Course Outline

ECET 499 Embedded Controllers Projects in a Multicultural Environment

Course Description: This course emphasizes applications of microcontrollers to dedicated hardware functions. The primary focus is the use of a C compiler such as the Keil or SDCC compiler with the 8051 microcontroller. The course uses the Silicon Laboratories C8051F120 microcontroller along with the Keil compiler. The course is project based instead of being lecture exam structured.

Course Structure: There will be lectures/demonstrations during the mornings from 9:00 – 12:00 am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays followed by a laboratory period from 10:45 – 12:00. The afternoon sessions are from 1:30 – 4:00 pm; this period is designed to be open laboratories with the instructor in the laboratory to assist the students. There is no afternoon session on Fridays because of the Friday prayers for most of local students.

This is an intense schedule and student are expected to work on the course four days per week and the other three days are set aside for cultural experiences or rest.

Wednesdays are reserved for cultural based field trips from about 8:30 in the morning till late afternoon. The places to be visited include Petronas Twin Towers (world’s tallest buildings), Putra Jaya (the ultra modern center of the Malaysian Government), Petaling Street (China Town), Motorola, and a tour of Kuala Lumpur. The weekends will be reserved for trips outside of the Kuala Lumpur to places such as Penang, Malacca and Singapore.  The actual places visited will be decided by discussion with the class and UniKL. The intent is visit places the students want to see after the introduction to Malaysia.

The students will be in Malaysia for about 3-1/2 weeks, however there will be one week of orientation prior to leaving, and two weeks afterwards for the student to finish the final project. Because of the intense nature of the course it is possible to complete the coursework in the three week period. The actual travel dates will be decided on ticket avaliblity.

The anticipated travel dates are from July 4th to August 5th. We need to be gone about 4 weeks to allow time for travel and of course a bit of jet lag.

Course Outline (based on six week Summer II schedule)