Spring 2014

Rev 4-1-14

Course Plan for EELE 465, Real Time Microcontroller Applications

Course Catalog Description for EELE465: 4 cr. LEC 2 LAB 2, PREREQUISITE EE371
Lecture/laboratory exposure to microcontroller hardware and software applications, serial and
parallel I/O, timing, interrupts, LCDs, Keypads, A to D conversion and a project realizing a real
time control problem.
Course Objectives: The course objective is to provide sufficient detailed knowledge of a microcontroller
so that students can breadboard and program a microcontroller and demonstrate its function in a real-time
application in the laboratory.
Course Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of EE 465, students are expected to be able to:
1) Design, breadboard, and program a microcontroller system;
2) Design, write, and document assembly-language software for a microcontroller system;
3) Understand and use various IO devices such as: keypads, A to D converters, LCD modules,
mechanical relays, solid state relay;
4) Be able to design basic I/O drivers and microcontroller device interfaces, I2C;
5) Understand the basic types of memory used in microcontrollers;
6) Understand the hardware and software resources required for real-time microcontroller
applications
Topics Covered:
1) Microcontroller instruction set;
2) System clock and Power on Reset;
3) Addressing modes;
4) I/O Ports;
5) Interrupts;
6) Pseudo Data Bus and Address decoding;
7) Keypad scanning;
8) LCD module programming;
9) Analog to Digital conversion and Digital to Analog Conversion;
10) Transistor switching circuits and I/O drivers;
11) I2C Temperature Sensors and Real-Time Clocks;
12) Thermoelectric coolers.
Professional Component: This course has a very strong emphasis on both the hardware and software
aspects of microcontroller systems.
ECE Program Outcomes: EELE 465 supports the following program outcomes:
c. an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.
k. an ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering
practice.
n. an ability to program microcontroller/microcomputer systems using assembly and high-level
languages.
q. an ability to implement a real-time system.

Lecture:

Tues, Thurs 9:25-10:15, ROBH 319

Labs:

Tues, Thurs 1:10-3:00, COBH 601

Tues, Thurs 4:10-6:00, COBH 601

EELE465 Spring 2014 Rev 4-1-14

Instructor:

Randy M. Larimer, PE
MSU Office:
Office Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:

TA:

Krishna Chattergoon
MSU Office:
Office Phone:
Email:

Class Web Page:

416 Cobleigh Hall

(Montana Space Grant Consortium Office 4th floor)
994-6085
rlarimer@ece.montana.edu
Tues and Thurs 3:00 4:00 pm (Lab 601 COBH)
Other hours by appointment.

414 Cobleigh Hall

315-520-3076
krishna.chattergoon@msu.montana.edu

http://www.coe.montana.edu/ee/rlarimer/EE465
The website will be the main source of information for the course. All handouts,
homework, presentations and announcements will be posted. It is the students
responsibility to download and print necessary documents in the course.
The course will be transitioning to the Desire2Learn course management system at:
https://ecat.montana.edu/
Login using your MyPortal/MyMSU ID and password. If you dont know your MyPortal
ID, you can log into the secure area of MyInfo and reset your password. If you cant log
into MyInfo, contact the Registrars office. If you still cant login to the system, you can
contact the Burns Technology Center help desk at 994-6550. This website will have the
drop boxes for your uploads.

Parts Kit/Breadboard (Required for course):

Some type of breadboard is required.
Each student must purchase a parts kit from the ECE Stockroom.
$50.25 Parts Kit - $20.00 discount for COE students = $30.25 parts kit cost to student
Optional Student Learning Kit (SLK) breadboard available for purchase from the ECE Stockroom.
$113.75 - $50.00 discount for COE students = $63.75 (EELE465 student)

Textbook:

Microcontroller manual will be provided at no cost. Application Notes will be distributed

electronically through the class website.

Recommended reference text: F. M. Cady, Software and Hardware Engineering, Assembly and C
Programming for the Freescale HCS12 Microcontroller, Oxford University Press, 2008, 2nd edition.
Projects (Tentative):
Each student must build and demonstrate the following eight projects.
(other projects may be substituted or added as time and resources allow)
0. Toggle a bit on the microcontroller.
1. Display an assigned pattern on 8 LEDs;
2. Read keypad, change LED pattern; read keypad, display on LCD;
3. Read A/D, analog temperature sensor, display reading on LCD;
4. PWM, D/A
5. Serial temperature sensor; Interrupts; Watchdog Timer;
6. Real-time clock;
7. Final Project using Thermoelectric Cooler.

EELE465 Spring 2014 Rev 4-1-14

Class Schedule (Tentative):

Week 3
Week 7
Week 8
Week 14
Week 16

Monday, January 20
No Class (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
Monday, February 17
No Class (Presidents Day)
Tuesday, February 25 Midterm Exam Tuesday, February 25
March 10 thru 14
No Class (Spring Break)
Friday, April 18
No Class (University Day)
April 28 thru May 2
Finals Week Final Exam,
Tuesday, April 29, 2-3:50 pm in ROBH 319

Course Grading:
Projects 0, 1, 2, 3, 5: 9% each:
Final Project, Project 6:
Test 1 Midterm:
Test 2 Final Exam:
Lab Drop box - Memo Reports and Lab Code Uploaded:

45 % total
13 %
15 %
15 %
12 %

Extra Credit Projects: (throughout semester)

Possible up to 0 %

Extra credit will be applied after grades are totaled and a grading curve is calculated.

Policies:
A course grade of F will be given if you do not attend both the midterm exam and the final exam,
regardless of the accumulated point total.
Department policy requires that you receive a D or better lab grade to pass this course.
You are responsible for all material covered in class and in the reading assignments.
Please note that many of the lab assignments depend upon earlier labs: even if you miss a lab or get a zero
score because you do not turn in the lab assignment on time, you are still responsible for the material in
order to complete subsequent lab assignments.
Lab reports will be due as indicated on the project requirements handout. Follow the ECE department
guidelines for report formats.
Late submissions of assignments will be accepted with homework and labs penalized 10% for each
weekday that the assignment is late. Plan ahead and notify the instructor prior to justifiable absences, or if
a bona fide emergency prevented you from attending class.
Although you may work with a lab partner during the lab period, your lab report must be prepared
individually. Homework and exams also must be prepared individually. Submitting collaborative
assignments or presenting the work of others as your own without express permission in advance from the
instructor is dishonest and grounds for filing an academic misconduct form and/or dismissal from the
course.
You are expected to keep a clean lab area and return items to their proper place. Equipment is expensive
and is provided for your learning experience. Please conduct yourselves appropriately. Abusive behavior
toward the lab equipment, other students, or the instructors, will result in dismissal from the course.

EELE465 Spring 2014 Rev 4-1-14

Behavioral Expectations
Montana State University expects all students to conduct themselves as honest, responsible and law-abiding
members of the academic community and to respect the rights of other students, members of the faculty
and staff and the public to use, enjoy and participate in the University programs and facilities. For
additional information reference see MSU's Student Conduct Code at:
http://www2.montana.edu/policy/student_conduct/cg600.html .
Collaboration
University policy states that, unless otherwise specified, students may not collaborate on graded material.
Any exceptions to this policy will be stated explicitly for individual assignments. If you have any questions
about the limits of collaboration, you are expected to ask for clarification.
Plagiarism
Paraphrasing or quoting anothers work without citing the source is a form of academic misconduct. Even
inadvertent or unintentional misuse or appropriation of another's work (such as relying heavily on source
material that is not expressly acknowledged) is considered plagiarism. If you have any questions about
using and citing sources, you are expected to ask for clarification.
Academic Misconduct
Section 420 of the Student Conduct Code describes academic misconduct as including but not limited to
plagiarism, cheating, multiple submissions, or facilitating others misconduct. Possible sanctions for
academic misconduct range from an oral reprimand to expulsion from the university.
Academic Expectations
Section 310.00 in the MSU Conduct Guidelines states that students must:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

be prompt and regular in attending classes;

be well prepared for classes;
submit required assignments in a timely manner;
take exams when scheduled;
act in a respectful manner toward other students and the instructor and in a way that does not
detract from the learning experience; and
make and keep appointments when necessary to meet with the instructor.

In addition to the above items, students are expected to meet any additional course and behavioral standards
as defined by the instructor.
Withdrawal Deadlines
After April 12, 2013 I will only support requests to withdraw from this course with a W
Students with Disabilities
If you have a documented disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation(s), you are
encouraged to contact your instructor and Disabled Student Services as soon as possible.
Email Policy
I expect that you will check your university email at least every 3 days. All students must have an
electronic mail address listed with the MSU MY INFO system. Announcements and reminders for
EELE465 will be sent occasionally via email. Students will also need to get an MSU computer access
account and printing privileges for the ECE Department computer labs.
Student Educational Records
All records related to this course are confidential and will not be shared with anyone, including parents,
without a signed, written release. If you wish to have information from your records shared with others,
you must provide written request/authorization to the office/department. Before giving such authorization,
you should understand the purpose of the release and to whom and for how long the information is
authorized for release.

EELE465 Spring 2014 Rev 4-1-14