CPE421/521, EE421/521 - Microcomputers
Spring 2003

Description: The goal of this course is to teach students how to design microcomputer systems and to utilize the microprocessor as a basic system component or single chip microcomputers. The course begins with an overview of typical microcomputer architecture and examines the hardware features of the microprocessor system. Basic microcomputer design and the interface between the microprocessor and external devices is explored. This course examines the software aspects of microcomputers using assembly language and C programming. At the end of course single chip microcomputers are introduced for embedded and power efficient applications. By the end of the course the students have studied all the computer components necessary to be able to design and implement a basic computer system and interface it to the outside world. Experiments performed in the Microcomputer Laboratory provide considerable experience, allowing students to develop programs in assembly and C and download them into a target microcomputer.

Text book:

References:

• M68000 8/16/32 bit Microprocessor User's Manual 8th Edition, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
• MC68000 Educational Computer Board User's Manual.
• Programmer's Reference Manual (68000) 8th Edition .
• MSP430 Family, User's Guide, Texas Instruments, 1996.
• MSP430 Family, Software User's Guide, Texas Instruments, 1994.
• M. Slater, "Microprocessor-based Design, A Comprehensive Guide to Hardware Design," Prentice Hall, 1989.

Grading Policy:

• Homeworks (2*5%) - 10%
• Laboratory Exercises - 30%
• Test I - 20%
• Test II - 20%
• Comprehensive final exam - 20%

Important Dates

• Test I: Tuesday, February 25, 2003.
• Test II: Thursday, April 17, 2003.
• Last day of Class: Tuesday, April 22, 2003.
• Final exam: Tuesday, April 29, 2003, 6-9:30 PM.

Course Outline

• Introduction to Microprocessor-Based System Design (2 lectures)
• Motorola 68000 processor Architecture (1 lecture)
• Microcomputer Architecture -- Programmer's View (overview of MC68000 family of microprocessors basic assembly language programming of the MC68000 - 5 lectures)
• MC68000 Software development (Lab Session) – 1 lecture
• Software Development for the MC68000 (High-Level Language Considerations – C programming - 4 lectures)
• Microprocessor Architecture -- Hardware Details (MC68000 CPU specifications, pin descriptions and timing analysis, I/O interfacing, Parallel and serial data transfer using custom hardware and MC6800/MC68000 type peripheral IC's - 4 lectures)
• Microcomputer System Design (ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Static and Dynamic RAM, connections, signals and timing - 2 lectures)
• Single chip microcomputers - Hardware and System Issues (Texas Instruments MSP430 microcontroller family - 3 lectures)
• TI MSP430 Software development (Lab Session) – 1 lecture.
• Single chip microcomputers – Low Power Issues - 1 lecture
• Single chip microcomputers - Software Issues, Exceptions, Interrupts, Real time operation, RT kernels - 2 lectures)

Lecture notes

Homework

Laboratory assignments.

Laboratory

Lab manual in HTML format.

EVM68K board manual.