St. Louis, Missouri
June 18, 2000
June 18, 2000
June 21, 2000
2153-5965
6
5.578.1 - 5.578.6
10.18260/1-2--8740
https://peer.asee.org/8740
700
Session 2559
Teaching and Curriculum Development of Microprocessor Classes Roman Stemprok University of North Texas
Abstract
This paper addresses teaching and curriculum development for several microprocessor classes in the Engineering Technology Department at the University of North Texas. Fundamentals of computer hardware and assembly language were presented in undergraduate and graduate courses with emphasis on a processor to control external devices. Students studied microprocessor structure, became proficient in assembly language programming techniques, developed basic microprocessor interfacing techniques, designed simple memory systems, and investigated basic data communications. Special care was taken in organizing labs for these hands-on undergraduate and graduate courses. Students were assigned projects of increasing complexity from a simple control circuit to “Digital Pet” powered by the Motorola microprocessor (a semester project). Successful student teams demonstrated working hardware models at the end of each semester.
Introduction
This paper describes projects and laboratory assignments for courses in the Electronics Division of the Engineering Technology Department. After completion of the digital logic introductory course students learned to utilize microcontroller technology through “hands-on” assignments. Class curricula integrated the Motorola 68HC11 microcontroler and the xx86 Intel processor, which are available on PCs. Courses involved included Introduction to Microprocessors, Digital Systems, and Embedded Controllers.
The MC68HC11A8 microcontroller was used in a variety of lab assignments and projects at the undergraduate and graduate levels to interface output commands from the microcontroller to relays, motors, displays and ICs. The Motorola microcontroller offers high-speed in control-related embedded operations. The 8K bytes of on-chip memory (ROM), 256 bytes of RAM, 512 bytes of EEPROM and an 8-bit analog-to- digital converter were used with several I/O ports [1]. Students designed process controls using, for example, the A/D converter input from a variety of sensors or transducers.
System I/O design issues were taught in the upper division course where a PC interface, using an ISA expansion slot, was built by each student team. The Intel xx86 processor was programmed using assembly code (MASM compiler), or the DOS Debug program. The wire-wrap PC bus extender accessed the signals through the ISA
Stemprok, R. (2000, June), Teaching And Curriculum Development Of Microprocessor Classes Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8740
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