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EE 459Lx - Embedded Systems Design Laboratory

Reference Library

This is collection of documents from a variety of sources for use by the students in EE 459Lx. Some of the documents may not be relevant to the current semester's project but are left here for reference purposes.

Click here for this semester's EE459Lx class web page.

Some of the following documents may be in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. You will need the Acrobat Reader program (download free from Adobe) to view and print the documents.

Questions, corrections and comments about the content of this page should be sent to Allan Weber (weber at sipi.usc.edu).

Course Topics

Microcontroller

Note: The microcontroller described in the documents below used to be from Motorola but is now produced by Freescale Semiconductor. While the manufacturer name and web site have changed, everything else is pretty much the same. Some documentation may still say Motorola.

PLDs

Video

Images

LCD Panels

GPS

Stepper Motors

Test Equipment

Datasheets

The datasheets listed below have been obtained from various places on the Internet. They are all copyrighted by someone but we're not going to worry about that. Datasheets for the newer parts were mostly obtained from the manufacturers or from Jameco and Digi-Key where we order most of our parts. Others were snagged from web sites wherever we could find them.

For older 74LS TTL parts, most came from vendors like T.I., Motorola and Fairchild that used to sell these things. If you are looking for TTL datasheets, try the links below.

Fairchild Semiconductor - They used to have a good collection of very presentable datasheets but it looks like most of the 74LS ones have been removed. Most are not scanned images so if you can find these, it will be easier to read and print out. Also check out this link which appears to be an online copy of a Fairchild product information CD from a 2002.

On Semiconductor - I think they are mainly a distributer of ICs, not a manufacturer. They may have absorbed Motorola's TTL product line, or at least their tech library. Either way, they have a large collection of datasheets online and they are good quality.

Texas Instruments - TI has a large collection of datasheets online, both for current chips and for many obsolete ones. Many of their files are scans of pages from their printed databooks and the images come out looking pretty bad. If you can't find a non-scanned copy somewhere else, get it from here. However they do have a nice PDF of their digital logic data book.

None of these sites are particulary easy to use if you don't know what part you are looking for. If looking for 74 series TTL chips, do a search for "74LSxxxN" where xxx the rest of the part number. The "74LS" will find it in one of the more common logic family, and the "N" says to find a standard plastic package.

Video ICs

A/D and D/A converters

Analog and Interface ICs

Optoelectronics

Discrete components

Miscellaneous pin-out diagrams

Relays

Stepper motors and associated components

Real-Time Clocks

Memory

Keyboards and Buttons

PALs

TTL 74LS digital ICs

Older TTL ICs. These parts are not normally used in current EE459Lx projects. Some are non-74LS parts that are logically compatible withe 74LSxx parts, but may have problems electrically due to different fan-in and fan-out. Other parts have have power and ground at non-standard positions or are listed as obsolete by the manufacturers and are no longer being produced. However they are still present in the our stock of parts so if you want to use them you can.

Where to Find Stuff

If you are interested in purchasing electronic components for building projects, here are some links to places we buy parts form.

Jameco Electronics - We used to buy most of our stuff from Jameco before they "improved" their web site. It's now more difficult to find stuff on the web site so you may be better off requesting a printed catalog. It's usually easier to find parts in the printed catalog than online. It will also get you on their mailing list for future catalogs.
Digi-Key - This is our other primary supplier. They send out a printed catalog of over 1000 pages. However the size of the catalog sometimes make it hard to find things.
SparkFun Electronics - This company sells a lot of interesting items for the hobbiest/experimenter. Their inventory changes a lot so you might not be able to buy the same things six months from now.
All Electronics - This is basically a surplus store with both new and used components. Their prices on some stuff is very good, provided you can find what you need. You can also visit their store at 14928 Oxnard St., Van Nuys.
B.G. Micro - They sell a wide variety of interesting stuff. Download their PDF format catalog.

Below are the addresses of some surplus stores in the L.A. area that might be sources of parts for building projects.

Apex Surplus, 8909 San Fernando Road, Sun Valley