The purpose of the myDAQ experiments is to give you some familiarity with electronic hardware and with laboratory equipment and instruments before you enter the Electronics Design Lab next semester. The National Instruments (NI) myDAQ device that will be used for this is a USB-powered data acquisition device with analog and digital inputs and outputs. In conjunction with a computer, the myDAQ can act as a Digital Multimeter, a Function Generator, an Oscilloscpe and more. Look at the Introduction to NI myDAQ or the National Instruments myDAQ Website for more details and examples.
Checking out a NI myDAQ. The NI myDAQ devices can be checked out from the ECEE Department's E-Store (ECEE 1B10, across from the ECEE main office). The device, probes, USB cable, 20-position screw terminal, screwdriver, breadboard, and software (DVD) come in a blue soft-sided zipped bag. You are responsible for everything in this bag. You will be given a form to sign which indicates what is in the bag and that your grade will be withheld if you do not return the bag and its full contents.
Where to use the myDAQ. The NI myDAQ software is installed on the computers in the ECEE Student Resource Center (SRC) and in the main ECEE student lab in ECEE 281. The software that comes in the bag with the myDAQ device can be installed on your own computer (Windows only).
Technical Report. The end result of your myDAQ experiments is a Technical Report (check the Technical Report Evaluation Rubric to see the grading criteria) that describes the experiments that were run in terms of their design, their simulation in LTspice, their implementation, and the results obtained, including the answers to specific questions asked in the experiment descriprion. The report has to be typed (formulas and drawings written by hand are o.k.) and any materials from outside sources that were used have to be properly referenced. Graphs need to be scaled appropriately and they need to be labeled. All your arguments and computations need to be logical and substantiated. In addition to the main body, the report needs to have title, an intorduction, and a conclusion. Feel free to discuss problems and solutions with other students and to borrow parts from other students, but the actual setup and running of the experiment(s) and the writing of the technical report are individual efforts.
myDAQ Experiment 1: Capacitors and the 555 Timer. The due date for this assignment is Fri. 12/02/11.
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