Qualification

SCQF Level 7

Interests

  • Engineering

Why take this course?

This Unit was developed for the HNC/HND Electronics Group Awards, or may be taken as a stand alone HN Unit. It has been designed to allow you to develop knowledge, understanding and skills associated with combinational logic, which is the basis of digital electronics and underpins more advanced work in this area of study.

The early part of the unit deals with the basic elements of digital electronics and should provide you with a good grounding in this subject area. You will learn to interpret manufacturers data sheets for a range of TTL and CMOS devices, meaning you have the knowledge to select the most appropriate device for a particular application. Those who have studied digital in an earlier course will be provided with an opportunity for revision.

Credit points and level: 1 HN credit at SCQF level 7: (8 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 7).

What you will experience

On this course you will learn to use truth tables, Karnaugh maps and DeMorgan’s theorems to produce the most economic design to meet the application requirements. You will use computer software to simulate and test your design solution for functional accuracy. By the end of the unit you will be expected to design and construct circuits which meet stated design requirements using the minimum number of devices, and will be able to check, using logic measuring equipment, that circuits meet the design brief.

It is recommended that the assessment for all four outcomes in this unit are combined into one assessment paper and a practical exercise. The final assessment will take the form of a written test paper lasting two hours, which will be taken under supervised, controlled closed book conditions. You will not be allowed to take notes, textbooks etc into the assessment. You will however have access to device data sheets.

The practical exercise will allow you to show evidence of your practical expertise. There will be a design and construct exercise where you will be expected to design and build a circuit to perform a specified function. This is likely to be conducted in a laboratory at a different time from the written assessment, and will last no more than three hours.