Motorola 68000 family simulators in education

Abstract

Currently, the Computer Systems Engineering Department of Arkansas University, USA, offers a course where a digital circuit is designed with the Motorola 68000 microprocessor (CSEG/ELEG 4983 Computer Hardware Design). The authors describe how, in order to enhance the laboratory exercises for the students and to allow them to experiment with more than one microprocessor, a simulator is under development which will allow the student to choose among the microprocessors in the 68000 family (giving the student the opportunity to increase the level of complexity in the microprocessor) and to place them into digital circuit designs. The student can get an idea of what he/she wants before using the computer aided design package to complete the design of the circuit.