Curriculum Development
It is common practice that the curriculum of any subject is developed by the lecturers who are teaching that
subject by completing the following table.
The important items in developing the curriculum are the aims, learning outcomes, contents, learning
resources and assessment methods.
Title
Code
Level
Credit rating
Prerequisites
Type
Aims
Learning
outcomes/objectives
Content
Teaching and learning
strategies
Learning support
Assessment
Brief description of module .
and/or aims
Area examination boards
Module team/authors
Semester offered
Date of first approval
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this
version
Version number
Replacement for previous
module
Field for which module is
acceptable and status in
that field
Course(s) for which module
is acceptable and status in
course
School Home
External examiner
An example of curriculum for a course in digital electronics
Title
Code
Level
Credit rating
Prerequisites
Type
Aims
Learning
outcomes/objectives
Digital Electronics
EO124
1
30
Normal entry requirements.
Triple module over one academic year
To provide concepts that underpin the disciplines of digital electronics and microprocessor
systems
To introduce the student to using VHDL as a tool to describe the function of digital circuits
and produce designs suitable for implementation on PLDs.
To use programmable logic to implement various digital designs
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:








Content
perform binary and hexadecimal calculations and conversions.
design combinational circuits.
design simple synchronous circuits including counters and state machines.
use VHDL to produce digital designs suitable for implementation on PLDs.
program and use PLDs to implement digital logic designs.
show an awareness of various families of MSI and LSI TTL chips.
appreciate practical issues in the design of digital systems.
appreciate the basic concepts of microprocessor and microcontroller systems.
Combinational Logic Systems
Number systems: Binary, decimal and hexadecimal conversions and calculations
Basic logic gates: Truth tables, Boolean equations.
Combinational logic circuit design: General hierarchical logic design methodology
minimisation using Karnaugh maps and Boolean algebra, De-Morgan’s laws.
Simulation of gates and combinational logic designs (eg: using
Implementation and testing of designs using a suitable version of TTL series chips.
Practical aspects of using logic chips: data sheets, current and voltage characteristics,
timing issues, output types, compatibility, families etc..
Sequential logic design
Flip-flops: SR, JK, D, T types, truth tables, excitation tables and device operation.
Flip-flop applications: Registers and counters (asynchronous); MSI and LSI devices
Synchronous counter and sequence generator design method
Programmable logic devices.
PLD types and architectures. Advantages and disadvantages. Use of a simple PLD in
implementing logic designs. Programming PLDs.
VHDL
Using VHDL to produce designs for implementation on a suitable PLD.
Design entities and architectural bodies. Behavioural, dataflow and structural descriptions.
Implementation of combinational and sequential logic designs.
Implementation of bidirectional and tristate lines.
Simulation of designs using clocks, hotkeys etc..
Introduction to Microprocessor Systems
Overview of computer systems architectures, a simple microprocessor-based system, the
Teaching and learning
strategies
Learning support
Assessment
Brief description of module
and/or aims
Area examination boards
Module team/authors
Semester offered
Date of first approval
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this
version
Version number
Replacement for previous
module
Field for which module is
acceptable and status in
that field
Course(s) for which module
is acceptable and status in
course
School Home
External examiner
stored programme concept.
Differences between microprocessors and microcontrollers. Brief history of microprocessors
and microcontrollers.
Basic microprocessor system architecture, principles of operation. Introduction to some
assembly language instructions.
Principles of address decoding, Simple designs using both discrete TTL chips and PLDs.
Lectures supporting practically orientated course – labs using simulator and VHLD compiler.
PLD programmer and PLD testbeds.
Electronic labs: Logic chips, breadboards, test equipment.
Computer labs: simulator software, VHDL compiler, PLD programmer, PLD testbeds.
Student Central
Reading list:
Floyd, 2000, Digital Fundamentals, Prentice Hall, 0-13-085268-6
Zwolinski M, 2000, Digital System Design with VHDL, Prentice Hall, 0-201-36063-2
Roth C, 1998, Digital Systems Design using VHDL, PWS, 0-534-95099-X
Skahill K, 1996, VHDL for Programmable Logic, Addison Wesley, 0-201-89586-2
50% Assignment, 50% Examination
This course is intended to be practically orientated. In the first part, students will simulate
simple gates and combinational designs before undertaking a design-build-test project using
discrete TTL chips.
In the second part the designs will be based around VHDL descriptions and the
implementation of PLD solutions particularly regarding sequential logic.
Electrical Engineering
C S Knight, B. Baha
1
2005
Not Applicable
2005
1
EO105, EO213 and Digital Project part of EO108
MEng/BEng (Hons) Digital Electronics, Computing and Communications – Compulsory
BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering – Compulsory
BEng (Hons) Audio Electronics – Compulsory
Engineering
Not Applicable