Instructor Name: Mark Allen
Email: electronics@markallen.com
Office Hours: Monday afternoon by appointment
Course Description: "Why Not Microcontrollers?" is an introduction to digital electronics and working with microcontrollers. This class will be primarily concerned with programming and implementing the Basic Stamp 2 microcontroller manufactured by parallaxinc.com.
Course Prerequisites: It would be great if you took the intro electronics class, but whatever.
Textbooks: We'll be working from "what's a microcontroller", available in .pdf form from parallax. You may either view it online, download it, print it out, or even purchase a bound copy from parallax should you so desire. My advice is to find a good laser printer, print the whole thing out and put it into a three ring binder. It's 344 pages so put a little time aside for that. Please acquire this in either digital or physical form by the second class meeting.
Online documentation for the basic stamp is available at www.parallaxinc.com
I also recommend The Microcontroller Application Cookbook, by Matt Gilliland. This book is available at the bookstore or can be ordered online.
Support: Help outside of class can be arranged for my office hours. There will be a sign up sheet on John Reed's door in the supershop.
Equipment: Every student is required to buy a basic stamp microcontroller board and parts kit for this class for $75. The account number will be disclosed during the first class.
Weekly Outline:
Week one - blinking lights and pushing buttons
week two - working with motors and relays.
week three - analog input and sensor's galore.
week four - audio output. Final project outline due.
week five - displays. 7 segment led and serial LCD.
week six - advanced demos, work on final projects
week seven - present final projects
Grading: Your grade will be determined through a mystical calculus,
consisting of showing up for class, doing the homework and completing the
final project.
Class: Class attendance and participation is mandatory.
Homework: There will be four homework assignments, each worth 5% of your grade. Late homework will not be accepted.
Project: Each student will be expected to finish a cool,
ambitious, working final project. A written outline of the final project will
be due at the beginning of the class week four. All final projects must be
completed by the start of week seven. Those not finishing their final projects
will be openly mocked.