding "real" vlsi design, and its kind of grassroot concept on which digital vlsi is buit.

moreover it will widen your scope of getting good start as you have hdl + dsp mixure. comapare to hdl + vlsi design mixuture. better thing is to take vlsi implementation of small dsp algo. in hdl (as course project)

so dsp

/ue
Back to top
dewdrop



Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Posts: 22


Post20 Dec 2004 17:03   DSP vs VLSI

I think the DSP is more about arithmetic and the VLSI is more about technique.
Back to top
ram



Joined: 03 May 2004
Posts: 112
Helped: 2


Post22 Dec 2004 6:33   DSP vs VLSI

You can take VLSI, & as a part of you project work do a project in systemc which will be in field of DSP. So from selection point of view you will take VLSi but as a part of interest & carrier you can use DSP.
Back to top
nashafi



Joined: 11 Nov 2004
Posts: 37


Post22 Dec 2004 7:49   Re: DSP vs VLSI

Hi,

if you plan to go to Grad school then it doesnt matter . Take any thing as you will have enough oppurtunities in Grad school to take them again and again Smile
Otherwise if you can paste rough contents of both courses then any one can better guide you . because both are very vast fields and I dont know what is covered in the course taught at your school.

-Nauman
Back to top
oxford



Joined: 30 Apr 2004
Posts: 52


Post22 Dec 2004 9:55   Re: DSP vs VLSI

Learning VSLI is a better choice, I think.
Back to top
abhigopal



Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 62


Post22 Dec 2004 16:41   DSP vs VLSI

Hi,
I agree with you that both are very interesting fields..Also they both have a wide spectrum of applications.. You could choose VLSI if you are strong in your digital design basics, CMOS etc.. Its more towards architecture etc.. DSP is as you know a lil bit different and a strong math foundation is essential. Also you would develop VLSI architectures for different DSP applications.. There you go.. Take your pick.. All the best
Back to top
spauls



Joined: 17 Dec 2002
Posts: 547
Helped: 19


Post24 Dec 2004 6:49   Re: DSP vs VLSI

Please DSP integrated circuits by Lars Wahnmer,
Back to top
DrDolittle



Joined: 24 Sep 2004
Posts: 169
Helped: 4
Location: Within arm's reach


Post25 Dec 2004 5:20   Re: DSP vs VLSI

VLSI and DSP both are brilliant subjects.But VLSI has almost saturated,when you attend VLSI conferences this point will become clearer to you.They are replicating things with just a modicum amount of novelty.My suggestion is to integrate DSP and VLSI but make DSP to take a lion's share.

Regards
drdolittle Smile
Back to top
hercules007



Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 16


Post26 Dec 2004 12:04   DSP vs VLSI

As an engineer, both of this two field have good future ! In fact , the application of DSP or IC chip, such as embedded system development is alos a good choice! It is mainly depending on your interest!
Back to top
skyglin



Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 23


Post26 Dec 2004 18:09   Re: DSP vs VLSI

thanks all for the great advice, yea, i believe i have a lot of interest in embedded system design because I like to work with a mix of both hardware and software and also because of a great professor i had, on the other hand, designing an architecture (such as a simple microprocessor) using VLSI is purely hardware, however it is a very interesting field to me. Just don't know which one would be more helpful for embedded system designs.
Back to top
weilijun



Joined: 20 Jan 2004
Posts: 30


Post04 Jan 2005 7:03   Re: DSP vs VLSI

You can use HDL to develop DSP function modules. I suggest you to read the following book:
Digital Signal Processing with Field Programmable Gate Arrays
--by Meyer-Baese
Back to top
Post new topic  Reply to topic    EDAboard.com Forum Index -> Elementary Electronic Questions
Page 1 of 1 All times are GMT + 1 Hour


Abuse
Administrator
Moderators
topic RSS 
sitemap