Combination of lecture and laboratory sessions. Lectures will provide traditional theory. Laboratory sessions will employ formative practical/assessment sheets.
Module Aim:
To familiarize the student with computer hardware, assembly language and programmable logic controllers.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1
Understand the basic operations and structure of a computer system, and its components.
LO2
Have a simple understanding of assembly language code, and be able to develop simple programs
LO3
Understand the basic operation and structure of a programmable microcontroller. and demonstrate practical skills in developing simple circuits and programs for them.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
Module Content & Assessment
Indicative Content
Introduction and Fundamentals
Basic architecture of a generalised computer system - Input devices, output devices, secondary storage devices, CPU, ALU, bus systems, data, address and control bus, transfers between components (involving, and not involving main memory); consequences of changing data and address bus widths; Multiple buses on most systems.
CPU
Control unit, ALU, registers, instruction execution cycle.
Primary Memory
RAM and ROM characteristics; Structure and operation.
BIOS
POST; BIOS routines; ROM bootstrap loader.
The Bootstrap Process
RAM and ROM considerations; Bootstrap process; Future considerations?
Programmable Microcontrollers
Safety in the microcontroller laboratory; What is a microcontroller? - examples; ARDUINO (or equivalent); Sensors, Actuators, Transducers; Host computer; Stand alone operation; Shields;