PH415 Computer Interfacing 2013
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About PH415/515

Table of Contents

Announcements

  • There are at 10 positions still available for undergraduates as PH415 and graduate students as PH515.
  • If you have taken PH411/12 or PH511/12, obtain an override from the Physics Department Office in order to enroll. If not, then contact the instructor for instructions.
  • The first laboratory session is Tuesday 2 April at 9:00.
  • The lab room (300 Weniger) will be open at 8:30 to 12:00 AM TuTh, and students can work in the lab anytime.
  • There is no textbook. All material will be available on this website. For basic electronics this book is recommended: Introductory Electronics for Scientists and Engineers by R. E .Simpson (ISBN = 0205083773).

Purpose

  • Basic research and industrial research and development both require the use of computers to control an apparatus, acquire data and analyze data. The primary purpose of this course is to learn about both the electronic and programming aspects of interfacing computers (desktops, laptops and microcontrollers) to instruments, analog circuits and digital circuits. Concepts covered in the course include experimental control, optimal use of commercial instrumentation, design and use of customized instrumentation, noise and artifact elimination in signals and digital signal processing. The hardware to be used includes the following: function generators (USB), digital oscilloscopes (USB), microcontroller with a USB port and general purpose IO lines, PCI analog and digital IO card, analog to digital and digital to analog converters, digital logic gates, FPGAs, analog electronic devices, optical sensors, stepping and DC motors. The programming languages to be used are the following: Python (with packages such as scipy, matplotlib, pyvisa and pywin32) for all tasks; LabView for interaction with the PCI ADIO card; Matlab as an option for data analysis; introductory assembly language and simple C for programming the microcontroller; Verilog for the FPGA.

Prerequisites

Use of This Site

  • Use the "Site Map" for navigation.
  • The "Topics" category contains all the information and programs used in the course.
  • The "Tasks" category lists all the in class tasks and out of class assignments.
  • The PH415 Spring 2012 course had significantly different content, but the website has a wealth of information.

Course Information

  • Instructor:   Dr Tomasz M. Giebultowicz ("Dr. Tom"), 105 Weniger, 541-737-1689
  • Office hours (tentative): M 11, W 11, Th 1, by appointment and anytime the door is open.
  • Laboratory Teaching Assistants (in order of appearance):   Max Atkins, John Elliot, Brad Hermens and Rodney Snyder.
  • Volunteer Co-Instructor:   Prof. William Hetherington ("Dr. H"), 105 Weniger, 541-737-1689

About this site

  • Coordinator: Prof. William M. Hetherington, 375 Weniger, 541-737-1689