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Session 3549

Using the PC Parallel Port in Digital Systems Lab Exercises

Cecil E. Beeson, P.E., Assistant Professor

University of Cincinnati Clermont

Introduction

This paper will describe a multi-phase project to utilize the functionality and accessibility of the PC parallel port to augment traditional college electronics lab exercises. The opportunity for students to use the ubiquitous PC to exercise and control digital circuits designed in a college lab can be a valuable learning experience.

At Clermont students are introduced to PC fundamentals early in their college studies. As these students pass through the Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) program, they construct their circuits and typically view the PC only as an analytical tool to solve engineering problems. Of course, in the real world, PCs are capable of controlling all types of devices.

After reading about parallel port programming (PPP) in a magazine a few months ago, the author of this article did some research and decided to introduce students in a Digital Systems course to this fascinating concept. The response from the students was impressive.

Value to EET Students

The value of using PCs in this manner is significant. EET students can grow in, minimally, five dimensions of technology:

• Continue to develop skills through traditional studies in the EET area • Become more mature users of PCs by becoming more informed of PC capabilities and structure through the integration of PCs into the lab environment • Expand their knowledge of software development because of the need to write programs to control the PC and external electronic devices • Become more aware of user interface issues through careful design of input fields and screens displays • Acquire additional technical test skills because of interactions between PC and external electronic circuitry

“Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2003, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Beeson, C. (2003, June), Using The Pc Parallel Port In Digital Systems Lab Exercises Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--11512