Interfacing Projects

 

Introduction

 

These projects are to give computer-engineering teachers some ideas for possible projects or culminating activities.  All the projects involve interfacing through the parallel port.  The projects have used the components from the Classic Technology Kit (see suppliers).

 

Included are: teacher’s notes, student handouts, diagrams, exemplars, worked solutions and marking schemes for most of the projects.  The projects are available to download as a one .pdf file or in separate files (also .pdf format).  The Turing solutions have been zipped with any picture files used.

 

These projects satisfy the interfacing expectations for all the computer-engineering courses, but are most appropriate for the grade 10 or 11 level.  The interfacing concepts in each project are all pretty much the same; the limiting factors are time, construction and program difficulty.

 

Included is a difficulty scheme.  This should give you an idea of the challenge posed by each project.

 

Supplementary materials found at the bottom of the page: number systems review, binary review, resistor colour code review, breadboard templates, and motor set-up diagrams.

 

There is also a link to suppliers.

 

Please e-mail any other interfacing ideas, comments & questions to:

 

mr_grieve@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

The Projects

 

Difficulty Level of Projects

 

 

Programming

:

Looping, Selection

::

Looping, Selection, Arrays, Methods

(may include input)

:::

Looping, Selection,

Arrays, Methods & complex algorithms

(includes input)

 

 

Construction

@

No construction required.

All components found in Classic Technology kit.

@@

Construction required.  Some parts not found in kit.

@@@

Complex arrangement of materials.  Dependent on many extra parts.

 

 

Time

½

One to two classes periods, with some homework.

½½

Minimum one week.

Time management may be a concern.

½½½

One to Three weeks.

Time management will be a concern.

 

 


Difficulty

Project Idea & Description

Project Files

 

Programming

:

Construction

@

Time

½

 

Interfacing IC’s Activity

§           Wire and program an interface to demonstrate the functionality of the AND, OR, NAND & NOR gates.

 

Entire Project Here (All doc., no solution)

 

 

·           Teacher’s Notes

·           Chip Layout Diagram

 

 

Programming

:à::

Construction

@à@@@

Time

½½

 

Model Car Activity

§           Create an interface to control brake lights, headlights, turning lights and even a DC motor via the parallel port.

 

Entire Project Here

 

·           Teacher’s Notes

·           DC Motor Control

·           Exemplars

·           Student Checklist

·           Marking Scheme

 

 

Programming

:à::

Construction

@à@@

Time

½½

 

 

Traffic Intersection

§           Create a traffic intersection controlled by the computer.

 

Entire Project Here

 

·          Teacher’s Notes

·          Exemplars

·          Student Handouts

·          Marking Scheme

 

·          Program Solution

 

Programming

::

Construction

@@

Time

½½

 

 

Buzzer Dexterity Game (Operation)

§           Create a game and interface it to the computer.  I/O: LED’s & a buzzer.

 

Entire Project Here

 

·          Teacher’s Notes

·          Exemplars

·          Operation Game Board

·          Operation Wiring

·          Student Checklist

·          Marking Scheme

 

 

 

Programming

:::

Construction

@@

Time

½½

 

 

Follow the lights (Simon Says)

§           Follow the pattern of lights.  Push the correct buttons following the pattern shown.  If you get the pattern right, to move onto the next level and the pattern gets longer.

 

Entire Project Here

 

 

·          Teacher’s Notes

·          Exemplars

·          Simon Says Wiring

·          Student Checklist

·          Marking Scheme

 

·          Program Solution

 

 

Programming

:::

Construction

@@@

Time

½½½

 

 

Electromagnetic Crane

§           Create a crane to pick up paperclips using an electromagnet. Stepper motors & electromagnet. (Hide your floppies!)

 

Entire Project Here

 

 

·          Teacher’s Notes

·          Exemplars

·          Crane Wiring

·          Student Checklist

·          Marking Scheme

 

 

 

 

 

N  Take me to the suppliers!

 

 

 

Extra files

 

File Description

Files

 

Handouts / Overheads (.pdf)

 

 

Explanation of binary on the parallel port. 

Parallel Port Binary

 

Explanation of the breadboard, common wiring mistakes & resistor colour code handout

Breadboard Basics

 

Parallel Port Set-up - (Input and Output)

Parallel Port Set-up

 

DC Motor Setup – (Using P2222A Transistor)

DC Motor Setup – P2222A

 

DC Motor Setup – (Using TIP31 Transistor)

DC Motor Setup – TIP31

 

Stepper Motor Setup

Stepper Motor Setup

 

 

 

Templates (.doc)

 

 

Template – Blank Experimenter Kit Breadboard

Experimenter Breadboard

 

Template – Blank Double Rail Breadboard

Breadboard

 

 

 

Programs (.exe)

 

 

Number Systems Program – Useful review

 

Number Systems

 

 

 

DOWNLOAD ALL EXTRA FILES (.zip 508Kb)