ECSE-2610

Computer Components & Operations

(CoCO)
Spring 2010

Scope & Course Mechanics

(a more detailed syllabus is posted on LMS)

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 1

 Course Objectives

1. Introduce the fundamental concepts of digital logic and computer

systems including
• Number systems and their representation
• Operations on binary variables and Boolean algebra
2. Introduce the basic techniques of analysis and design of digital logic
circuits, including
• Combinational circuits (logic gates: ANDs, ORs, EXORs)
• Sequential circuits (Flip-Flops)
3. Provide experience designing, modeling, and building digital logic
circuits.
Notation (hex, + ● ⊕, VHDL) gates LW protoboard

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 2

 Instructor

Prof. George Nagy

Email: nagy@ecse.rpi.edu
Office: JEC 6020. Phone: 518-276-6078
Office hours: Mon. 12:30-1:30 and Wed. 1:30-2:30
or by appointment

http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/homepages/nagy/

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 3

 Teaching Assistants and office hours
in the Flip-Flop (JEC 6037)

Ramana Jandhyala jandhr@rpi.edu

Tuesday 11:30-1:30

Jun Liao liaojun353@gmail.com

Tuesday 4:00-5:00

Sherry Liu liux11@rpi.edu

Tuesday 3:00-4:00

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 4

 Course Components
Lectures twice a week
2:00pm-3:50am, Monday and Thursday. Attendance not required.
In LOW CII 4050. No open laptops please!
2-hr Studio sessions once a week. Required.
In JEC 6309.
Starting this Wednesday (27/1).
Bring your laptop each week (except this week).
Homework once a week. Required.
Assigned each Thursday, collected next Wednesday (in Studio).
Two in-class midterm exams and a final exam. Required.
Thursday evening time slot will not be used unless
we cannot find another room for the midterms: study!

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 5

 Course Components
Lectures twice a week
2:00pm-3:50am, Monday and Thursday. Attendance not required.
In LOW CII 4050. No open laptops please!
2-hr Studio sessions once a week. Required.
In JEC 6309. Exercises, LogicWorks, Protoboards
Starting this Wednesday (27/1).
Bring your laptop each week (except this week).
Homework once a week. Required.
Assigned each Thursday, collected next Wednesday (in Studio).
Two in-class midterm exams and a final exam. Required.
Thursday evening time slot will not be used unless
we cannot find another room for the midterms: study!
Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 6
 Grades
Component Weight
Homework 20%
Labs (Studio) 25%
Exam 1 15%
Exam 2 15%
Final Exam 25%

Exam 1 (March 1) and Exam 2 (April 8) 2:00 -3.50

Please note the dates now to avoid conflicts.
The final exam will be scheduled by the Registrar during
finals week.

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 7

 Regrading Request Policy

Applies to homework, studios, and exams.

If you believe a problem was graded wrongly, resubmit
the material to the TA who graded it with a detailed
written explanation of what and why you think a problem
was wrongly graded.
(if you and the TA cannot resolve it, I will arbitrate)
Must be resubmitted no later than one week after the
graded material is returned to the class.
Encouraged!

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 8

 Academic Integrity

Many of us consider it very important!

No cheating of any kind will be tolerated.
Penalties include an F in the course and possible
expulsion from RPI.
You can work in a group on homework, but must submit
your own work only.
You must work alone on labs, unless the lab handout
says otherwise.
All exam work must be solely your own.
Please don’t cheat yourselves: a degree from RPI may get you a first job, but to keep it you have to know stuff.

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 9

 Missed Exams or Assignments

Excused missed Studios and Midterms will be made up by extra

weight on the Final Examination

e.g., if you miss a midterm, your mark on the final examination

will account for 40% instead of 25% of your grade.

A written official excuse is required (from Student Life: Student

Health, Dean of Students, Athletics, …). Unexcused absences
will result in a zero grade for that studio or midterm.

All HW grades lower than your grade on the final examination will
be replaced by your grade on the final. Why?

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 10

 Required Course Materials

Required Textbooks

1. John F. Wakerly, Digital Design: Principles and Practices, 4th

Edition, Prentice Hall. (Book website: http://www.ddpp.com/)
2. Capilano Computing, LogicWorks 5: Interactive Circuit Destgn
Software, Prentice Hall, 2004.

Required Software
• LogicWorks 5
¾ Comes with Book #2. Load it on your laptop. Check for
update on their website:

http://www.capilano.com/LogicWorks/

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 11

 Recommended References

• Randy H. Katz and Gaetano Borriello, Contemporary

Logic Design, 2nd Edition, Prentice-Hall.

• M. Morris Mano and Charles R. Kime, Logic and

Computer Design Fundamentals, Prentice-Hall.

Folsom Library has many other books dealing with

Computer Organization and Logic Design.

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 12

 Course Homepage

All the course material including lecture notes, homework, studio

assignments, grades, announcements, and TA information will be
posted on Learning Management System, formerly known as
WebCT.

https://rpilms.rpi.edu/

The Registrar has loaded the class list: you already have access.

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 13

 Readings

Keep up with readings in the book.

Later material builds on earlier material,
and it is easy to fall behind.

Read Chapter 1 for background and motivation.

Read Sections 2.1 - 2.4 for Wednesday’s Studio,
and 2.5 - 2.7 for the homework due February 3.
Read 4.1 – 4.2 for Thursday. (We cover Chapter 4
before Chapter 3.)

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 14

 Questions ?

Jan 25, 2010 COCO (ECSE-2610): Intro & Syllabus 15