A Web-Based System for Digital Logic Experiments

Abstract

Digital Logic is one of the most fundamental courses for computer professional students. As a way of strengthening their knowledge of theory and improving their hands-on skills, experiment teaching is important. In this paper, we introduce an integrated web-based system for digital logic experiment teaching. The system allows the students to carry out self-directed experiments, which helps consolidate their theoretical knowledge and encourages them to design innovative digital circuits with some particular functions, and in the meantime it enables the instructors to track the progress of a student's projects and assign experimental tasks required for the course conveniently. Based on the web, the system enhances the efficiency of both students and instructors, and it keeps good interaction between them. The proposed system is mainly composed of four important modules: the Graphical Circuit Module which allows students to connect the circuit elements with wires on canvas, the VHDL Module which uses VHDL to design digital circuits, the Simulation Module which performs simulation steps and shows the waveforms, and the Management Module which manages users' projects and allows instructors to create homework assignments.