digital electronics education - openstax cnx · 2018-05-22 · the objective of advanced digital...

OpenStax-CNX module: m17189 1

Digital Electronics Education*

Don Wilcher

This work is produced by OpenStax-CNX and licensed under the

Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0�

BITS AND BYTESEnhancing Digital Electronics Education with New Product Development PracticesDon WilcherAdjunct Instructor: ITT Technical InstituteSr. Project Engineer: Hunter Fan CompanyAbstract:The objective of Advanced Digital Electronics courses is to bridge basic logic gates (combinational cir-

cuits) with technical topics related to binary counter topologies (Asynchronous & Synchronous), shift reg-isters, memory, and DSP (Digital Signal Processors) which fall under the sequential devices umbrella. Thefundamental design tools of using Boolean Algebra, K-Maps, Truth Tables, and Finite State Machines (FSM)aid in illustrating how combinational circuits can assist in the construction of such sequential digital devicesmentioned. To provide a synthesis of how these digital building blocks are used in the creation of industrialequipment and consumer products, New Product Development (NPD) practices can be integrated quiteseamlessly into the curriculum. This paper will discuss how NPD can be introduced to advanced 2yearComputer and Electronics Engineering Technology (CEET) Students via a Digital Design Project.

The NPD ProcessThe product creation process consists of fundamentally conceiving an idea for cultivation and eventually

the development of the �nished good. According to Research Design Experts, the professional technologistis confronted by many design challenges in the technical environment.

[1] Technologies have rapidly, and current engineering practice features a high level of integration oftechnologies that were once regarded as separate technical domains. This means that the designs of manyproducts require skills and knowledge that cannot be encompassed by a single individual, or even a smallgroup of individuals. Engineering design has become a team activity.

The New Product Development Process is a living design machine that embodies a multidisciplinaryteam approach using the skill-sets of engineers, technicians, and technologists. Figure 1 illustrates a [2]Whiteboard approach of product creation. The �rst [3] Gate of NPD is de�ning the problem for which thismultidisciplinary team will solve through product creation. To illustrate this �rst Gate event, advancedCEET students are introduced to using Multisim software as virtual analysis tool for validating a possiblesolution to a given Lab Project problem. For example, a 4Bit Digital Controller was needed to provide avisual status of when a four bit serial shift register cells are �lled with binary 1's (e.g. 1111).

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Figure 1. �Whiteboard� NPD DiagramTo develop a solution to this Lab Project challenge, System Block Diagrams were introduced as a Problem

De�nition tool to CEET Students. A System Block Diagram is primarily a graphical design tool wherebya block represents a subcircuit such as a 2 Input NAND logic gate attached to another block identi�ed asa LED circuit. To show the interconnecting relationship between the 2 blocks an �arrow� symbol is used.This basic logic gate circuit System Block Diagram is illustrated in Figure 2. By graphically de�ning thesubcircuits that makeup the �nal product of a 4Bit Digital Controller, basic principles of how digital �ip-�opsoperate are reinforced during the Design and Problem De�nition phase of the NPD process.



Figure 2. A 2-Input NAND Gate with LED Output Circuit System Block DiagramPrior to building the virtual controller using Multisim, each student had to create a System Block diagram

for an Instructor's Signature (the Author) Sign O�. To create a design environment within the lab, studentswere encouraged to work in teams or to seek advice from their peers if individual lab participation wasdesired. After the 4Bit Digital Controller was validated within Multisim for correct circuit functionalityand signed o� by the Instructor, the students then proceeded to Gate 2 event. This next phase of theNPD process is to build a physical working prototype of the digital controller. The solderless breadboard isone of the commonly used prototyping tools employed by Electrical Engineers, Electronic Technicians, andTechnologists to validate a concept's feasibility. To illustrate, the author discussed an advanced EmbeddedControls development product using Powerline Technology for operating a ceiling fan with a remote hardwiredwall control for which he was the Lead Product Developer. The communications protocol for allowing the wallcontrol to talk with the ceiling fan's receiver, the AC motor, and light bulb driver circuits were validatedusing a solderless breadboard. Figure 3 shows the low �delity prototype ceiling fan embedded Powerlinecontroller built on a solderless breadboard. The emphasis of �circuit simulation� and �physical prototyping�and �testing� was the main theme of the advanced Digital Electronics course for the 10week quarter sessionalong with the introduction of the 2 discussed Product Development Gates of �Design� and �Build�.

Figure 1



Figure 3. Product Build and Test of a Powerline Based Ceiling Fan Controller using a Solderless Bread-board. Courtesy Arma Design

Prototyping ProductsAnother critical area in NPD is the ability to check the feasibility of a product concept with the aid

of a functional prototype. Marketing is responsible in most consumer products companies for establishingDesign Guidelines as it relates to key attributes of the target device. The Feasibility document capturesthese attributes along with projected volumes and piece cost for the speci�c product. In developing HumanMachine Interfaces (HID) for consumer appliances like cell-phones, co�ee makers, and pc tablets, sensingdevices & controls are in the background retrieving data and processing the equivalent bits and bytes basedon the HID interactions with the customer. The �rst step in validating a consumer product HID is tobuild a �Proof of Concept� (PoC) device. For electronic controls, the solderless breadboard along with�sneaking� circuits from other devices aid the Electronics Engineering Technician in building the PoC easilyand expediently. The sneaking circuit method consists of taking either speci�c components like LEDs,motors, & switches and using jumper wires attach to them to physically connect to the designer's coreelectronic circuit or subsystem. This technique rapidly expedites the product development process as wellas assists in proving a concept's feasibility. Therefore, the solderless breadboard and circuit building wasemphasized weekly to the students along with actual product build examples (Figure 3) and Figure 4.

Figure 4. Prototype Lighting Control circuit for a Ceiling Fan. Courtesy of Hunter Fan CompanyAs illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the tools used in an Academia setting are actually put into Industry

practice by engineers, technicians and technologists. The advanced Digital Electronics students were quitemotivated by these real world examples and product development techniques and were demonstrated in theirFinal Design Projects for the course. And to illustrate how the skills being obtained in an advanced DigitalElectronics course can be used in an entrepreneurial venture, a small NPD Logic Probe Kit developmentproject created by the Author for Electronics Technology Education and the Hobbyist market was discussed.Figure 5 shows the prototype Logic Probe Kit created by the Author. This practical NPD project illustrateshow a solderless breadboard circuit design can be transformed into a working printed circuit board versionfor additional testing and �nal product development.



Figure 5(a). Prototype 1.0 of Logic Probe

Figure 2

Figure 5(b). Final Logic Probe Kit



Final Design ProjectsThe last 2 weeks (weeks 9 and 10) of class were allocated for students to work on their Final Design

Projects. The 2 weeks allowed the students to obtain technical assistance as well as tips on Final DesignProject presentations to be completed in MS Power-point. The Final Design Project was graded on thefollowing rubrics.

1. Include Block Diagrams, Mind Maps2. Detailed circuit schematic diagrams3. Explanation of Core Digital and Analog Circuits4. References (Circuits, Circuit Theory, Internet sources)5. What problem the device is solving6. Prototyping techniques employed

In addition to the Power point document, actual product presentation and demonstration to the class wasrequired for a �nal grade as well. An example project designed, built and demonstrated to the class was a�Sun Up Alarm Clock� developed by James Hamm. The alarm clock had the following unique attributes forthe consumer.

• The Sun-Up digital Alarm Clock with Multi-sound snooze is an application designed for people whocan not seem to wake after hitting snooze multiple times.

• The Clock has eight di�erent alarm sounds.• It will have the option of alarming in the sun-up mode or in regular time mode.

Out of the �ve rubrics outlined previously, Bullet 5 was emphasized greatly because in all NPD projects,products are designed to solve problems. Therefore, James' Problem De�nition which he used as his Con-clusion consisted of the following description.

�After countless mornings of over sleeping because of the same old sound coming from my alarm clock,this new idea brings hope to an end of the madness. The brain has many sensors and one sound hits onesensor, with this idea I hope to highlight the sensor that are not being used for everyday wake pattern andbring about a new way to start your mornings on time.�

In building his PoC, James used 2 prototyping techniques, solderless breadboarding, and sneaking circuits.The transistor relay driver circuit was built using the solderless breadboard where as the core digital circuitconsisted of an actual alarm clock's Seven Segment LED display and control switch functions using thesneaking circuit approach. This technique was highly emphasized because of the short product developmentcycle for the class (only 10weeks per quarter). Also, an �o� the shelf� electronics kit for kids (and adults) wasincorporated into his design for creating �eight� selectable sounds for the alarm, using the sneaking circuittechnique. Figure 6 shows his circuit schematic diagrams along with the prototype product.



Figure 6(a). James' Circuit Schematic representation of the Sun Up Alarm Clock

Figure 3

Figure 6(b). Circuit Schematic representation of the Sun Up Alarm Clock' Alarm IC



Figure 6(c). James Hamm and his ET285 Final Design Project �Sun Up Alarm Clock�

Figure 4

Figure 6(d). Prototype Project Up CloseAlthough, the circuit schematic diagrams look very crude, the main emphasis behind the project is to

allow the student to create an electronics product from a �blank sheet of paper� following Industry basedNPD practices. Also, by allowing the student creative freedoms, they seem to take ownership in their learningthrough serious play [4].

Course Continual ImprovementsBased on student participation and feedback on the Advanced Digital Electronics Course (ET285), new

lab projects will be developed with emphasis on NPD prototyping techniques and testing elements discussedevery class session. With a basic knowledge of the Product Creation Process (PCP) and how digital circuits'�Bits & Bytes� assist in the product's development the course material presented will provide more relevancein the students' technical studies. Last, this knowledge in NPD will also enhance their academic portfoliofor presenting to potential hiring managers from Industry based corporations as well.

References[1]. Waldron, M.B, and Waldron, K.J.,eds (1996), Mechanical Design:Theory & Methodology, New York,

NY, Springer.[2]. Flaim, K.B., (2008), �The Napkin Sketch�, Fast Company Magazine.[3]. Cooper, R.G., (2005), Product Leadership: Pathways to Pro�table Innovation, 2nd ed, New York,

NY, Basic Books.



[4]. Schrage, M.,(2000),Serious Play: How the Worlds Best Companies Simulate to Innovate, Boston,Massachusetts, Harvard Business School Press.

About the AuthorDon Wilcher is a full time Embedded Controls Engineer employing NPD, Mechatronics and Physical

Computing techniques for wireless-embedded consumer electronics and appliance products of the future aswell as Engineering Education Instructor and Author. Additional information on his projects can be found

at the website: http://www.family-science.net1

1http://www.family-science.net/


digital electronics education - openstax cnx · 2018-05-22 · the objective of advanced digital...

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