This is the schedule for Spring 2017. I will update it to reflect changes as they occur but they will be fairly rare. This is likely to be pretty reliable.

Note that the "Pre class work" column lists the readings that should be completed before starting that lab. Though you will want to re-read the material after the lab, when it will make more sense, to help settle it into your heads.

BEWARE!!! I altered the chapter numbering in the books a couple of years ago. I think that I have the new chapter numbers correct but it is vital to go by the chapter name rather than the number.

Wk

Day

Pre class work

In class work

Wk1

1/18

W

-

Intro to the class.

Preliminary ideas and the equipment.

L-1 The Oscilloscope

Wk1

1/20

F

Basic Electric Theory. Chaps. 1, 2, &3.
Charge, current, voltage, power. Simple components and simple circuits, V-I curves.

L2-Ideas of current, voltage, and resistance-Ohm’s law, the voltage divider.

Measuring resistance, using power supply, verifying Ohm’s law, using voltage divider.

Wk2

1/23

M

More theory. Chaps 4 & 5.
Formal theory, multi-resistor systems.

L3-A multi-resistor circuit. Solve problem in class. Build, and see that it all works out.

Wk2

1/25

W

Chap. 6. Time varying voltages and currents, phase, slope resistance.

Computer chapter 1-Bit patterns, binary numbers, hex representations.

L4-Time varying measurements; the signal generator and oscilloscope. The voltage divider and time-varying voltages of different shapes.

Wk2

1/27

F

Computer chap. 2-
Introduction to microcomputers

Computer chap. 3
Introduction to CodeWarrior

L5-Programming the TM4C123G I.

Meeting Energia. Our first programs. Pretty lights!

Wk3

1/30

M

Chap 7. The capacitor. RC circuits driven by square waves and sine waves.

Chap. 8 Filters.

L6-The capacitor-high and low pass filters.

Wk3

2/1

W

Chap 9. Non-linear elements, V-I curves, the diode. Rectifier circuits.

Computer Chap. 4
Basic C Programming

L7-Diodes-V-I curve of signal and power diode, voltage divider with a diode, half-wave rectifier, ripple.

Wk3

2/3

F

Computer Chap. 5
A new chapter on the new system.

Computer Chap. 6. Conditionals & Loops.

L8-Programming the TM4C123G II.

Reading switches and more lights.

Wk4

2/6

M

Chap 10. Power Supplies I
Transformers, rectifier circuits-half-wave, full-wave, and bridge rectifiers, capacitive filtering.

L9-Transformers-Step-down transformer, RMS and peak-peak voltage, half-wave and full-wave bridge rectifiers, filter capacitors, ripple, and the effects of load current

Wk4

2/8

W

Review PSpice sections in chapters 5, 7 and 8.

 

L10-Learning PSpice. Simulating passive circuits in software.

Wk4

2/10

F

Computer Chap. 7 Digital I/O
Computer Chap. 8 Variables in C

L11-Programming the TM4C123G III.

Do-it-yourself traffic lights.

Wk5

2/13

M

Chap 11. The FET-construction, operation, characteristics. What is an amplifier? What is a switch.

L12-The FET-Characteristic curves, simple amplifier, basic switch.

Wk5

2/15

W

Chap 12. FET switches-power switching vs. logic switching. Switching speeds. CMOS switches, current draw of CMOS.

L13-FET Switches-N&P channel switches, discrete CMOS switches, integrated CMOS switch.

Wk5

2/17

F

Computer Chap. 9
Useful subroutines.

Chap 13. Digital Logic Theory.
Basic logic gates. Combining logic gates to make more complicated functions. Sum-of-products and product-of-sums design.

L14-More Digital IO: Interfacing 7-segment LEDs

Wk6

2/20

M

Chap 14. Combinatorial functions. Encoders, decoders, multiplexers, demultiplexers, arithmetic etc.

L15-Logic gates-nand, nor, and not gates, simple combinatorial circuits, decoders and LED output.

Wk6

2/22

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Chap 15-Programmable Logic

L16- Programmable Logic

Wk6

2/24

F

Computer chap. 10
Serial communications.

L17-serial communication-looking at serial signals, programming the SCI

Wk7

2/27

M

Chap 16 §§1-6. Sequential circuits. Feedback, flip-flops, memory, latches

L18- Flip-flops & latches

Wk7

3/1

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Chapter 16§§7-8. Ripple counters and a bestiary of available circuits.

L19- Ripple counters

Wk7

3/3

F

 

L20-Pulse Width Modulation:
Steps Towards a Robot.

Wk8

3/6

M

Chap 17. Counters and synchronous logic. How to design your own synchronous circuits.

L21- Synchronous Counters I

Wk8

3/8

W

 

L22- Synchronous Counters II

Wk8

3/10

F

 Chap. 18-Amplifiers

L23- FET Amplifiers

 

 

Spring Break

 

Wk9

3/27

M

Chap. 20. Operational Amplifiers I -ideal op-amps, golden rules, basic circuits

L24-Op-amp I-inverting amp, non-inverting amp, unity gain buffer

Wk9

3/29

W

Chap 21. Op-Amps II-real op amps. Characteristics of real op-amps and what to do about them.

L25-Op-amp II-Op-amp bandwidth, input bias current, offset voltage

Wk9

3/31

F

 

L26-A Self-Contained Robot 1:
Roll robots roll!

Wk10

4/3

M

 

L27-Op-Amps III-slew-rate limiting,
using a faster op-amp.

Wk10

4/5

W

 

 

 L28-Op-Amps IV-op-amp w/ power booster, build a simple audio amp

Wk10

4/7

F

Computer Chapter Analog to Digital Converter

L29-A Self-Contained Robot II: Free the robots--figure eights and wall detection

Wk11

4/10

M

Chap. 24-Power supplies II.
Voltage and current regulated power supplies. Multi-component and 3-terminal solutions.

L30-Voltage regulators-op-amp and pass transistor, (add current limit), three-terminal regulators

Wk11

4/12

W

 Chapter 22. Positive Feedback: Comparators
Op-amp comparator, Hysteresis, and commercial comparator chips.

L31-Comparators. Op-amps with positive feedback, hysteresis, the LM311 comparator.

Wk11

4/14

F

Chapter 23. Oscillators

L32-Oscillators

Wk12

4/17

M

Chap. 25. Digital-to-analog

L33-digital-to-analogue - switches & resistors, logic control, R-2R ladder, digital ramp generator

Wk12

4/19

W

Chap 26. Analog-to-digital

 

L34-Analogue-to-digital—DAC, comparator, and TM4C123G, linear search

Wk12

4/21

F

 

L35-A Self-Contained Robot 3: Seeking the light

Wk13

4/24

M

 

L36-Multi-Digit LED

Wk13

4/26

W

 

L37-

Wk13

4/28

F

Hope for new chapters on PWM and interrupts

L38-A Self-Contained Robot 3—Interrupts, Timers, & PWM: How to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Wk14

5/1

M

 

Projects

Wk14

5/3

W

 

Projects

Wk14

5/5

F

 

Projects

Wk15

5/8

 M

 

Projects

Wk15

5/10

 2

 

Projects

Wk15

5/12

 3

 

Final Projects due at 5pm!!!

Physics 245