Creation of the Next Generation Introductory Circuits Laboratory

本项目详细介绍了电路入门课程的新一代实验室，包括实验室测试仪器和个人计算机。该项目的目标是通过统一理论计算、使用PSPICE的计算机模拟以及使用现代测试设备和仪器技术在实验室进行物理验证，为我们的学生提供丰富的创造性设计经验。新实验室的每个实验练习都包括设计、模拟和构建无线控制系统的子电路。随着学期的推进，学生将这些子电路相互连接，在学期末形成一个完整的无线系统。物理实验室由14个站点组成，其中8个站点包含最先进的数字测量仪器。剩下的六个站点包含的测量仪器已有25年以上的历史。目标是用与新设备类似的设备取代所有剩余的陈旧仪器。该部门正在创建一系列实验室实验，其中每一步都是一个整体的组成部分，具有普遍的统一主题，而不是一系列脱节的练习。学生们的实验室体验变得更加有趣，甚至令人兴奋。由于有意义的设计问题围绕着最先进的、真实世界的应用程序，课堂原则直接相关，提高了学生的记忆力。随着一系列子电路设计问题的形成，每个子电路都在实验室进行模拟和测试，一份新的实验室手册正在同时编制。这本手册将通过万维网作为全国范本在其他大学中使用。

This project details a new generation of laboratory for the introductory circuits course including laboratory test instruments and personal computers. The goal of this project is to provide our students with a rich experience in creative design by unifying theoretical calculations, computer simulations using PSpice, and physical verification in the laboratory using modern test equipment and instrumentation techniques. Each laboratory exercise in the new laboratory consists of designing, simulating, and building the subcircuits of a wireless control system. As the semester progresses, the students interconnect these subcircuits, leading to a complete wireless system at the end of the semester. The physical laboratory consists of 14 stations, 8 of which contain state-of-the-art digital measurement instruments. The remaining six stations contain measurement instruments that are more than 25 years old. The objective is to replace all of the remaining archaic instruments with equipment similar to the new equipment. The department is in the process of creating a sequence of laboratory experiments in which each step is an integral part of a whole, with a pervasive unifying theme rather than a sequence of disjointed exercises. The laboratory experience for the students is becoming much more interesting, even exciting. With meaningful design problems centered around a state-of-the-art, real-world application, the classroom principles are immediately relevant, enhancing student retention. As the sequence of subcircuit design problems is being formulated, each subcircuit simulated and tested in the laboratory, a new laboratory manual is being developed concurrently. This manual will be made available for use in other universities as a national model through the World-Wide Web.