ENGR-104: Digital Electronics (DE)

This course is INACTIVE
School
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
Division
Science - DNU
Department
Engineering - DNU
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
Engineering
Course Number
104
Course Title
Digital Electronics (DE)
Credit Hours
3.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
77.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
77.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
ENGR-101 or ENGR-102 or Instructor Permission
Catalog Course Description

Digital Electronics TM is the study of electronic circuits that are used to process and control digital signals. Digital electronics is the foundation of all modern electronic devices such as cellular phones, MP3 players, laptop computers, digital cameras, high definition televisions, etc. The major focus of the DE course is to expose students to the design process of combinational and sequential logic design, teamwork, communication methods, engineering standards, and technical documentation.

Utilizing the activity-project-problem-based (APPB) teaching and learning pedagogy, students will analyze, design and build digital electronic circuits. While implementing these designs students will continually hone their interpersonal skills, creative abilities and understanding of the design process.

Goals, Topics, and Objectives

Core Course Topics
  1. Safety and Basic Skills
    1. Demonstrate proper safety procedures in the classroom/laboratory.
    2. Demonstrate the use of scientific notation, engineering notation, and Systems International (SI) notation to conveniently write very large or very small numbers frequently encountered when working with electronics.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to properly solder electronic components.
    4. Identify improper solder connections.
  2. Introduction to Analog
    1. Identify the different waveforms and distinctive characteristics of analog and digital signals.
    2. Identify the two well-defined voltage levels for logic high for a logic low.
    3. Determine, based on the atomic structure of a material, whether it is a conductor or an insulator.
    4. Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of electricity and the three fundamental concepts of voltage, current, and resistance.
    5. Use Circuit Design Software as a tool to verify functionality of their analog and digital designs.
  3. Introduction to Digital
    1. Categorized integrated circuits by their underlying circuitry, scale of integration, and packaging style.
    2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) gates in a series of sub-families, each having their own related to speed and power.
    3. Depict Logic gates by their schematic symbol, logic expression, and truth table.
    4. Identify the different input and output values of combinational and sequential logic functions.
    5. Identify the fundamental building block of sequential logic.
  4. Combinational Logic
    1. Translate a set of design specifications into a truth table.
    2. Describe the behavior of a combinational logic design by listing all possible input combinations and the desired output for each.
    3. Derive logic expressions from a given truth table.
    4. Construct a truth table from a given logic expression.
    5. Express a logic expression in one of two forms: sum-of-products (SOP) or products of sum (POS).
    6. Implement a logic expression using AND,OR, & Inverter Gates.
  5. Introduction to NAND and NOR Logic
    1. Simplify logic expressions containing two, three, and four variables.
    2. Implement any combinational logic expression by using only NAND gates.
    3. Implement any combinational logic expression by using only NOR gates.
    4. Identify the formal design process for translating a set of design specifications into a functional combinational logic circuit implemented with NAND or NOR gates.
  6. Date of Birth Design
    1. Use Seven-segment displays to display the digits 0-9 as well as some alpha characters.
    2. Identify the two varieties of seven-segment displays (common cathode and common anode.)
    3. Implement any combinational logic expression with AOI, NAND, or NOR logic.
  7. Specific Comb Logic Circuits & Miscellaneous Topics
    1. Implement combinational logic circuits using XOR and XNOR gates.
    2. Identify the most commonly used method for handling negative numbers in digital electronics.
  8. Programmable Logic – Combinational
    1. Apply Circuit Design Software to enter and synthesize digital designs into programmable logic devices.
    2. Apply Programmable logic devices can be to implement combinational logic circuits.
  9. Sequential Logic
    1. Design single event detection circuits, data synchronizers, shift registers, and frequency dividers using flip flops.
    2. Implement asynchronous counters using small scale integrated (SSI) and medium scale integrated (MSI) logic gates.
    3. Implemented Asynchronous and synchronous counters with either D or J/K flip-flops.
    4. Implement Synchronous counters using small scale integrated (SSI) and medium scale integrated (MSI) logic gates.
    5. Use State machines to control common everyday devices such as elevator doors, traffic lights, and combinational (electronics) locks.
  10. Microcontrollers
    1. Demonstrate Basic programming skills including variable declaration, loops, and debugging.
    2. Identify common products that use microcontrollers.

Assessment and Requirements

Assessment of Academic Achievement
  • Assignments
  • Exams
  • Group Projects
  • Individual Projects
  • Final Assessment

Outcomes

General Education Categories
  • Natural Sciences
Institutional Outcomes
  • Scientific Reasoning
MTA Categories
  • Category 6: Natural Sciences (Lecture Only)

Credit for Prior College-Level Learning

Options for Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Other
Other Details

Completion of Digital Electronics (DE) at an official PLTW educational site

Approval Dates

Effective Term
Fall 2019
Deactivation Date
ILT Approval Date
AALC Approval Date
Curriculum Committee Approval Date