CS25510 - COMPUTER HARDWARE

Module Identifier

CS25510

Module Title

COMPUTER HARDWARE

Academic Year

2006/2007

Co-ordinator

Dr David Barnes

Semester

Semester 1

Other staff

Dr David Barnes, Dr Adrian D Shaw

Pre-Requisite

CS10110

Co-Requisite

CS23420

Course delivery

Lecture

22 lectures

Practical

Up to 10 x 2 hr

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Exam	2 Hours	100%
Supplementary Exam	Will take the same form, under the terms of the Department's policy.

Further details

http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/ModuleInfo/CS25510

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

explain the operation of a simple computer's CPU, memory and buses in terms of digital logic;
analyse and design simple logic circuits;
explain the operation of typical microcontroller I/O devices;
demonstrate an understanding of low-level programming operations on a microcontroller;
evaluate the applicability of contrasting CPU architectures for real world problems.

Brief description

This module introduces digital electronics in the context of studies in software development. It extends a general understanding of computer architecture.

Aims

This module introduces students to the principles of computer hardware (digital electronics), and explains how components work at the level of gates, flip-flops etc. It provides hands-on experience of computer hardware, including the use of a microcontroller to control real world hardware.

Content

1. Digital Electronics - 3 lectures.
Digital/analogue comparison, logic levels and voltages, digital waveforms, I. C. packages and I. C. technologies.

2. Combinational logic - 5 lectures.
Revision of basic gates, I. C. data sheets, comparators, adders, encoders, multiplexers. Laws and rules of Boolean algebra. Universal gates.

3. Sequential logic - 3 lectures.
Latches, flip-flops. Applications: parallel data storage, frequency division, and counting.

4. Example microcontroller - 2 lectures.
I. C. complexity classificiation. Microcontroller on-chip peripheral functions and architecture.

5. Microcontroller programming - 3 lectures.
The fetch/execute cycle. Assembly language, directives and instructions. Basic I/O, A/D and interrupt programming.

6. Microcontoller hardware expansion - 4 lectures.
Single chip/expanded mode, memory maps, address decoding circuits. RISC versus CISC computer hardware.

7. Digital hardware exercise - 5 practicals.
NAND gate practical. Microprocessor hardware architecture exercise.

8. Microcontroller programming exercise - 5 practicals.
Binary I/O, A/D input and interrupt programming using microcontroller simulator.

Module Skills

Problem_solving	This is inherent to the topic.
Research skills	The students will need to search for and use relevant technical information while completing practical work.
Communication	Written skills will be needed to complete examination.
Improving own Learning and Performance	See 2 above
Team work	No.
Information Technology	The whole module concerns this area.
Application of Number	To some extent.
Personal Development and Career planning	This topic covers a new area of computing to most students. Opens up understanding of field.
Subject Specific Skills	Yes. See module title and content.

Reading Lists

Books
** Consult For Futher Information
Alan Clements (2000) The Principles of Computer Hardware Oxford University Press 0198564538
Peter Spasov (1999) Microcontroller Technology: The 68HC11 Prentice-Hall 0139012400
Ronald J. Tocci and Frank J. Ambrosio (2000) Micorprocessors and Microcomputers: Hardware and Software Prentice-Hall 0130104949
Thomas L. Floyd (1997) Digital Fundamentals Prentice-Hall 0135734789

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5