EEL 4744C
Microprocessor Applications
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Prof: Eric Schwartz / Spring 2023
Apr 23, 2023
This class is amazing if you are interested in microprocessors, especially if you liked 3701 (digital logic) and were wishing for more actual uses for what you learned. It shouldn't be hard to get an A if you attend class and do the weekly labs. The quizzes, practicals, and exam is/are based on the labs, so you are screwed if you don't do them.
This course covers applications of microprocessors using various peripherals, programs, protocols, and tools. It begins with general input and output, working up to making interactive programs, dealing with memory, interfacing with systems on the board, serial protocols, and more. The class starts with pushing a button to turn on an LED and ends with making music using the speaker on the board. Similar to 3701, everything starts to come together and you get the bigger picture of what you're ultimately learning. This class alone can land you internships.
Dr. Schwartz may seem scary if you didn't have him for 3701, but he is actually very nice and knowledgeable. He changed the course before this semester and may change it a little more in the future, but the general structure is like this: He teaches about a topic in class. The topic relates to that week or the next week's lab. A few days after the lab is due, you will have a quiz relating to that lab over Honorlock. You'll also have to demo your lab to your PI after its due, but this is usually just running it for them.
Read the sections of the manuals that relate to the lab, carefully! The manuals tell you most of what you need, but sometimes Dr. Schwartz may specify something in class, so try to take half-decent notes. If you copy the initialization code he writes in class, you can save yourself a lot of time on the labs. Don't be afraid to ask questions on the Slack.
Class Ratings
Prof: Eric Schwartz / Fall 2021
Nov 28, 2021
Medium difficulty to get an A. A lot easier if you already know how to program. The labs are where all the work in the class is. It's basically an overview on how to use the functions and peripherals of microprocessors. Pretty useful, I scored an internship by talking about this class (and related club activities).
Build upon the basics of uProcessors, starting from basic digital I/O, then timers, interrupts, bus interfaces, memory, serial communication, ADC, DAC, DMA, peripheral event systems.
Dr. Shwartz is a lot nicer in this class than in Digital Logic, so don't be turned off if you heard about his difficult EEL3701 sections. He is very strict on deadlines so don't be late.
As of Fall 2021, there are weekly synchronous HonorLock quizzes not in class hours (like 8PM every Monday). Kind of annoying. He says he hopes to change that
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