CPSC 483 Lab Syllabus

Assignments

The due dates for course requirements are attached. All deadlines must be met, unless a university-approved excuse is provided.

For the Xilinx tutorials chapter 1 and 2, turn in your verilog modules and/or schematics as your write-up. For lab 3, 4 and 6 turn in your source code and/or schematics as well as brief descriptions of your designs. All of the assignments can be found on the course web page at http://www.cs.tamu.edu/course-info/cpsc483/rabi/. The write-ups are due at 6:00 PM on their due dates and should contain print-outs of any schematics, state diagrams, HDL code, and simulations that are required by the assignments. You must demonstrate the correctness of your solution to your TA before 6:00 PM on the due date.

All Xilinx assignments are to be turned in to the TAs. Questions regarding lab procedures and equipment should be directed to the TAs.

Equipment Access

In order to fully utilize the computers in the lab, you need to get a computer account in the department. To get departmental accounts, see the HelpDesk (at the printroom), or see the Web page http://www.cs.tamu.edu/csg/accounts/.

The following is a short list of some of the equipment in the lab that can be used for projects:

1. Xilnix FPGAs
2. PowerPC VME boards (603e)
3. 68HC11 evaluation boards
4. Basic Stamps
5. Quick Cams (parallel)
6. Bunches of SCSI stuff
7. Simplex fiber evaluation kit
8. Several small radio transmitters and receivers (~2400 baud)
9. Graphical LCD panels. (somebody please play with these..)
10. A plethora of HP-IB stuff (scopes, analyzers, function generators, and etc.)
11. A few DSP boards
12. Many other treasures
13. We have a limited ability to order other items

Lab Rules

The following are some rules that MUST be followed:

1. Keep the lab clean.
2. Always conduct yourself in a professional manner (there will be outside visitors from time to time)
3. Return chairs to under-table positions when you leave.
4. When you leave the lab, close your toolbox with all of YOUR tools in it.
5. Items that you are assigned MUST stay in the lab. You cannot take items home.
6. Do not touch other people's projects. (this is especially important since the lab will be very crowded).
7. Do not work on electrical items alone in the lab. You must have a "buddy" when doing electrical things!
8. If you break something, tell us. It happens. Covering up a break is really not a good thing to do.
9. Do not let someone else into the lab! You must use your card on EVERY entry. Due to the fact we have open hardware this is especially important.
10. When you leave, log out.
11. After the first two weeks, your group will be assigned a machine. Your group has priority on this machine, but others will occasionally need to use it.
12. If you attract a donation for your project, this must be done via the university. If you attract a donation and keep the item yourself, people will be unhappy.
13. Feel free to leave items are your table (books and such) as long as they are neatly organized. Note: we are not responsible for lost items.
14. Don’t sleep in the lab, and don’t leave articles of clothing.
15. These lab facilities are for CPSC 483, do not use them for other classes.
16. If you need an item from the storeroom, ask a TA for it. DO NOT enter the storeroom without a TA!
17. All pre-school and kindergarten rules are in effect.
18. Do not use the TA's office as a hallway to avoid using your card in the door.
19. If you have a problem with a classmate, or a TA please talk to us or talk with Dr. Mahapatra immediately.
20. DO NOT install software on the machines.
21. DO NOT attempt to break into the machines.
22. DO NOT use someone else's card, or account.
23. Think before you turn something on. Will it catch fire?
24. Don’t eat or drink in the lab. (don’t even bring the food in)
25. Do not move the computers!
26. These rules can be amended at anytime! (we will write new rules on the board)

Email questions and/or problems to Rabi Mahapatra