Digital Circuits - SCOPES Digital Fabrication

Lesson Details

Age Ranges
Standards
Fab-Safety.1, Fab-Programming.1, Fab-Electronics.1
Author
Additional Contributors
Original Lesson Here

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Author

Zaid Abusini
Other
Zaid Abusini is an Electronics Engineer from Yarmouk university specialist in Electronics design (PCB and hardware) in addition to programming and prototyping. he joined the FAB-LAB Irbid team, Microsoft (Trainer), and worked as a freelancer designer for PCB and prototyping… Read More

Summary

This is a 5 days Track focus on learning basic circuits theory and fundamentals in addition to Micro-controllers ( parts and operation ). Also we will make some applications using the micro-controller and the participant will be asked to build their own project at the fifth day.

Day 1 : Basic Circuits

Day 2 : Computer and Micro-controller

Day 3 : Basic Component

Day 4 : Advanced Component

Day 5 : Project

What You'll Need

This track is unplugged so you will find all the needed applications online for free.

The class circuits made on Tinker CAD,

Links:

1- Presentations and Lesson Plans

2- Video

3- Servo Circuit

4- Lux Measurement

5- Distance Measurement

6- Traffic Light

7- Music Code

The Instructions

Introduction ( Ice breaking )

In this section we will start by a wondering question to grab the attention of the kids and also get them involve to interact.

1- What do you know about electricity also can we live without it?

2- Usually kids says it power the stuff and it’s all around us.

3- We want the kids to understand that electricity is like water it flows in paths, but we call the particles “Charges”

4- We will introduce the scientific name of each the plug and the battery.

5- Also we will list some examples for devices uses DC and AC together.

What is Circuit

In this section we will introduce the circuit and why we call it a circuit.

1- Circuit : is a path for the charges to flow from point to point and it’s a closed one.

2- Circuits look like a circle as if we start from a certain point we will end at the same point again, This why we call it a circuit.

3- In circuits we have two different state opened circuits and closed circuits.

4- Closed circuits : forms a complete loop with no cuts.

5- Opened circuits : the path is not complete due to one of the wires is not connected or one of the component is corrupt.

Circuits Parts

We will talk about what make the circuit a circuit, and we will discuss each one briefly.

1- Circuits do consist of 3 main parts: “Voltage Source, Conductive paths, and Loads”.

2- Voltage source: is the component that provide power to the circuit “Battery”

3- Conductive paths: Is the component that provide routes for the charges to flow from one point to another.

4- Load : is the component in the circuit required to consume the power and make something from for example light bulb consume power to emit light and motor do consume power to move.

Circuit fundamentals

In this section we will discuss the current, voltage, and Resistance.

1- Current : is the flow of charges at a certain point, Also current carry power from the voltage source to the Load.

2- We can mention that we measure current by a unit called ampere “Amps”.

3- Voltage: is the amount of pressure the power source can provide, Also volts pushes the current to move in wires.

4- We can mention the unit of voltage which is volts”V”.

5- Resistance: is the opposite force in direction to the Voltage, However, every this in life do have resistance.

6- We can mention the unit of resistance which is Ohm” Ω

Note: We want the participant to know these stuff without mentioning more details.

Practical

In this section we will give the participant the chance to make simple circuit, also they can show more creativity and try many ways of building circuits.

1- We will use a platform from University of Colorado “PHET Colorado“.

2- Here we want the participant to try making a circuit, also to see how current flows and how increasing the voltage and decreasing it affect the current, in addition to have a look at the resistance and the effect of it increase and decrease.

 

Micro-controllers ( Day 2 ) (Introduction)

In this day we will introduce microcontroller to the participant also they will have the chance to simulate applications using Tinker CAD platform.

1- We usually start with a quick review to the last day by letting the participant to summarize. Also, we ask some questions to refresh their memory.

2- After that we should give a quick brief about what we are going to learn today.

3- Then we will start by asking questions about the computer to introduce what come next.

4- We want to ask about the brain of the computer if it has one and also about the language of the computer, They usually tell it doesn’t have brain nor language.

5- Then we can tell that the computer is a device to process data.

6- We can also answer the questions regarding the brain which is the CPU and the language which is Binary system.

6- Due to the different language we need devices in between to communicate with the computer called (I/O).

7- Input devices used to send data to the computer like (the mouse, and the keyboard).

8- Output devices used to take data from the computer like (Display, and the speaker).

 

Micro-controller

In this section we will reflect what we learnt about computer to the microcontrollers,

1- Microcontrollers are miniature computers exist in many devices to be controlled by it like (the coffee machine, and the microwave), and we call it microcontroller cause it used to control.

2- We usually let the participant to list more example about devices use microcontroller.

3- Then we will show a video about microcontroller.

**Note: the video is embed in the presentation.

Arduino

In this section we will introduce Arduino as a microcontroller by giving examples and also how to code it.

1- Arduino is a microcontroller with open source “platform”, you can find many examples about application can be done with it.

2- One Example board (Arduino UNO).

3- This board can run using our instruction, also we will build a software instructions.

4- So simply software is a bunch of instruction sorted in order of execution.

5- To do program on Arduino we need to use (C Arduino) on the (Arduino IDE).

6- In our case we will do programming using Tinker CAD which has both way of coding, Text Coding and Block coding.

Practice

Here we will mention the steps of using Tinker CAD and also the participant will build a simple circuit using Arduino (Blink LED). **Note : we build the classes so the participant will not be asked to make an account on Tinker CAD.

1- Usually we give the participant a tour on Tinker CAD to let them be familiar how to build the connection and also how to use the code section.

2- Then we will build simple circuit (Battery + LED) to show how the connection made.

3- Then we can start giving the instruction of today circuit (Blink LED).

4- It’s simple circuit, to show participant how to deal with Arduino in Tinker CAD.

5- Now we need to code the Arduino by clicking on “Code” to open it.

6- Now we will show participant how to code blink LED step by step.

7- This block is a special instruction for pin 13 on Arduino which has an internal LED connected for testing purpose.

8- This Instruction block will make the pin output and change its state whether HIGH or LOW.

9- This is the delay instruction block which will let the microcontroller to wait.

10- This is the final looking for the code.

11- At the end we can ask the participant to make traffic light circuit and code it.

**Note: Always your code must match your circuit connections.

Basic Component ( Day 3 ) (Introduction)

In this day we will build up upon what we had covered in the day before also we will do a quick summery for it.

1- We will start by asking the participant if they can summarize what we had taken the day before also I will do a quick one to not miss any idea.

2- We will review the input and output definition, and we will reflect what we’ve learnt on microcontrollers.

3- Also we will list some examples of sensors and actuators.

 

Push button

In this section we will cover the push button as a basic component, How to connect it with Arduino and the function of it.

1- Push button briefly a simple switch control the aspect of a machine.

2- Then we will move to Tinker CAD to build up our previous circuit by adding a push button to it.

3- This circuit is about connecting the push button to control the LED switching and also to know the IF statement and the flow of condition.

4- The Resister connected to the push button = (10k).

The Servo Motor

In this section we will introduce the servo for the participant, what is the servo, the internal component in the servo, and the uses of it in real life.

1- The Servo Motor is a device makes motion we use it to push or pull stuff.

2- The Servo consist of small DC Motor and Gears connected to the shaft of the DC Motor to give more torque so it can be capable of pushing and pulling heavy stuff.

3- However using the servo can give the user a specific reading about the angle of the servo shaft due to a potentiometer connected with the gears to assure this.

4- This device is widespread used in industrial due to low maintenance cost and the reliability of it.

5- The participant will be asked to try already made exercise to know how the servo work.

Piezo Buzzer

In this step the participant will get to know what is the piezo speaker.

1- The Piezo Buzzer is a cheap speaker, and very low quality sound, Also this speaker is commonly used in testing due to the availability.

2- The participant will do a circuit contain buzzer and Arduino and then use already made code to play music.

3- Quite easy circuit just connect the positive with pin 11 and Negative with Ground(GND).

4- And Regarding the code just switch the way of coding from blocks to text and then delete all the code in the section paste the new code and start the simulation.

**Note: No need to review the code it’s not easy for 8 years kid to understand the flow of such things. However codes are attached next. (CODES)

Advanced Component (DAY4)

In this Day the participant will be introduced to new sensors also they will get to know what is sensors and the way it's already used.

1- We will start by introducing sensors to thee participant by connecting this to the five senses we have as humans (ears, eyes, nose, etc.); we have these senses to understand the surrounding environment and to grab data to our mind.

2- So sensors do the same for MCU they feed data to it, to be processed and make actions upon results.

3- We can also list some examples about like (Light sensor, level Sensor, and motion sensor).

4- We will start by introducing Ultrasonic sensor to the participant as a distance measuring sensor and an obstacle detector, which produces ultrasonic waves from the sensor and when it hit an object it will be reflected back to the sensor to know there is object in front and also to measure distance.

5- This sensor is widely spread in industry also it found in nature so some creatures do use these waves to detect other creatures and also to communicate. Like (Dolphins, and Bats).

6- Also in car industry the sonar sensor which is mounted in the rear side of the car to make reverse process easier to the driver by making sound when it detects object in the rear side while reverse.

7- The second sensor is the light sensor which detect light and can be used to measure the LUX of light.

8- This light sensor is the (LDR) Light dependent resistor which basically a resistor its value changes as the light intensity changes.

9- We will build a circuit contains LDR and LED so when the light disappears the LED will switch on and if there is light the LED will be switched off.

10- So here the resistor value is (4.7K), and the connection will be to analogue pin to have continuous data from the sensor.

11- The participant will code the circuit also, it has no difference from the previous one it’s just the application of the circuit.

**Note : This circuit is widely used in street lights as when the sun rises the lights will go off and when the sun set it will switch on back.

12- After that we will introduce for the participant the LCD (Liquid crystalline Display).

13- The LCD is an output device used to show data on the screen also it can be used as an input device like smartphones.

14- Also many devices use the LCD such as smartphones, ATM, portable game console (game boy), etc…

15- We will let the participant to try a circuit that measure distance and show the data on LCD, this is already made circuit its about trying the circuit application.

16- The final circuit it’s about showing the intensity of light (LUX) by using LDR.

** Note : These already made circuit it’s to show the participant how widely they can think creating new applications using these stuff. Also, to give them the chance to try such applications.

** Links : 1- Servo Circuit

2- Lux Measurement

3- Distance Measurement

Projects (DAY5)

In this day the participant will be asked to make a project on their own also the instructor can help them in coding.

1- Most of the participant made the project one day before, so we usually just review their work, However some are not, and they keep asking for help.

2- We also show them some example’s application we made during the past days to refresh their memory.

** Note : It’s about motivating them to think alone and build up things from scratch.

Standards

  • (Fab-Safety.1): I can safely conduct myself in a Fab Lab and observe operations under instructor guidance.
  • (Fab-Programming.1): I understand the basic structure of a simple program and can modify values, variables, or other parameters to alter its output, function, or behavior.
  • (Fab-Electronics.1): I can follow instructions to build a simple electrical circuit using conductive material, basic components, and power.

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