This module presents the student with practical knowledge and the basic concepts of interfacing electronics and it’s applications in electronic systems design. It will introduce theoretical concepts of transducers and digital interfacing. The module will provide the student with knowledge of the design of microprocerssor-controlled circuits and the relevant software. The student will be able to manufacture and test simple interfacing circuits and contribute as part of a team to design of more complex systems.
Transducers
Typical characteristics of transducers and their interface requirements. Properties of selected transducers for temperature, position, flow and pressure measurements. Selection criteria.Design examples of interfacing relays, pressure and temperature transducers to a microprocessor/microcontroller. Signal integrity.
Interfacing
TTL / CMOS electrical characteristics. Use of buffers / line drivers. Output drive characteristics. Need for isolation. Use of opto-couplers.
Analogue-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analogue Conversion
Basic definitions: accuracy, conversion times, range, resolution, linearity, settling time.Conversion techniques: ADC: dual slope integration, successive approximation and tracking types. Commercially available devices. Specification of devices, data formats serial or parallel. DAC: resistor ladder circuit, R-2R network. Commercially available devices. Specification of devices.
Operational Amplifiers
Introduction to the differential amplifier. Operational amplifier transfer characteristics.Ideal and non-ideal amplifier characteristics. Inverting and non-inverting configurations, summing amplifier. Typical parameters of currently available amplifiers, data sheet characteristics. Basic Op. amp applications.
I/O Programming
Introduction to digital I/O programming. Line I/O, Port I/O. Masking techniques
Current Lab Platform
A platform that uses the PC to program an Arduino microcontroller through the Wiring language (C based) is currently used.
The module is delivered through a series of lectures, laboratory activities as well as student self-directed learning including assessment activities.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 50 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 50 |