Data acquisition, digital electronics and microelectronics

lphys2104  2025-2026  Louvain-la-Neuve

Data acquisition, digital electronics and microelectronics
5.00 credits
22.5 h + 22.5 h
Q1
> Schedule
Teacher(s)
Cortina Gil Eduardo; Quertenmont Loïc (compensates Cortina Gil Eduardo);
Language
English
> French-friendly
Prerequisites
No pre-requisites. However, having followed LPHY2103 is an asset.
Main themes
This teaching unit is designed to introduce the student to digital electronics and data acquisition systems with special emphasis in a practical work through a personal project.
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

  1. Contribution of the teaching unit to the learning outcomes of the programme (PHYS2M and PHYS2M1)
AA1: A1.1, A1.5
AA2: A2.5
  1. Specific learning outcomes of the teaching unit
At the end of this teaching unit, the student will be able to :
    1. Describe how digital devices works in terms of the fundamental logical operations ;
    2. Analize and design a finite state machine ;
    3. Use  a simple communication protocol (I2C, USB, OneWire, …) to readout a sensor.
    4. Program an FPGA using VHDL (or Verilog)
    5. Link a FPGA to a computer.
 
Content
1. Digital and analog signals and systems.
2. Number systems, operations and codes.
3. Logic gates and gate combinations.
4. Combinational logic : adders, decoders, comparators, multiplexers, …
5. Sequential logic : flip-flops, timers, shift registers, counters, …
6. Counters : finite state machines.
7. Programmable logic : VHDL.
8. Data transmission.
9. Signal conversion : ADC, DAC, …
10. Buses and interfaces : serial and parallel buses, USB, I2C, ethernet.
Teaching methods
Lectures and exercises  sessions in auditorium.
Directed practical work (compulsory) :
- experimental study of basic circuits;
- simulation of circuits;
- weekly assignments.
Project : developing an acquisition system with an FPGA and/or RaspberryPi :
- implementation of a serial reading protocol (type I2C, USB, ...) ;
Evaluation methods
The evaluation is based on:
- laboratory work. Continuous evaluation (25%)
- Weekly exercices and assignements. Continuous evaluation (25%)
- presentation of an acquisition project : oral questioning (50%).
All three parts should be passed with more than 50% each.
Bibliography
  1. Digital Fundamentals, 11th Edition (http://www.pearsonglobaleditions.com/Sitemap/Floyd/), Thomas Floyd, Ed. Pearson.
  2. Acquisition de Données. Du Capteur à l'Ordinateur, Georges Asch et collaborateurs, Ed. Dunod.
Faculty or entity
> PHYS


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Additionnal module in Physics
APPHYS
5
Master [60] in Physics
PHYS2M1
5
Master [120] in Physics
PHYS2M
5
Master [120] of Education, Section 4 : Physics
PHYS2M4
5