Lab 12: Memory, Clocks, Counters, and Converters

Note: For Part 1, draw your own circuit diagram. For Parts 2 onwards, work from the circuit diagram on the next page.

Part 1: Build a one-bit memory cell out of any combinatorial logic gates you like. Draw a circuit diagram of your memory cell with pin numbers and power supplies marked. Explain how it works and demonstrate to an instructor.

Part 2: Consulting the circuit diagram on the next page, build the clock oscillator, which consists of comparator U1 and surrounding resistors and capactiors. Measure the frequency of the clock signal, CK, for C1 = 1.0 nF, 10 nF, and 100 nF. How does the clock frequency vary with capacitance? By decreasing C1, what is the highest clock frequency you can attain? At this highest frequency, will the oscillator still run without the decoupling capacitor, C2?

Part 3: Restore C1 to 1.0 nF and check the oscillator is running well. Build the stairway counter, which consists of U2 and C3. Draw a timing diagram showing how the four stairway bits, S0..S3, evolve over sixteen complete cycles of CK. How would this timing diagram change if you inserted an inverter between CK and the clock input of U2?

Part 4: Build the stairway digital to analog converter (DAC), which consists of R6..R9. Sketch the stairway voltage, X. How many steps do you see? What is the smallest step size, and the largest? Give two reasons why the step sizes are not uniform.

Part 5: Build the stairway comparator, which consists of U3 and R10. Drive the analog input, Y, with a potentiometer so we can vary it from 0 to 5 V. Look at STR on your oscilloscope while increasing Y from 0 to 5 V. Does the frequency of STR change? Does its duty cycle change? What event causes the falling edge of STR? What event causes the rising edge of STR?

Part 6: Build the analog to digital converter (ADC) register, which consists of U4. Which is the most significant bit of the register? How does the binary number D3..D0 vary with Y?

Part 7: Build the output DAC, which consists of R11..R14. Observe how Z varies with Y. Connect a triangle wave of 100 Hz to Y. Compare Y and Z on your oscilloscope. What are the minimum and maximum values Z can attain? Adjust the amplitude and offest of Y until the triangle wave lies just within the range of Z. Sketch the two waveforms.

Part 8: What is the average sampling frequency of your ADC? How does the sampling frequency of your ADC relate to the clock frequency? With your existing sampling frequency, switch to a sinusoidal waveform on Y. What is the highest frequency of sinusoid on Y that still appears as a waveform of the same frequency on Z? Set your clock frequency to the maximum value you obtained in Part 2. Does your ADC still work? If not, reduce the frequency until it does. What is its sampling frequency now? What is the maximum frequency sinusoid it can digitize and still have the frequency of the output waveform be correct?