This paper describes a design methodology useful for team-based (cooperative) and problembased em... more This paper describes a design methodology useful for team-based (cooperative) and problembased embedded systems education. The design methodology includes a detailed design convention and formalized hardware and code design reviews where the quantity and nature of each design errors are documented. Reviews are held before design implementation and dramatically reduce development time by aborting the far too common cycle of develop, test, change, and test again. The design methodology presented here yields a high-quality product within a short design cycle, while mimicking design methodologies found in industry. Furthermore, data obtained in design reviews can be used to improve the instruction quality and track the maturity of the student design skills. An added benefit of the methodology is development and exercise of the students' teaming and communication skills often neglected by traditional engineering curricula. The proposed methodology has been used in a senior-level embedded systems course at Mississippi State University. In this course, student teams design, build, and troubleshoot a microcontroller-based project composed of common embedded systems peripherals, including I/O and electromechanical devices, industry standard communication networks, and complex digital integrated circuits. The target design is progressive requiring each successive subsystem to be incorporated without disturbing previously completed subsystems. Details of the methodology as it relates to this course offering, sample design review forms, collected data and discussion are presented. Course evaluations were obtained from students and external reviewers, and the results show that offering was well received and achieved its educational objectives.
The proliferation of Internet access has drastically changed the way people do business, recreate... more The proliferation of Internet access has drastically changed the way people do business, recreate, learn, and do their daily tasks. It is widely believed that the Internet and its successors will be called upon to enable interactivity between devices that today are mundane. These interconnected devices are commonly called Internet appliances. Specifically, an Internet appliance is a machine designed for a specific function that also has a built-in Web-enabled computer. Internet appliances include small devices created especially for e-mail and Web surfing, as well as such diverse products as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, Web TV, and Web-enabled refrigerators and microwaves. Mississippi State University's has recently revised its undergraduate computer engineering (CPE) program with input from alumni and advisory employers. The CPE program will have a focus on embedded computer systems. Embedded systems form a rich application source through which the CPE education can be made relevant. Embedded computer systems are a timely subject that is immediately useful to students in their senior design projects. Furthermore, a large number of our CPE graduates currently use or design embedded computer systems in their jobs. With the availability of low-cost, designer-friendly Internet connectivity, the design course is centered on the design, prototyping, and debugging of an embedded systems for internet appliances. The target application of the first offering is a personal weather station web server. Evolving from an earlier course on embedded systems that are more traditional, or "freestanding" [1]-[2], this new course relies on cooperative, team-based learning and design, and seamlessly resumes where prerequisite courses ended. Design in the course requires formalized hardware and software design inspections [2]-[4]. The design inspections serve as a convenient time for software product measures to be collected. The quantitative measures document the nature, origin, and other vital characteristics of each design defect and are frequently used in industry [5] [6]. Finally, the design practices described in this paper help students to develop teaming and communication skills that are often neglected by traditional engineering curricula.
is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mis... more is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University. He received his BSEE and MSEE from the University of Alabama, where his thesis centered on microcontroller education tools. His doctoral research focuses on asynchronous circuit synthesis. In the past he has served as a graduate research assistant at Mississippi State University as well as the instructor of record of multiple courses at both UA and MSU.
The 2002 45th Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems, 2002. MWSCAS-2002.
A high speed CMOS current-mode interpolating flash analog-to-digital converter capable is propose... more A high speed CMOS current-mode interpolating flash analog-to-digital converter capable is proposed. The design uses generic cells to generate all current comparator inputs. The proposed interpolation technique reduces the transistor count and power consumption of a pure flash implementation while improving SNR, SFDR, and DNL. Five-bit interpolating flash and pure flash designs were implemented in 0.5 mm CMOS to compare performance characteristics.
Smaller and smaller semiconductor integrated circuits are being designed. Traditional semiconduct... more Smaller and smaller semiconductor integrated circuits are being designed. Traditional semiconductor fabrication processes are still extremely effective. However, these methods' effectiveness will come to a halt as components shrink to atomic size. Quantum physics then start to govern device behavior. Thus a radical shift, hence upheaval (change is never easy), in computing is a foregone conclusion. But the resulting quantum computers will be tremendously powerful. As our circuits become smaller, the heat they generate becomes harder to control. Much of this heat is a result of the logic function itself, rather than simple resistive dissipation. Therefore, new forms of logic must be considered. Conservative reversible logic (CRL) can reduce the problem of energy dissipated due to logic functions and can be utilized to build quantum computers. Before that can happen, research must be done on how to utilize these gates. Also, a usable synthesis process must be designed. Unparalleled computing power, power savings, and resources are being uncovered. The paper discusses CRL-based gates. They are only models, but models must exist to meet the technology developments required to build quantum computers.
Demands and stresses on a dual-career couple can be great. When the couple works in the same depa... more Demands and stresses on a dual-career couple can be great. When the couple works in the same department, it starts to become difficult to separate professional and person life. Each dual-career couple must work out their own arrangements for dealing with communication, confidentiality, and emotional support. However, each person in the couple must strive from the first day to maintain a separate professional identity and manage the inevitable conflicts of interest that will arise when two people work in such close proximity to each other. The authors share some experiences and advice on dealing with dual careers within the same department. Prologue The quintessential western movie ends with the showdown on the deserted, dusty Main Street. Two gunslingers, a cowboy and a cowgirl, stand nose-to-nose, grimacing with anger and resolve. The duelers stare down each other with steely eyes and dirt-stained faces. The cowgirl with the white hat says confidently, "this town ain't big enough for the both of us". The cowboy, dressed in black from head to toe except the shiny silver belt buckle like a serving tray, responds with "Then, let's do something about it."
This paper describes work-in-progress on a platform-independent toolkit for sonification of scien... more This paper describes work-in-progress on a platform-independent toolkit for sonification of scientific data. The data being displayed and the sonification control information can be provided in real-time and distributed over a wide area via Ethernet. The toolkit allows the designer to process, scale, and map data to a wide variety of sonification parameters and methods. Sonification processing and control commands are stored in standard XML syntax files and can be applied or modified in real-time. The toolkit described here is easily added to existing visualization applications and can be quickly expanded to use new data formats and sonification modalities. Early results of interactive auditory and visual analysis of an example domain are described, and extensive user tests are being planned. 1.
Typically machine vision systems estimate ranges using stereoscopic vision systems or specialized... more Typically machine vision systems estimate ranges using stereoscopic vision systems or specialized range detectors. Although these methods are effective, they are expensive. In this paper, a single camera range estimation algorithm is developed for a low-cost machine vision system that uses off-the-shelf components. This algorithm uses the perspective transformation and a priori knowledge of scene’s objects. The perspective or imaging transformation maps a point, ( X, Y, Z), from the three-dimensional world coordinate system into an image point, ( u, v, w), in a two-dimensional image plane. Assuming that the single camera’s optical axis lies along the w and Z axes as shown in Figure 1, the image plane lies at ( u, v, 0). In the Cartesian coordinate system, the perspective transformation is nonlinear. However, the perspective transformation can be linearized by mapping Cartesian coordinates into homogeneous coordinates. A point, w, with Cartesian coordinates, ( X, Y, Z), has the homog...
Active and cooperative learning techniques have been researched extensively and shown to be effec... more Active and cooperative learning techniques have been researched extensively and shown to be effective teaching tools. This paper describes how a senior/introductory graduate course in very large scale integration (VLSI) design was adapted to make extensive use of active and cooperative learning techniques. Heterogeneous student teams are formed by the instructor early in the semester. These teams work cooperatively on nearly every aspect of the course, including homework, lab assignments, a semester project, and active exercises in lecture. Students are guided through exercises to improve teaming, communication, and leadership skills. Positive interdependence and thoughtful reflection on student teaming and communication abilities are encouraged throughout the semester. This paper gives examples of practical active and cooperative learning exercises that have been used with success for eight consecutive semesters in Mississippi State University’s VLSI design course.
Knuth’s literate programming paradigm positions source code as a work of literature for which com... more Knuth’s literate programming paradigm positions source code as a work of literature for which communication to a human is prioritized over communication to a computer. A primary pedagogical value of literate programming lies with the act of writing, especially goodwriting, leading to good thinking. Issueswith early literate programming tool implementations plagued the classroom adoption of literate programming. Advances in technology havewarranted a reinvestigation of the benefits of the paradigm. To complement existing inquiry of literate programming in computer programming courses, we investigate, “How can literate programming support student learning inmicroprocessors and digital system design courses?” In our examination of microprocessors, the instructor used principles of literate programming during in-class demonstrations of assembly programming. In our examination of digital system design, students used the tool to engage in literate programming while writing in a hardware d...
Proceedings of the 43rd IEEE Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (Cat.No.CH37144), 2000
The output of practical ADCs contains harmonic distortion due to mismatched circuit components. I... more The output of practical ADCs contains harmonic distortion due to mismatched circuit components. In this paper, a method is developed which estimates an ADC's output frequency spectrum, SDR, and SNDR from the ADC's transfer function. An example is given which compares the developed method's results with existing methods and simulation
This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems des... more This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems design skills. Student teams design, build, and troubleshoot a microcontroller-based project composed of common embedded systems peripherals, including input/output and electromechanical devices, industry standard communication networks, and complex digital integrated circuits. The design experience is progressive, requiring each successive subsystem to be incorporated without disturbing previously completed subsystems. Furthermore, the design experience is based on a problem-based learning approach that motivates student learning and develops skills required by the student in a future professional capacity. These skills include designing to specification, use of third-party intellectual property, teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning skills. The design experience was offered to a cohort in conjunction with lectures using active learning techniques. Course evaluations were obtained from students and external reviewers, and the results show that the course was well received and achieved its educational objectives. Index Terms-Active learning, cooperative learning, design course, embedded systems, problem-based learning. I. INTRODUCTION E MBEDDED computer systems are quietly changing our world-the way we eat, play, work, and live. Embedded systems are used in a diverse range of products, including home appliances, automobiles, toys, and medical equipment. Embedded systems are located at the "front line" where technology interacts with the physical world. These systems measure temperature, motion, human response, and other inputs. They also control motors and other devices, and deliver information for human consumption. The movement of the last two decades toward more ubiquitous computing systems will continue, and embedded systems will become even more prominent in every aspect of technology and life [1]. Engineers comfortable with common embedded systems components, embedded systems design, and embedded system functions, such as data acquisition, processing, and delivery, will be well equipped for the future. Approaches to embedded systems education are as varied as the programs that contain them. Cheng et al. incorporated embedded systems modules into several courses in the computer science and electrical engineering curricula [2]. For example, the software engineering course concentrated on requirements
This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems des... more This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems design skills. Student teams design, build, and troubleshoot a microcontroller-based project composed of common embedded systems peripherals, including input/output and electromechanical devices, industry standard communication networks, and complex digital integrated circuits. The design experience is progressive, requiring each successive subsystem to be incorporated without disturbing previously completed subsystems. Furthermore, the design experience is based on a problem-based learning approach that motivates student learning and develops skills required by the student in a future professional capacity. These skills include designing to specification, use of third-party intellectual property, teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning skills. The design experience was offered to a cohort in conjunction with lectures using active learning techniques. Course evaluations were obtained from students and external reviewers, and the results show that the course was well received and achieved its educational objectives. Index Terms-Active learning, cooperative learning, design course, embedded systems, problem-based learning. I. INTRODUCTION E MBEDDED computer systems are quietly changing our world-the way we eat, play, work, and live. Embedded systems are used in a diverse range of products, including home appliances, automobiles, toys, and medical equipment. Embedded systems are located at the "front line" where technology interacts with the physical world. These systems measure temperature, motion, human response, and other inputs. They also control motors and other devices, and deliver information for human consumption. The movement of the last two decades toward more ubiquitous computing systems will continue, and embedded systems will become even more prominent in every aspect of technology and life [1]. Engineers comfortable with common embedded systems components, embedded systems design, and embedded system functions, such as data acquisition, processing, and delivery, will be well equipped for the future. Approaches to embedded systems education are as varied as the programs that contain them. Cheng et al. incorporated embedded systems modules into several courses in the computer science and electrical engineering curricula [2]. For example, the software engineering course concentrated on requirements
This paper describes work-in-progress on a platformindependent toolkit for sonification of scient... more This paper describes work-in-progress on a platformindependent toolkit for sonification of scientific data. The data being displayed and the sonification control information can be provided in real-time and distributed over a wide area via Ethernet. The toolkit allows the designer to process, scale, and map data to a wide variety of sonification parameters and methods. Sonification processing and control commands are stored in standard XML syntax files and can be applied or modified in real-time. The toolkit described here is easily added to existing visualization applications and can be quickly expanded to use new data formats and sonification modalities. Early results of interactive auditory and visual analysis of an example domain are described, and extensive user tests are being planned.
42nd Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (Cat. No.99CH36356), 2000
Although many dynamic element matching (DEM) digital to analog converters (DACs) have identical a... more Although many dynamic element matching (DEM) digital to analog converters (DACs) have identical architectures, analyses of DEM DACs have been specific to the DACÕs DEM technique. In this paper, a particular DEM DAC architecture is analyzed and criteria are developed for comparing this architectureÕs performance when various DEM techniques are applied to it.
Proceedings IEEE Computer Society Annual Symposium on VLSI. New Paradigms for VLSI Systems Design. ISVLSI 2002, 2002
Conservative and reversible logic gates are widely known to be compatible with revolutionary comp... more Conservative and reversible logic gates are widely known to be compatible with revolutionary computing paradigms such as optical and quantum computing. A fundamental conservative reversible logic gate is the Fredkin gate. This paper presents efficient adder circuits based on the Fredkin gate. Novel full adder circuits using Fredkin gates are proposed which have lower hardware complexity than the current state-of-the-art, while generating the additional signals required for carry skip adder architectures. The traditional ripple carry adder and several carry skip adder topologies are compared. Theoretical performance of each adder is determined and compared. Although the variable sized block carry skip adder is determined to have shorter delay than the fixed block size carry skip adder, the performance gains are not sufficient to warrant the required additional hardware complexity.
This paper describes a design methodology useful for team-based (cooperative) and problembased em... more This paper describes a design methodology useful for team-based (cooperative) and problembased embedded systems education. The design methodology includes a detailed design convention and formalized hardware and code design reviews where the quantity and nature of each design errors are documented. Reviews are held before design implementation and dramatically reduce development time by aborting the far too common cycle of develop, test, change, and test again. The design methodology presented here yields a high-quality product within a short design cycle, while mimicking design methodologies found in industry. Furthermore, data obtained in design reviews can be used to improve the instruction quality and track the maturity of the student design skills. An added benefit of the methodology is development and exercise of the students' teaming and communication skills often neglected by traditional engineering curricula. The proposed methodology has been used in a senior-level embedded systems course at Mississippi State University. In this course, student teams design, build, and troubleshoot a microcontroller-based project composed of common embedded systems peripherals, including I/O and electromechanical devices, industry standard communication networks, and complex digital integrated circuits. The target design is progressive requiring each successive subsystem to be incorporated without disturbing previously completed subsystems. Details of the methodology as it relates to this course offering, sample design review forms, collected data and discussion are presented. Course evaluations were obtained from students and external reviewers, and the results show that offering was well received and achieved its educational objectives.
The proliferation of Internet access has drastically changed the way people do business, recreate... more The proliferation of Internet access has drastically changed the way people do business, recreate, learn, and do their daily tasks. It is widely believed that the Internet and its successors will be called upon to enable interactivity between devices that today are mundane. These interconnected devices are commonly called Internet appliances. Specifically, an Internet appliance is a machine designed for a specific function that also has a built-in Web-enabled computer. Internet appliances include small devices created especially for e-mail and Web surfing, as well as such diverse products as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, Web TV, and Web-enabled refrigerators and microwaves. Mississippi State University's has recently revised its undergraduate computer engineering (CPE) program with input from alumni and advisory employers. The CPE program will have a focus on embedded computer systems. Embedded systems form a rich application source through which the CPE education can be made relevant. Embedded computer systems are a timely subject that is immediately useful to students in their senior design projects. Furthermore, a large number of our CPE graduates currently use or design embedded computer systems in their jobs. With the availability of low-cost, designer-friendly Internet connectivity, the design course is centered on the design, prototyping, and debugging of an embedded systems for internet appliances. The target application of the first offering is a personal weather station web server. Evolving from an earlier course on embedded systems that are more traditional, or "freestanding" [1]-[2], this new course relies on cooperative, team-based learning and design, and seamlessly resumes where prerequisite courses ended. Design in the course requires formalized hardware and software design inspections [2]-[4]. The design inspections serve as a convenient time for software product measures to be collected. The quantitative measures document the nature, origin, and other vital characteristics of each design defect and are frequently used in industry [5] [6]. Finally, the design practices described in this paper help students to develop teaming and communication skills that are often neglected by traditional engineering curricula.
is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mis... more is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University. He received his BSEE and MSEE from the University of Alabama, where his thesis centered on microcontroller education tools. His doctoral research focuses on asynchronous circuit synthesis. In the past he has served as a graduate research assistant at Mississippi State University as well as the instructor of record of multiple courses at both UA and MSU.
The 2002 45th Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems, 2002. MWSCAS-2002.
A high speed CMOS current-mode interpolating flash analog-to-digital converter capable is propose... more A high speed CMOS current-mode interpolating flash analog-to-digital converter capable is proposed. The design uses generic cells to generate all current comparator inputs. The proposed interpolation technique reduces the transistor count and power consumption of a pure flash implementation while improving SNR, SFDR, and DNL. Five-bit interpolating flash and pure flash designs were implemented in 0.5 mm CMOS to compare performance characteristics.
Smaller and smaller semiconductor integrated circuits are being designed. Traditional semiconduct... more Smaller and smaller semiconductor integrated circuits are being designed. Traditional semiconductor fabrication processes are still extremely effective. However, these methods' effectiveness will come to a halt as components shrink to atomic size. Quantum physics then start to govern device behavior. Thus a radical shift, hence upheaval (change is never easy), in computing is a foregone conclusion. But the resulting quantum computers will be tremendously powerful. As our circuits become smaller, the heat they generate becomes harder to control. Much of this heat is a result of the logic function itself, rather than simple resistive dissipation. Therefore, new forms of logic must be considered. Conservative reversible logic (CRL) can reduce the problem of energy dissipated due to logic functions and can be utilized to build quantum computers. Before that can happen, research must be done on how to utilize these gates. Also, a usable synthesis process must be designed. Unparalleled computing power, power savings, and resources are being uncovered. The paper discusses CRL-based gates. They are only models, but models must exist to meet the technology developments required to build quantum computers.
Demands and stresses on a dual-career couple can be great. When the couple works in the same depa... more Demands and stresses on a dual-career couple can be great. When the couple works in the same department, it starts to become difficult to separate professional and person life. Each dual-career couple must work out their own arrangements for dealing with communication, confidentiality, and emotional support. However, each person in the couple must strive from the first day to maintain a separate professional identity and manage the inevitable conflicts of interest that will arise when two people work in such close proximity to each other. The authors share some experiences and advice on dealing with dual careers within the same department. Prologue The quintessential western movie ends with the showdown on the deserted, dusty Main Street. Two gunslingers, a cowboy and a cowgirl, stand nose-to-nose, grimacing with anger and resolve. The duelers stare down each other with steely eyes and dirt-stained faces. The cowgirl with the white hat says confidently, "this town ain't big enough for the both of us". The cowboy, dressed in black from head to toe except the shiny silver belt buckle like a serving tray, responds with "Then, let's do something about it."
This paper describes work-in-progress on a platform-independent toolkit for sonification of scien... more This paper describes work-in-progress on a platform-independent toolkit for sonification of scientific data. The data being displayed and the sonification control information can be provided in real-time and distributed over a wide area via Ethernet. The toolkit allows the designer to process, scale, and map data to a wide variety of sonification parameters and methods. Sonification processing and control commands are stored in standard XML syntax files and can be applied or modified in real-time. The toolkit described here is easily added to existing visualization applications and can be quickly expanded to use new data formats and sonification modalities. Early results of interactive auditory and visual analysis of an example domain are described, and extensive user tests are being planned. 1.
Typically machine vision systems estimate ranges using stereoscopic vision systems or specialized... more Typically machine vision systems estimate ranges using stereoscopic vision systems or specialized range detectors. Although these methods are effective, they are expensive. In this paper, a single camera range estimation algorithm is developed for a low-cost machine vision system that uses off-the-shelf components. This algorithm uses the perspective transformation and a priori knowledge of scene’s objects. The perspective or imaging transformation maps a point, ( X, Y, Z), from the three-dimensional world coordinate system into an image point, ( u, v, w), in a two-dimensional image plane. Assuming that the single camera’s optical axis lies along the w and Z axes as shown in Figure 1, the image plane lies at ( u, v, 0). In the Cartesian coordinate system, the perspective transformation is nonlinear. However, the perspective transformation can be linearized by mapping Cartesian coordinates into homogeneous coordinates. A point, w, with Cartesian coordinates, ( X, Y, Z), has the homog...
Active and cooperative learning techniques have been researched extensively and shown to be effec... more Active and cooperative learning techniques have been researched extensively and shown to be effective teaching tools. This paper describes how a senior/introductory graduate course in very large scale integration (VLSI) design was adapted to make extensive use of active and cooperative learning techniques. Heterogeneous student teams are formed by the instructor early in the semester. These teams work cooperatively on nearly every aspect of the course, including homework, lab assignments, a semester project, and active exercises in lecture. Students are guided through exercises to improve teaming, communication, and leadership skills. Positive interdependence and thoughtful reflection on student teaming and communication abilities are encouraged throughout the semester. This paper gives examples of practical active and cooperative learning exercises that have been used with success for eight consecutive semesters in Mississippi State University’s VLSI design course.
Knuth’s literate programming paradigm positions source code as a work of literature for which com... more Knuth’s literate programming paradigm positions source code as a work of literature for which communication to a human is prioritized over communication to a computer. A primary pedagogical value of literate programming lies with the act of writing, especially goodwriting, leading to good thinking. Issueswith early literate programming tool implementations plagued the classroom adoption of literate programming. Advances in technology havewarranted a reinvestigation of the benefits of the paradigm. To complement existing inquiry of literate programming in computer programming courses, we investigate, “How can literate programming support student learning inmicroprocessors and digital system design courses?” In our examination of microprocessors, the instructor used principles of literate programming during in-class demonstrations of assembly programming. In our examination of digital system design, students used the tool to engage in literate programming while writing in a hardware d...
Proceedings of the 43rd IEEE Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (Cat.No.CH37144), 2000
The output of practical ADCs contains harmonic distortion due to mismatched circuit components. I... more The output of practical ADCs contains harmonic distortion due to mismatched circuit components. In this paper, a method is developed which estimates an ADC's output frequency spectrum, SDR, and SNDR from the ADC's transfer function. An example is given which compares the developed method's results with existing methods and simulation
This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems des... more This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems design skills. Student teams design, build, and troubleshoot a microcontroller-based project composed of common embedded systems peripherals, including input/output and electromechanical devices, industry standard communication networks, and complex digital integrated circuits. The design experience is progressive, requiring each successive subsystem to be incorporated without disturbing previously completed subsystems. Furthermore, the design experience is based on a problem-based learning approach that motivates student learning and develops skills required by the student in a future professional capacity. These skills include designing to specification, use of third-party intellectual property, teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning skills. The design experience was offered to a cohort in conjunction with lectures using active learning techniques. Course evaluations were obtained from students and external reviewers, and the results show that the course was well received and achieved its educational objectives. Index Terms-Active learning, cooperative learning, design course, embedded systems, problem-based learning. I. INTRODUCTION E MBEDDED computer systems are quietly changing our world-the way we eat, play, work, and live. Embedded systems are used in a diverse range of products, including home appliances, automobiles, toys, and medical equipment. Embedded systems are located at the "front line" where technology interacts with the physical world. These systems measure temperature, motion, human response, and other inputs. They also control motors and other devices, and deliver information for human consumption. The movement of the last two decades toward more ubiquitous computing systems will continue, and embedded systems will become even more prominent in every aspect of technology and life [1]. Engineers comfortable with common embedded systems components, embedded systems design, and embedded system functions, such as data acquisition, processing, and delivery, will be well equipped for the future. Approaches to embedded systems education are as varied as the programs that contain them. Cheng et al. incorporated embedded systems modules into several courses in the computer science and electrical engineering curricula [2]. For example, the software engineering course concentrated on requirements
This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems des... more This paper describes a cooperative experiential learning activity to develop embedded systems design skills. Student teams design, build, and troubleshoot a microcontroller-based project composed of common embedded systems peripherals, including input/output and electromechanical devices, industry standard communication networks, and complex digital integrated circuits. The design experience is progressive, requiring each successive subsystem to be incorporated without disturbing previously completed subsystems. Furthermore, the design experience is based on a problem-based learning approach that motivates student learning and develops skills required by the student in a future professional capacity. These skills include designing to specification, use of third-party intellectual property, teamwork, communication, and lifelong learning skills. The design experience was offered to a cohort in conjunction with lectures using active learning techniques. Course evaluations were obtained from students and external reviewers, and the results show that the course was well received and achieved its educational objectives. Index Terms-Active learning, cooperative learning, design course, embedded systems, problem-based learning. I. INTRODUCTION E MBEDDED computer systems are quietly changing our world-the way we eat, play, work, and live. Embedded systems are used in a diverse range of products, including home appliances, automobiles, toys, and medical equipment. Embedded systems are located at the "front line" where technology interacts with the physical world. These systems measure temperature, motion, human response, and other inputs. They also control motors and other devices, and deliver information for human consumption. The movement of the last two decades toward more ubiquitous computing systems will continue, and embedded systems will become even more prominent in every aspect of technology and life [1]. Engineers comfortable with common embedded systems components, embedded systems design, and embedded system functions, such as data acquisition, processing, and delivery, will be well equipped for the future. Approaches to embedded systems education are as varied as the programs that contain them. Cheng et al. incorporated embedded systems modules into several courses in the computer science and electrical engineering curricula [2]. For example, the software engineering course concentrated on requirements
This paper describes work-in-progress on a platformindependent toolkit for sonification of scient... more This paper describes work-in-progress on a platformindependent toolkit for sonification of scientific data. The data being displayed and the sonification control information can be provided in real-time and distributed over a wide area via Ethernet. The toolkit allows the designer to process, scale, and map data to a wide variety of sonification parameters and methods. Sonification processing and control commands are stored in standard XML syntax files and can be applied or modified in real-time. The toolkit described here is easily added to existing visualization applications and can be quickly expanded to use new data formats and sonification modalities. Early results of interactive auditory and visual analysis of an example domain are described, and extensive user tests are being planned.
42nd Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (Cat. No.99CH36356), 2000
Although many dynamic element matching (DEM) digital to analog converters (DACs) have identical a... more Although many dynamic element matching (DEM) digital to analog converters (DACs) have identical architectures, analyses of DEM DACs have been specific to the DACÕs DEM technique. In this paper, a particular DEM DAC architecture is analyzed and criteria are developed for comparing this architectureÕs performance when various DEM techniques are applied to it.
Proceedings IEEE Computer Society Annual Symposium on VLSI. New Paradigms for VLSI Systems Design. ISVLSI 2002, 2002
Conservative and reversible logic gates are widely known to be compatible with revolutionary comp... more Conservative and reversible logic gates are widely known to be compatible with revolutionary computing paradigms such as optical and quantum computing. A fundamental conservative reversible logic gate is the Fredkin gate. This paper presents efficient adder circuits based on the Fredkin gate. Novel full adder circuits using Fredkin gates are proposed which have lower hardware complexity than the current state-of-the-art, while generating the additional signals required for carry skip adder architectures. The traditional ripple carry adder and several carry skip adder topologies are compared. Theoretical performance of each adder is determined and compared. Although the variable sized block carry skip adder is determined to have shorter delay than the fixed block size carry skip adder, the performance gains are not sufficient to warrant the required additional hardware complexity.
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