Day 1 – DC Circuits Part I

Before first class:

Read the Physics 123/223 Hints and Tips  document through page 16; read Using the Multimeters on pages 30 and 31.
Watch the Introduction to Breadboarding video (5:30)

Readings from Learning the Art of Electronics, 2nd ed.

Chapter 1: DC Circuits – Read through section 1N.3 and read 1S.1

Lab Day 1

Complete Lab 1 through part 1L.4 and part 1L.7.  Skip calculating and building the Thevenin equivalent circuit at end of part 1L.3 but record the values for the open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the voltage divider to use in the next lab.

 

Day 2 – DC Circuits Part II

Watch the Oscilloscope Basics series of videos
Finish reading the Physics 123/223 Hints and Tips

Chapter 1: DC Circuits – Read the remaining sections of Chapter 1N
Chapter 1: DC Circuits – Read 1S.2

Lab Day 2

Follow the instructions in section 1L.3 to calculate, build, and test the Thevenin equivalent circuit for the voltage divider in Figure 1L.6 to see if it behaves identically.

Build and test the circuits in the Day 2 Lab Addendum
Complete the rest of Lab 1 (1L.5 through 1L.6)

 

Day 3 – RC Circuits in the Time Domain 

Chapter 2: RC Circuits – Read section 2N.1 & 2N.2; read 2N.4.2 and 2S.1

Here is a recorded video version of the discussion of capacitors in the time domain (56:59) It is optional but feel free to watch if you want a review or preview.
(Note this was recorded for the digital only class where we use capacitors much less often — so ignore those comments.) 

Lab Day 3

Analyze, then build and test the circuit in Lab Instructions Day 3, then complete the first half of Lab 2 in the book through part 2L.1.3.

Watch this explanation and demonstration of the use of bypass capacitors to reduce noise on power buses: Bypassing Demonstration Video (11:10)
(Again this was recorded for the digital only class so ignore the “not going to do anything with” comment.)

 

Day 4 – RC Circuits in the Frequency Domain

Chapter 2: RC Circuits – Read section 2N.3 to end of chapter; read 3N.1 and 3N.2; read 2S.2 & 2S.3

If you have not yet watched all the Oscilloscope Basics series of videos, please do so.

Lab Day 4

Lab 2: Complete part 2L.2
The Siglent oscilloscope has a built-in function generator and can automatically measure the Bode plot of a filter.  If you have time, feel free to create a Bode plot of the high-pass filter in part 2L.2.2 of the lab.  Here are the instruction from the scope user manual: SDS2000X-Plus_UserManual_EN01D_Bode_Polt.pdf

 

Day 5 – Diode and Resonant Circuits

Chapter 3: Diode Circuits – Read sections 3N.3 – 3N.6, 3N.8
If you are unfamiliar with Fourier’s Theorem watch the demonstration video Fourier was no Fraud (8:03)

Lab Day 5

Lab 3: Complete Lab 3 skipping parts 3L.3 and 3L.4. (If your scope can create Bode Plots, try using it to display the output of the RLC filter in 3L.1.)

We only have a single antenna for part 3L.5 so we will have some of you start with this part to use the resource efficiently. Everyone should build the AM radio (3L.5) first on a separate breadboard. We will then call each group when the antenna is free. Continue to work on the rest of the lab once you have built the radio until your group is called.

Here are images of various diodes to help identifying them: Images of Diodes
Here is a short explanation of how the leaky peak detector in the AM radio works and some hints on testing and choosing component values: An Explaination of the Leaky Peak Detector

 

Day 6 – Bipolar Transistors I

Chapter 4: Transistors I – Read chapter 4N through 4N.5; read 4L.7 (which is not really a lab exercise)
Note we will be skipping Chapter 5 “Day 5” discussed in 4N.1

Lab Day 6

Lab 4: Complete Lab through 4L.4. Skip part 4L.5.1 if you run out of time.

 

Day 7 – Op Amps I

Chapter 6: Op-amps I – Read up to section 6N.8.1

Lab Day 7

Lab 6: Complete through 6L.6
Lab 6: – Reverse Classroom Version (optional)

 

Day 8 – Op Amps II

Chapter 6: Op-amps I – Read through end of chapter (Rest of section 6N.8 and section 6N.9)
Chapter 7: Op-amps II – Read through 7N.2

Lab Day 8

Labs 6 & 7: Do 6L.7 through 6L.10 (but skip the JFET version of Fig 6L.12)
The experiment in Figure 6L.17 requires an analog oscilloscope.  It is optional but if you want to try it, we have a few in the lab.

Day 9 – Op Amps III

Chapter 7: Op-amps II – Read 7N.3 to end of chapter

Lab Day 9

            Lab 7: Do 7L.1 through 7L.5; skip 7L.4.7 (This is a long lab. Save 7L.4 until last and do as much of it as you can.)

 

Day 10 – Nice Positive Feedback I (Comparators and Active filters)

Chapter 8: Op-Amps III – Read through section 8N.2
Chapter 9: Op-Amps IV – Read through section 9N.2

Lab Day 10

Lab 8: Complete part 8L.1
Lab 9: Complete part 9L.1

 

Day 11 – Nice Positive Feedback II (Oscillators)

Chapter 8: Op-Amps III – Read 8N.3 through end of chapter

Lab Day 11

Lab 8: Complete part 8L.2 through end of lab.  Do 8L.4 last – skip if short on time

 

Day 12 – MOSFETs as Switches

Chapter 12: MOSFET Switches – Read chapter 12N
Chapter 13: Group Audio Project – Skim Chapter 13N (We will be assigning responsibility for designing the blocks in Fig. 13N.1 at the end of class today. Think about which circuit you would like to work on.)
If we don’t have time for this demonstration in class, please watch MOSFET Switching Demonstration (3:44).

Lab Day 12

Lab 12: This lab has a lot of parts and it is unlikely you will have time to get to all of them. Here is the order we would like you to do the lab to get the most benefit from it.

Please try to get through the following experiments. (Note: signals denoted as “TTL” in the lab mean they have only two values: 0V and +4.5V. Configure your function generator to generate these signals.)

• 12L.1 MOSFETs as digital switches. This is the most common use of discrete MOSFET parts and you should get comfortable using them, particularly to switch high current loads.
• 12L.2.1 Analog switch imperfections
• 12L.2.2 This section contains a number of applications for the DG403 analog switch. The most important is the sample and hold. Please try to get through it first.
• When you finish the S&H, feel free to try any of the following: chopper circuit, the flying capacitor voltage inverter and the switched-capacitor lowpass filter (homemade version and integrated circuit versions) if you have time. The switched-capacitor filter is probably the most surprising application. You can build both versions or just the one you find more interesting. If you build the switched-capacitor filter and your function generator has two output channels, you can use one channel to supply the input sinewave and the other for the switch clock. If you build the chopper circuit, you can use the two channels to provide two different waveforms to display and the breadboard function generator for the switch clock (or build a LMC555 oscillator to generate the clock signal).
• 12L.3 Class D amplifier (switching audio amplifier). This just involves hooking up an IC and is only interesting for the output waveforms going to the speaker. Feel free to skip it.

 

Day 13 – Group Audio Project

Chapter 13: Group Audio Project – Read Chapter 13N and 13L
Work with your group to design your block of the project.  Select one group member to explain your design to the class.

Lab Day 13

Lab 13: Build and debug your block of the Group Audio Project.  We will connect them together at the end of class to send audio over the air.

 

Day 14 – Introduction to Digital

Chapter 14: Logic Gates – Read Chapter 14N

We may watch the following demonstrations in class.  If not, please watch theses videos after class.

Digital Noise Margin Demonstration (10:16)
LVDS Differential Signaling Demonstration (2:41)

Lab Day 14

Day 14 Lab Addendum
Lab 14: Complete Lab 14L

 

Day 15 – Mid-Term Exam (in class)

Covers all material through MOSFETs  (Day 12)

 

Day 16 – Introduction to Programmable Logic

Chapter 15: Programmable Logic – Read Chapter 15N

Lab Day 16

Lab 15: Complete tests in 15S.1.3; complete Lab 15L

You will need one computer per lab group to connect to the FPGA in today’s lab.  We have Windows computers available but you are welcome to use your own (Windows 10 or higher, MacOS, Android or Linux).  The advantage of using your own is you will not have to copy your work to a USB drive (which you must supply) or email it to yourself if you want to save it.  Also, you must have a WebUSB compatible browser (currently Brave, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Samsung and Chrome.) installed on your computer to connect to and program the FPGA.

Day 17 – Sequential Circuits: Flip-Flops

Chapter 16: Flip-Flops – Read Chapter 16N

We may watch the following demonstrations in class.  If not, please watch these videos after class.

MOSFET Set-Reset Flip-Flop Demonstration (2:41)
Debouncing a SPDT Switch with a SR Flip-Flop (5:09)

Lab Day 17

Lab 16: Complete lab 16L (skip 16L.4.3 if you are running out of time and have not started on the Verilog versions of the flip-flop lab exercises).

 

Day 18 – Counters

Chapter 17: Counters – Read Chapter 17N
WebFPGA Documentation – Read  Appendix C and Appendix D

We may watch the following demonstrations in class.  If not, please watch these videos after class.

Demonstration of Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Counters (4:14)
Demonstration of Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Clear (10:35)

Lab Day 18

Lab 17: Complete lab 17L .  After completing section 17L.3, skip to 17L.7 then finish as much of 17L.4 to 17L.6 as you have time for

OPTIONAL: The lab has you display the 74LS469 8-bit counter outputs on the logic indicator LEDs.  We have a LCD display board that can show the outputs in binary or hex if you prefer:

To show the 8-bit counter on the LCD Display Board, use the data inputs to display the counter output. You can power the display board from USB or +5V on the breadboard. (If you are feeling ambitious, you can also connect the logic switch outputs to the low eight bits of the address inputs on the display board to show the load value in Hex.)  Instructions on using the LCD display board are here: LCD Display Board Instructions

 

Day 19 – Finite State Machines

Chapter 18: Memory – Read Chapter 18N.3.1 on the case statement
Chapter 19: Finite State Machines – Read Chapter 19N

Lab Day 19

Lab 19: Complete Lab 19L. Skip 19L.1.5 and the optional exercise at end of 19L.1.6.1

If you would like more FSM design practice, here is an optional problem (and solution) to hone your skills.
Practice FSM Problem
Practice FSM Problem Solution

 

Day 20 – Analog to Digital Conversion

Chapter 20: Analog <-> Digital; PLL – Read Chapter 20N through 20N.4 (skip 20N.3.5)

Lab Day 20

Lab 20: Complete Section 20L.1

 

 Day 21 – Microcontrollers I

Chapter 22: Introduction – Read Chapter 22N
If you have no procedural programming experience or would like a review of a simple C-like language (Arduino), we have a recorded tutorial on Arduino programing at https://youtu.be/6heqpaq0sds (1:30:36). In addition, our Microcontroller Resources page and Section 22S.3 in LAoE includes some additional references on programming in C.

Lab Day 21

Lab 22: Follow directions in Chapter 22S.2 to set up the IDE, then complete the exercises in Chapter 22L

 

Day 22 – Microcontrollers II

Chapter 23: Stacks, Timers and Input – Read Chapter 23N; read Parts 23S.1 and 23S.2

Lab Day 22

Lab 23: Complete Chapter 23L

Day 23 – Microcontrollers III

Chapter 24: Using Internal Peripherals – Read Chapter 24N

Lab Day 23

Lab 24: Complete the exercises in Chapter 24L
If you have time, read and complete the exercises in Chapter 24W (you can skip 24W.3.2 unless you are really interested in the gory details)

Here are the files you will need to speed up the microcontroller to 48MHz:
https://LAoE.link/ClockSysInit48M.c
https://LAoE.link/ClockSysInit48M.h

 

Day 24 – Microcontrollers IV

Chapter 25: Timers & Interrupts – Read Chapter 25N; skim Chapter  25O (online at https://LAoE.link/LAoE_Chapter_25O.pdf).

Lab Day 24

Lab 25: Complete Lab 25L

 

Day 25 – Microcontrollers V

Chapter 26: Serial Communication – Read Chapter 26N

Lab Day 25

Lab 26: Complete Lab 26L

 

Day 26 – Microcontrollers VI (part 1)

Chapter 27: Using an RTOS – Read Chapter 27N

Lab Day 26

Lab 27: Install embOS following directions in Chapter 27S (you can do this before you come to class).
Complete Lab 27 through 27L.3L. You can substitute a VN10LP or 2N7000 MOSFET for the VN2222 to drive the buzzer.

If you would like to try using your own DAC and Timer functions, here is a partially competed version of BSP.h to use with the Lullaby Jukebox BSP_Skeleton.c

Unfortunately we won’t have time to complete the Lullaby Jukebox in the second half of the lab.  You are welcome to complete it on your own if you wish.