What is a Microcontroller?
Computer on a Chip
Microprocessor
Input / Output
RAM and/or ROM
Signal Processing
Microcontrollers Are Everywhere
Automotive
Manufacturing
Robotics
Medical
Aeronautics
Mobile Devices
ECE 251
–
Microprocessors
Taught with a
Freescale
Microcontroller
MC68HC12
Development Board
$80 Per Board
$30 Covered By ECE
Department
$50 Cost to Students
Texas Instruments MSP430
Popular TI Microcontroller
Low Cost ~ $20
Portable
USB Interface
Same Relevant Features
as the Freescale Product
Superior Development
Software For Students
Why Switch?
Freescale
$80 Per Student
Aging RS232
Interface
CISC Architecture
Lots of instructions
Text Based
Development
Interface
TI MSP430
$20 Per Student
Commonplace USB
Interface
RISC Architecture
Few Instructions
Windows Style
Visual Development
Interface
Development of Labs
Group redesigned labs 3
-
10 of ECE 251
for use with TI
-
MSP430
Miguel completed labs 3, 7, 8 & 9
We completed 4, 5, 6 & 10
Also 2 practical exams
We revised Miguel’s labs extensively
and wrote solutions
Made the labs ready for student use
ECE 251 MSP430 Labs
Lab 3
–
Introduction to the MSP430
Lab 4
–
Addressing Modes
Lab 5
–
Subroutines and the Stack
Lab 6
–
BCD Math
Lab 7
–
Parallel I/O
Lab 8
–
Interrupts
Lab 9
–
Timer Module
Lab 10
–
A/D Converter
Working With Students
All inexperienced as TAs
Had to learn to communicate with
students
Being clear about required assignments
Different perspective when writing labs
Had to learn to teach effectively
Issues We Faced
No keyboard/console capability (Lab 4)
RISC vs. CISC architecture (Lab 6,
Lab 10)
Clock inaccuracy (Lab 9)
Fewer I/O pins (Lab 10)
USB tool only worked on installed
computer
Solutions to Issues
Focused on what MSP430 does have
Provided subroutines to students
Experimented with different ways to
output to 7
-
segment display
Considered ways to integrate labs
What Didn’t Go So Well
Miscommunication
Meeting times
When assignments were due
Students had trouble being responsible
for both microcontrollers
What Went Well
Gained experience with the MSP430
which will be applied to design project
Students enjoyed flexibility of USB
Able to use material from the 68HC12
labs
Completed lab set if transition is made
(course needs textbook)
What Went Well (Cont.)
Interest from Rice University
More intuitive development tool
Invitation to present at TI developers
conference session on Education
Working with Dr. Eads
Future Plans
Design of a self
-
setting clock which
makes use of the WWVB radio signal
Located in Ft. Collins
Transmits to entire US including Alaska and
Hawaii
Makes use of several ECE concepts
Analog Design
Communications
Microcontrollers
WWVB
Broadcast signal cycles every minute
Signal contains the following time information
Time
Date
Daylight savings
Leap year warning
Leap second warning
Design Phase Overview
Receiver/
Amplifier
Decoder
Clock
Display
TI
-
MSP430
Local
Temperature
Sensing
RF remote
Temperature
sensing
Extras, Time permitting
Solar
Power
Generation
Alarm
Capabilities
Design Phase Details
Build receiver circuit for pulse width
modulated 60kHz signal
Program MSP430
Decode data signal
Set clock
Control clock time during normal operation
Allow for manual setting and time zone
adjustment
Output to display
Budget
Had no operating costs during semester
Approximate donation of $700 from Texas
Instruments in microcontrollers and
development kits
Still have $300 remaining in budget for
design phase
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Texas Instruments for the
hardware donations
Miguel Morales
Help getting started
Gave assistance when needed
Dr. Bill Eads
Provided guidance and practical perspective
Burgers, brats, beer
, fishing & kayaking
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