An LSI controller chip laboratory

Hand wiring of integrated-circuit (IC) chips is a skill most electronics teachers feel their students should experience. At the same time many compute interface circuits require 40 pin LSI (large-scale integration) chips plus numerous accessory chips, making hand wiring too time consuming for most laboratory sessions. To overcome this dilemma, a laboratory course was developed that enables students to experience some hand wiring as well as gain experience with a number of LSI controller chips. The teaching approach behind this course is described. Specific examples used at Mohawk College are also explained in some detail