Physics/Computing 300 -- Electronics Laboratory II

Course Tools and Learning Materials

All of the information for this course and all of the available electronic resources are on the course website. I've tried to make it as complete as possible, so that you only have to look in one place for anything relevant to the course. If you find any other resources that are particularly useful, let me know.

You'll need to get a lab notebook for this course. This is very common in science and engineering disciplines, since it develops the habit of keeping all of your observations, thoughts, data, and other information in one place. You'll use notebooks for several electronics labs, and you can re-use notebooks if they have empty space in them since real-life information isn't split into courses. If you want to use the notebook for notes in the lecture, you're welcome to do so.

Course Description:	Experiments in interfacing analog inputs and analog output transducers to digital systems. Resistive, self-generating, digital, intelligent and semiconductor based sensors. Motors, solenoids, relays, and other actuators. Controlling AC power with solid state relays, thyristors and triacs. Operational amplifiers, bridge circuits, and other signal conditioning techniques. Design considerations such as minimizing noise. Analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters.

Prerequisite:	PC200°


Enrollment:	17

Learning Objectives:	By the end of this course, you should be able to:	Read data sheets for electronic components to determine how to use them Identify common operational amplifier circuits and explain their operation Design circuitry to convert output from a sensor to a voltage which falls within a specified range Design circuitry to control an actuator from an input signal which falls within a specified range Suggest alternative ways to solve data acquisition and control problems Break down a problem into modules which can be tackled indivudually before being combined into a complete solution Simulate circuits to demonstrate predicted operation to aid in design Create block diagrams for circuits and sub-circuits to explain complex ciruit designs
Learning Objectives:	By the end of this course, you should be able to:
Course Overview and Approach/Framework:	This is a lab course. That means that most of your learning will happen through your hands-on experiences in the lab. The lectures and other on-line documents have been chosen to give you the background you will need to prepare you for the labs. This course requires only PC/CP200 electronic experience, although some things will be easier if you have also taken PC221. If you haven't, then you may need to rely more on some of the online resources. Within a few weeks you should have caught up on the important points. At the end of this course you will get a detailed, anonymous evaluation to fill out, where you can indicate your opinion on many aspects of the course. This is one of the most important resources to help me improve the course each time I teach it.


Course/Lab Instructor:	Mr. Terry Sturtevant
	E-mail:	[tsturtevant@wlu.ca]
	Office:	N2092A
	Ext:	2049
	Office Hours:	By appointment

Text:	required reading will be in the Reference Material section of the course web page

Web Page:	http://denethor.wlu.ca/pc300/

Contact Hours:	Lecture	Friday 8:30-9:20 in N1059
		The lecture will review equipment and relevant component information for upcoming labs. As the lecture replaces most of the pre-lab that would normally occur at the beginning of a lab period, it is critical that all students attend the lecture.

	Labs	Lab 1: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-2:20 in N2082 The lab is in two parts; all students must attend both parts each week. Lab attendance is mandatory. The labs build upon each other. If you miss a lab, you will have to make it up before you do the next lab.

Student Evaluation:	There are several different types of assessment that will happen in this course; some of them are individual and some of them will be collective; i.e. you will work with a partner or in a group and you will all get the same mark. No single method of assessment is best for contributing to your learning, so the variety reflects that.

Marking Scheme:
	30%	Lab demonstrations (groups of two) work demonstrated at every lab every lab will indicate what is to be demonstrated all labs weighted equally see Lab Demonstrations for requirements Each lab will have points at which you have to show me that you have accomplished the required task(s). Usually they also require you to explain something you have learned in your own words to verify that you've understood the key points.
	20%	Postlabs There are different types of post-lab requirements for different labs.
	? %	Lab notebook summaries (individual) all work for every lab including prelab exercises, lab notes and results, postlab exercises, and summaries all labs weighted equally see Lab Notebook for requirements The notebook is the vehicle for you to record all of what you learn for future reference. You'll be able to use it for quizzes, so it should be your most vital resource. The questions and summaries that you hand in ensure that what you have recorded for your own reference is useful and correct.
	? %	Building blocks (groups of two) new for 2014 blocks demonstrated at beginning of selected labs all blocks weighted equally Some labs will require building blocks to be created and saved for later use.
	?%	Simulations (individual) new for 2014 simlation schematic and output handed in at beginning of selected labs all simulations weighted equally
	25%	Quizzes (individual) There are two different types of quizzes; in lecture and on MyLearningSpace.
	? %	MyLS quizzes (individual) new for 2014 five to ten "5 minute" quizzes the quizzes will have a window of more than a day with more than one attempt allowed the quiz is open lab notebook the quiz format will be multiple choice or similar; typically one to four questions The format allows students to review mistakes and re-try.
	? %	Lecture quizzes (individual) five to ten "5 minute" quizzes the quiz is written at the end of the lecture period the quiz is open lab notebook calculators, computers and PDAs are not allowed. the quiz format will be short answer; typically one to four questions These will be given in the lecture, and clarify whether individual students have mastered critical concepts
	25%	Project (groups of two) Students who are taking PC319 concurrently with PC300 should take note of the potential for a combined project before forming their lab group. Your lab group and your project group do not have to be the same. see Design Project for requirements and a detailed marking scheme


Labs and Project:	Due Date (week of)	Component
	Sept. 7	*Labs start Thursday September 10* Lab: Introduction to Operational Amplifiers
	Sept. 14	Lab: Operational Amplifiers
	Sept. 21	Lab: Analog Output Transducers
	Sept. 28	Lab: Resistive Sensors and Signal Conditioning
	Oct. 5	Lab: Controlling AC Power with Solid State Relays
	Oct. 12	Reading Week
	Oct. 19	Lab: Signal Conditioning
	Oct. 26	Lab: Other Sensors
	Nov. 2	Lab: Digital to Analog and Analog to Digital Converters
	Nov. 9	Project : Design Specification, Block Diagram, Schedule
	Nov. 16	Project: Schedule and Progress Review
	Nov. 23	Project: Schedule and Progress Review
	Nov. 30	Project: Schedule and Progress Review
	Dec. 7	Project: Demonstration and Documentation Last lab period is Dec. 8.




Communication techniques:	maintain a research lab notebook design and execute formal demonstrations of circuits and software documentation standards for circuit designs on-line project documentation (web based)

Design project:	design, simulation, and prototype implementation of a simple data acquisition or control system circuit

Accessible Learning Students:	Students who are colour blind should identify themselves to the lab instructor at the start of the first lab period. Students with disabilities who require classroom and/or laboratory accommodations should identify themselves to the course instructor as soon as possible; preferably before their first lab period. We assume all students requiring academic accommodations will have all accommodations approved by the Accessible Learning Office.

Physics/Computing 300 -- Electronics Laboratory II

Course Tools and Learning Materials

Resources