Week06
Week06 Group Assignment¶
Objective¶
Use the test equipment in the lab to observe the operation of a microcontroller circuit board.
Purpose¶
The goal of the group assignment is to understand how a real embedded board behaves electrically.
Instead of assuming the circuit works, we must:
- Measure voltages
- Verify signal integrity
- Check continuity
- Observe communication signals
- Analyze signal timing
This builds confidence in debugging and troubleshooting hardware.
Lab Equipment¶
1. Multimeter — Electricity at a Point in Time¶
The multimeter is used to measure electrical properties at a specific moment.
Measurements:¶
- Continuity → Checks if two points are electrically connected.
- Voltage (DC) → Measures potential difference between two points.
- Resistance → Measures opposition to current flow.
- Current (if required) → Measures current flow in series.
The following to test the LED resistor installed for Ardiuno blinking (installed one was 220R) and the reading shows nearly 0.222k ohm ~ 220 ohm
Why It Is Important:¶
- Detect short circuits.
- Verify correct voltage levels (5V / 3.3V).
- Confirm resistor values.
- Ensure correct power distribution on the board.
The multimeter is the first debugging tool when a board does not work.
2. Oscilloscope — Electricity Over Time¶
The oscilloscope shows how voltage changes over time.
Used to Observe:¶
- PWM signals
- Digital square waves
- Clock signals
- Signal noise
- Rise and fall times
Why It Is Important:¶
Unlike a multimeter, the oscilloscope allows us to see waveform behavior.
This is critical when working with:
- Communication protocols
- Timing-sensitive signals
- Analog outputs
- Microcontroller PWM outputs
It transforms invisible electrical activity into visible graphs.
3. Logic Analyzer — Digital Signal Decoder¶
A logic analyzer captures digital signals and decodes protocols.
Used For:¶
- UART communication
- SPI communication
- I2C communication
- Serial debugging
Why It Is Important:¶
It helps verify:
- Correct TX/RX wiring
- Correct baud rate
- Proper communication between devices
- Protocol correctness
This tool is especially useful for debugging embedded communication errors.