SnapLogic Digital Lab Set - SWITCH-1,-2,-3,-4, STATUS-A,-B,-C,-Y, RESISTOR-0,-1, INVERTER-A,-B,-C, BUFFER-A,-B,-C, WIRE-2,-4, AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, and D-FLIP/FLOP

SnapLogic™ Digital Lab Set...

Introduction to Exercises (Excerpt out of the SnapLogic™ Book)

In the exercise pages that follow, a student can experiment with logic circuits without the need for breadboards, wires, electrical test instruments, etc. SnapLogic cards are indefinitely reusable and durable so long as the stated precautions are followed. Each exercise contains an example schematic and a suggested SnapLogic card layout that mimics the circuit. The student can use the exercises to assemble circuits so as to quickly and easily learn their functionality. Blank truth tables are provided to record the resulting logic outputs in each exercise.

Click on the image to view the first Exercise (Animated)

(Click on the image to animate!)

Prototype kit included with the Digital Lab Set

Additionally a prototype set is included with each Digital Lab Set to enable use of specific gate IC's for their own applications.

This prototype set includes the following:

1" x 1" prototype board with SC70-5, SC70-6, SOT23-5 and US8-8 footprints
Four .1" center headers
Four sample gates

Circuit Designer's Guide also included with the Digital Lab Set

The accompanying Circuit Designer’s Guide CD contains valuable information that will be useful to the student.

This CD also includes datasheets for each gate from selected manufacturers.

Please take the time to browse the CD before embarking upon your digital learning experience.

Digital Basics Book Foreword

Clyde Calcote’s earnest technical writing style appeals to electronic enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels. Each informative page of text is accompanied by a well designed illustration. For the reader, these superbly detailed illustrations serve to quickly demystify each new digital topic. As a former college professor myself, it is obvious this author has the talent to pass his technical expertise on to his readers simply and effectively.

Once, after finishing a physics lecture, a student asked him, "How is this concept applied?" Unable to think of an application, he replied "I don’t know but remember it for the future." Upon leaving the teaching profession, he has spent many years in the computer industry. During that time he has designed a multitude of electronic devices that have put the engineering concepts he once taught to use in countless commercial applications. Needless to say, he can certainly answer that student’s question today.

The basic knowledge gained by the readers of this book will serve as a solid foundation for further study in the field of digital electronics. No doubt many individuals will keep this book around for reference long after they have mastered it contents.

SnapLogic™ Digital Basics Book

Introduction to Logic - introduces SnapLogic, Integrated Circuits, Jack Kilby, George Boole, Logic rules and examples, basic electrical theory and electrical circuits.

Boolean Logic - basic boolean logic gates, AND, OR, NOT, boolean expressions

Basic Electricity - Electron flow, current, volts, resistance, direct current, conventional versus real flow and power in a circuit.

MOSFETS - solid state switches, P-MOSFET, N-MOSFET, MOSFET circuit precautions, power up control, resistors with MOSFETs, MOSFETs representing an AND and OR circuit.

Logic Gates - logic gates defined, low and high voltage, input and output voltages, logic gate design, INVERTER's, source sink outputs, open drain outputs, pull ups, 3-STATE output, and BUFFERs.

Truth Tables - truth tables defined, AND, OR, INVERTER, BUFFER, INVERTER (Open Drain), BUFFER 3-STATE, XOR, NAND and NOR truth tables.

Logic Gate Classes - combinational and sequential logic, D-Flip/Flop I/O and operation, zero's and one's, bits, AND, OR, INVERTER and BUFFER digital truth tables, positive versus negative logic, and equivalent gates (AND, OR, NAND, NOR)

SnapLogic Cards - Input and output convention, gate symbols, SnapLogic bus diagram, signal and power bus wires, SnapLogic card set, SWITCH-1, SWITCH-2, SWITCH-3, SWITCH-4, STATUS-A, STATUS-B, STATUS-C, STATUS-Y, RESISTOR-0, RESISTOR-1, INVERTER-A, INVERTER-B, INVERTER-C, BUFFER-A, BUFFER-B, BUFFER-C, WIRE-2, WIRE-4, AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, and D-FLIP/FLOP.

Excercises - Schematic defined, constructing SnapLogic circuits, nine steps exercise example, AND, OR, INVERTER, XOR, NAND, NOR, BUFFER (3-STATE), D-FLIP/FLOP, INVERTER (Open Drain), INVERTER (Open Drain) pull-up, BUFFER (Open Drain), BUFFER (Open Drain) pull-up, AND equivalent circuit, OR equivalent circuit, NAND equivalent circuit, NOR equivalent circuit, Wired-AND, NAND INVERTER, INVERTER BUFFER, XNOR, and BATTERY power check.

Appendix - Abbreviations and symbols, glossary (over 350 terms), biographies (eight electronic pioneers), full index, exercise answers, truth table templates and notes.

What are SnapLogic Cards?

A set of SnapLogic cards consists of 25 small, printed circuit boards (PCBs). Twelve of the cards in this set contain one each of the most elementary digital logic circuits. On each of these cards, there is a tiny plastic case housing an integrated circuit (IC) that resides on a silicon chip. Special traces called leads emerge from the case allowing outside electrical access to the chip within. In turn, these leads are connected to small sockets that are joined by little pins to build circuits using the SnapLogic cards.

SnapLogic Connector Pins

Note: image is enlarged for visibility

Why use SnapLogic Cards?

SnapLogic cards provide users with a simplistic "hands-on" tool for learning more about the functionality of conventional digital logic. These cards also serve as a platform for working with very tiny logic ICs. Best of all, wires, soldering irons, logic probes and power supplies are not necessary to begin learning about digital logic. Everything needed is ready and available. By using the SnapLogic Digital Design Lab Set, students can gain insight into a new breed of logic IC that operates at nanosecond switching speeds powered only by two AAA batteries.

SnapLogic Card Set

SWITCH-1 & -2 — pull-up switch inputs.

SWITCH-3 & -4 — pull-down switch inputs.

STATUS-A,-B,-C & -Y — logic state indicators.

RESISTOR-1 — discrete pull-up resistor.

RESISTOR-0 — discrete pull-down resistor.

INVERTER-A & -B — not function IC.

INVERTER-C — open drain not function IC.

BUFFER-A — open drain buffer function IC.

BUFFER-B — buffer function IC.

BUFFER-C — three-state buffer function IC.

AND — and function IC.