Unit Outline

The unit is directed at building on the fundamentals of electrical circuits acquired in the first year of the course to provide technical competence in digital electronics and introduce embedded system development. The unit introduces students to the properties and characteristics of digital electronics and extends these to the design and implementation of digital circuits and microcontroller programming. Students will gain an understanding of basic digital systems and an understanding of how such systems can form part of larger technical systems. Fundamental skills will be gained in the analysis and implementation of digital electronic circuits and systems. Topics covered include: Combinational logic. Sequential logic. Microprocessor fundamentals. The unit prepares students to undertake future studies in advanced Electronic/Communications Engineering.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Explain the characteristics and operation of digital electronic circuits with reference to recent developments.
2.	Design digital electronic circuits using Boolean mathematical techniques.
3.	Construct digital electronic circuits.
4.	Analyse digital electronic circuits for the purpose of optimisation and fault finding.
5.	Develop microprocessor solutions to meet specified requirements.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	KAA112 Engineering Circuits and KAA109 Engineering Problem Solving and Data Analysis
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	KNE231

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Assignment	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Lab Reports and Presentations	Week 4	15 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Lab Reports and Presentations	Week 9	25 %	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:	Exam	Exam Period	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assignment

Task Description:

Students will design a digital circuit according to requirements and answer questions relating to digital components and circuits. The assignment will require application of various techniques learned throughout the unit. The focus of the assignment will be the students correct application of design techniques and understanding of circuit operation.

Task Length:

10 pages

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Correctly analyse, explain the operation of and solve problems related to digital electronic circuits.	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	Select and apply digital electronic design techniques to digital circuit design.	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Lab Reports and Presentations

Task Description:

Students will construct a simple combinational logic circuit. The circuit operation will then be
measured to test against predicted circuit operation. The circuit is to be analysed and predictions made prior to the lab. Students will provide written proof of pre-lab work. Students will provide a post lab written and oral presentation.

Task Length:

Two 3 hour labs, 10 page lab report and 5 minute presentations.

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Design combinatorial electronic circuit with correct operation according to specification.	LO2
2	Implement a combinatorial circuit according to a design.	LO3
3	Demonstrate a logical fault finding process for a combinatorial circuit.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Lab Reports and Presentations

Task Description:

Students will simulate a simple microprocessor circuit. The processor operation will be
analysed and explained. Students will provide written proof of pre lab work. Students will provide a post lab written and oral presentation.
Students will also prepare a literature survey reviewing state of the art applications of microprocessors and microprocessor circuits and methods of implementation. Students will provide a post lab written and oral presentation.

Task Length:

Two 2 hour lab sessions, 10 page lab report and 5 minute presentations.

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Design and implement a microprocessor electronic circuit with correct operation according to specification.	LO3, LO5
2	Explain the operation of a state of the art component used in modern digital electronic circuits.	LO1
3	Explain the application of a state of the art component used in modern digital electronic circuits.	LO1
4	Demonstrate a logical fault finding process for a microprocessor circuit.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Exam

Task Description:

Formal written exam. Students will be required to analyse, explain the operation of and solve
problems related to digital electronic circuits.

Task Length:

2 hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Students will be required to analyse, explain the operation of and solve problems related to digital electronic circuits.	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.