Houston Community College System
Spring 2014
Digital Fundamentals, CETT 1425
Instructor, John Zerby
Course Description
Overview
This is an introductory course in digital technology. It presents the basic concepts of binary logic and digital
electronic circuits. This course provides the necessary foundation for subsequent more advanced and more
specialized courses in digital computing, digital data acquisition, digital communications, and other digital
technologies.
Course Objective
The objective of Digital Fundamentals is to help the student acquire a clear and practical understanding of the
fundamental electronic and mathematical principles that underlie all digital computers and related technologies.
The student will become familiar with number systems, binary arithmetic, Boolean algebra, electronic logic
building blocks, and both combinatorial and sequential logic. Laboratory exercises will complement the
theoretical principles presented.
Course Procedure
The course will be presented as alternating lectures and laboratory sessions. In the lectures the instructor will
explain theoretical electrical concepts and illustrate them by examples of circuits and calculations. In the
laboratory sessions the student will demonstrate these theoretical concepts for himself by building circuits and
observing their operation. The student will be asked to take written examinations during the course in order to
measure his progress in mastering the course material.
Student Requirements
Upon entering this course the student should know basic algebra, have previous practice in reading and solving
scientific problems, and have completed or be concurrently enrolled in CETT 1403, DC Circuits.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student should understand
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The distinction between digital and analog values, functions, operations, and processes
Electronic representation of analog and digital variables
Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion
Serial and parallel data transfers
Number systems using positional notation
Binary codes for number representation
Binary arithmetic
Binary logic – AND, OR, NOT
Boolean algebra, truth tables
Combinatorial logic using AND, OR, NOT, NAND, and NOR gates
Simplification of logic functions – Boolean algebra, Karnaugh Maps
Building blocks of electronic logic -- gates and flip-flops
Logic families – TTL, CMOS, specifications, data sheets
Digital integrated circuit technologies – SSI, MSI, LSI
Combinational logic functions – add, encode, decode, convert, multiplex, de-multiplex,
Sequential logic functions using flip-flops, counters, and shift registers
Types and applications of binary counters
Types and applications of shift registers
Solid state memory technologies and specifications
1
Houston Community College System
Spring 2014
Digital Fundamentals, CETT 1425
Instructor, John Zerby
Class Administration
Instructor can be contacted as follows:
Office hours: Mon - Wed 2:30 - 4:30 PM, Room 100, Science and Technology Building, NE Campus.
Telephone: (office) 713-718-6467, (home) 713-681-3365
E-mail: (office) john.zerby@hccs.edu, (home) jczerby@aol.com
Class meets twice weekly. Generally, there will be lecture sessions and lab sessions in an alternating
sequence. See the published schedule for class time and room number.
Absence, tardiness. If you are absent or late for a class, you will miss some course material. It is your
responsibility to stay current with the course material by reading the textbook assignments during your
absence. If you need help, see your instructor.
Cell phones
Cell phones and other electronic devices will not be allowed in class. Turn your cell phone off, and put it away
while class is in session. You may not use a cell phone as a calculator.
Textbook: Floyd, Thomas L., Digital Fundamentals, Tenth Edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2009.
Lab manual: Lab assignments provided by instructor.
Calculator: Each student will need a scientific pocket calculator. Please bring your calculator to each class
every day. You will be required to make calculations during lectures and during labs.
Lab exercises will be as much as possible coordinated with the lectures. For each exercise, data sheets and
questions are to be completed and incorporated into a written report. Reports are due one week later. Lab work
will not be accepted if late. Laboratory work will be graded on written and oral communication as well as
technical content and form.
Quizzes will be frequent and unannounced. Quizzes will take 10 - 15 minutes and cover current topics. There
will be no make-up quizzes.
Three major exams will be given during the semester, approximately one every three or four weeks; dates are
shown in the schedule. Exams will take approximately two hours and will cover all material presented since the
previous exam. There will be no make-up exams, except in special circumstances approved in advance by the
instructor.
A final exam will be given at the end of the semester. It will take two hours and will cover all material presented
in the course. You must take the final exam to pass the course.
Grading will be as follows:
Labs
30 per cent
Quizzes
10 per cent
Exams
Final Exam
30 per cent
30 per cent
A: 90 - 100; B: 80 - 89; C: 70-79; D: 60-69; F: 59 and below. A grade of W will be given for students who
withdraw from the course on or before March 31, 2014, 4:30 PM. A student who decides not to complete the
course, but does not submit a drop form, will receive a grade of FX.
A Portfolio of all graded work -- quizzes, exams, and lab reports -- will be maintained by each student during
the semester, and submitted to the instructor at the end of the semester.
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Houston Community College System
Spring 2014
Digital Fundamentals, CETT 1425
Instructor, John Zerby
HCC System Policies
Students should refer to the Student Handbook for school policies and procedures, available in print or on line
at the HCCS web site.
Excessive absence will be treated according to College policy as stated under “Class Attendance”, p. 3 of the
Student Handbook. For this course (4 credit, 16 weeks) the instructor may drop you from the class for more
than four absences. If you know you will miss a class, or if one or more absences are unavoidable, such as for
a work assignment or illness, confer with your instructor.
Cheating on exams or quizzes will not be tolerated. Any student who either gives or receives answers to test
questions or uses notes or other unauthorized material during a test will be subject to immediate disciplinary
action in accordance with College policy. See “Scholastic Dishonesty”, p. 13 of the Student Handbook.
Cell phones and other electronic devices will not be allowed in class. Turn your cell phone off, and put it away
while class is in session. You may not use your Smart Phone as a calculator during exams.
Students with qualifying disabilities, who require reasonable accommodations, should contact the Disability
Services Office at the college. Faculty members are only authorized to provide accommodations requested by
the Disability Services Office.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve
teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of researchbased questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your
professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
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Houston Community College System
Spring 2014
Week
1
Mon
Digital Fundamentals, CETT 1425
Date
Session
Topic
Instructor, John Zerby
Description
1st
2nd
Ch 1
Ch 1
Introductory concepts, digital / analog
Arithmetic operations, logical operations, integrated circuits
1st
2nd
Holiday
Ch 2
Number systems, arithmetic operations, and codes
Mon
1st
2nd
Ch 3
Lab 1, 2
Logic Gates, IC families
Basic Logic Gates, TTL Electrical Specifications
Mon
1st
2nd
Ch 4
Ch 4
Boolean algebra, laws, rules, truth tables, equations
Simplification, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh Maps
Mon
1st
2nd
Exam 1
Exam 1
Ch 1,2,3,4
Return graded exams and work exam in class
Mon
1st
2nd
Holiday
Lab 3
Exclusive OR circuits
Mon
1st
2nd
Ch5
Ch6
Combinational Logic Analysis, timing diagrams
Functions of Combinational Logic
Mon
1st
2nd
Lab 4, 5
Lab 6,7
Binary to octal decoder, Octal to binary encoder
Gray to Binary Converter, Binary adder
Holiday
Spring Break
1st
2nd
Exam 2
Exam 2
Ch 4,5,6
Return graded exams and work exam in class
1st
2nd
Ch7
Lab 8, 9
Latches, Fliip-flops, and Timers
Introduction to Flip-flops, Monostable multivibrator
1st
2nd
Ch8
Lab 10,11
Counters
Introductions to Counters, MSI counters
1st
2nd
Ch8
Lab 12,13
Counters
Design of special counters, Gray Code Counter
1st
2nd
Ch 9
Lab 14
Shift Registers
Shift register counters
1st
2nd
Exam 3
Exam 3
Ch 7,8,9
Return graded exams and work exam in class
1st
2nd
Ch 10
Review
Memory and Storage
Review for final exam
1st
2nd
Final Exam
None
Ch 1 - 10
No class
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Mon
3
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7
8
Mon
9
Mon
10
Mon
11
Mon
12
Mon
13
Mon
14
Mon
15
Mon
16
Mon
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