The design lab uses the 68000 microprocessor and Altera PLDs, PADs, PCB design software and Microchip PIC microcontrollers to study various aspects of hardware and software microprocessor systems design. Each module consisted of two lectures, one by Professor Burleson and one by a guest lecturer from the computer industry. The industrial guests spanned a wide range of topics listed below. DEKA manufactures electro-mechanical systems for medical applications. This lecture describes the manufacture of micromachined accelerometer chips for use in automobiles.
Microchip manufactures a family of low-cost microcontrollers and support chips.
Tom Kuchta, Cadence Design Systems, Chelmsford, MA . Cadence provides CAD tools for the design and manufacture of a wide variety of electronic systems and components. In addition, donations from Microchip and Altera provided hardware and software for the lab. The course has a WWW homepage from which various course materials can be downloaded. Students have participated in the development of this Web page, each group presenting an HTML page for their final report.