PROJECT STUDY ABSTRACT

1. Title: Logic Circuits and Switching Theory Laboratory Training Module for Saint Louis
University

Total Number of Pages: 103

Text Number of Pages: 78
2. Author: Cagaoan, Michael A.
3. Type of Document: Project Study
4. Type of Publication: Unpublished
5. Host/ Accrediting Institution:

Saint Louis University

Bonifacio Street, Baguio City
CHED-CAR
6. Sponsor: None
7. Keywords: Logic Circuits and Switching Theory Laboratory, Training Module, VHDL,
74xx TTL ICs
8. Abstract:

Logic circuit is the cornerstone of all courses devoted to digital systems design. To ensure that
Electronics Engineering (ECE) students acquire the required level of knowledge and skills in
digital systems, exposure to hands-on logic circuit-based activities is essential.

The design and construction of the logic circuits training module is a proactive undertaking given
the objective of improving the syllabus and laboratory equipment of the Logic circuits and
Switching Theory (ECE 411EL) subject in Saint Louis University (SLU). This project also
serves as a springboard for other laboratory subjects that need equipment upgrading. This project
initiative is also in response towards attaining instructional quality dictated by sectors assessing
and accrediting the quality of engineering education. Some of these are: (i) government (CHED-
TPETA), (ii) private (PAA\SCU), (iii) professional (PATE), (iv) international (Washington
Accord, APEC registry) and (v) industry.

The main goal of the study is to design and construct a training module for the Logic Circuits
and Switching Theory Laboratory class to help the ECE students have better understanding of
logic circuits and VHDL programming. The output of this study is as follows: (i) Proposed
syllabus for ECE411EL, (ii) Digital logic board, (iii) Student and teacher manuals.

The proposed syllabus was the basis for the development of the laboratory experiments. The
digital logic board is composed of 8 LEDs, dual 7-segment display, IC timing circuit, 8 input
switches (push button and slide switch), power supply and breadboard. The breadboard was
purposely embedded on the board for students to be able to hardwire the 74xx TTL ICs. There
are six experiments using the digital logic board. Alongside is the DE2 board which was sourced
out from Altera. This board serves as the interface of the VHDL code. There are five
experiments using the DE2 board. To write the VHDL code to be downloaded to the DE2 board,
Quartus II 10.1 Web Edition software will be used.

The Descriptive Research and Applied Research combined with Rapid Prototyping were used as
research design methodologies for the study.

Test procedures undertaken prior to project acceptance in terms of functionality and relevance
were measured through survey questionnaire. Results show that both students and faculty
strongly agree to the functionality and relevance of the logic circuits training module.