Boise State University
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Course Syllabus for ECE 433/533
Embedded and Portable Computing Systems
Fall 2011
Instructor:
Office:
Email:
Office Hours:
Arlen Planting
ET 227, Phone: (208) 426-4826
clarenceplanting@boisestate.edu
Mon/Wed 1:00-3:00pm, Tue/Thu 3:00-5:00pm,
or by appointment
Catalog Description:
Comparison of commercially available microcontroller and their use in embedded communications and control
applications. Power consumption, software development, inter-processor communication, and interfacing with
sensors, actuators, and input/output devices. Use of microcontroller cores implemented in programmable logic
devices as an alternative to hardwired microcontrollers. An embedded system project is designed and built.
Required text: None
Optional text: John B. Peatman, Coin-Cell-Powered Embedded Design. Available at $15.50 print-on-demand
paperback book from www.lulu.com, or you can access the free download from www.qwikandlow.com.
Course Learning Outcomes:
After taking this course, students should be able to:
1. Build a microcontroller system from scratch
2. Know how to write code to interface to sensors/devices with various communication protocols (I2C, SPI, onewire interface, and UART)
3. Install the development software and program a microcontroller
4. Design a DC power subsystem to power a microcontroller system
5. Calculate power-consumption of a microcontroller system
6. Design a menu system
7. Design a printed-circuit board
Required hardware and software:
1. Atmel ATmega 324
2. USB to Serial
3. AVRISP 2 In-circuit programmer
4. AVR Studio 4 (For you own install, go to www.atmel.com, and locate AVR Studio 4)
5. WinAVR (sourceforge.net)
Note: ET 312 will be our working lab, the software tools have been setup there.
Time and Place: TuTh 1:40 PM to 2:55 PM, MEC 309 (Lecture), ET 312 (Lab)
Course Webpage: http://coen.boisestate.edu/aplanting/ece433fall2011/
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Topics (4 major topics):
1. C programming
a. Embedded menu
b. Time issues (ISR versus delay)
2. Device communication protocol
a. Single-wire protocol
b. SPI
c. I2C
3. Board Design (Team assignment, individual report)
a. Basic embedded system circuitry
b. Schematic
c. Prototype
d. Assembly
e. DC converter selection issues
4. Sensors and Interface Logic
a. Analog to digital converter with SPI interface
b. Real time clock with I2C interface
c. Voltage/current sensor with ADC interface
d. 1-wire temperature sensor
e. Thermistor with ADC interface and op-amp circuitry
f. Digital to analog converter with I2C interface
Prerequisites: ECE 332/332L or permission of instructor
Grading:
Programming/Lab assignment
Project
Test/Quiz
40%
30%
30%
Grade determination: 100%-90% = A, 89%-80% = B, 79%-70% = C, 69%-60% = D, < 60% = F
Note and disclaimers:
There will be rough spots. Question and comments are expected and encouraged. NO LATE work will be
accepted.
Code of Conduct:
Discussing the assignments with other students is encouraged, as this could be one way to understand the
materials. However, the work submitted must be your own. Copying from any source (from someone else, old
files, or solution manual!) and turning it in is not permitted. Penalties for copying/cheating range from receiving a
0 on the assignment to receiving an F for the course.
Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Section 1, Academic Dishonesty
Cheating or plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. The University functions to promote the cognitive and
psychosocial development of all students. Therefore, all work submitted by a student must represent her/ his own
ideas, concepts, and current understanding. Academic dishonesty also includes submitting substantial portions of
the same academic course work to more than one course for credit without prior permission of the instructor(s).
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