The Integration Of The Complex Programmable Logic Devices With The Introduction To Digital Logic Design Course

The field programmable logic devices (FPLDs), which include both field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), are modern technologies defining the new essential engineering skills. Although many commercial programmable device products for high education exist on market, they usually have multiple functionalities and they are expensive for many engineering students. In order to offer students more opportunities to use new technologies in the digital labs or at home, the author designed two low cost CPLD boards during the summer of 2004. The author taught computer engineering and electrical engineering students the art of the logic design using the FPLD technology at the California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). This paper describes the issues related to the integration of the CPLD boards with the Introduction to Digital Logic Design course.