Cardiff Metropolitan University

HND in Electrical and Electronics

Module
Code Title Module Leader
EL 402 Digital Electronics Sareka S.

Assessment
Title Weighting
Dynamic traffic light controller 20 %
Submit to: Deadline
Office Blackboard SIS
x
Late submissions will incur a penalty according to ICBT regulations
Additional submission details:

Your report must provide the complete design process including demonstration images/pictures in
the appendices. Student should upload their programme files along with the report via ICBT SMIS.

In this assessment, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Understand the use of digital electronics in the modern electronics and digital IC characteristics.
(LO1)
2. Explain the operation of sequential logic and use it to develop circuits such as binary counters
and shift registers. (LO3)
3. Knowledge and apply FSM design techniques (Mealy/Moore) to develop sequential logic design.
(LO4)
4. knowledge and understand microprocessor architecture based on combinational and sequential
logic concepts. (LO5)

Assessment Elements Weighting (%)

Report 100%
Total 100%
Aim of the assignment

Design and implement static and basic dynamic system by using digital IC based on FSM
method.

Introduction

According to Morris, M. and Michal D. (2008), the digital systems considered thus far have
been combinational logic circuit that is, the outputs are entirely depend on the current inputs.
However, from the view of Buchner, S. et al (1997), in a digital system mostly like to have
storage elements to produce the output with the earlier states logics and present state logics.
Commonly this system describes in terms of sequential logic.

Using your knowledge in Digital Electronics, solve the problem for the given scenario and
complete the digital system according to the specification.

Design scenario

According to Lionel (2012), Sri Lanka would face a crisis when the number of vehicles in the
country exceeds five million by the end of the year with restricted road capacity in urban areas
as well as rural areas.

In urban areas traffic lights are executed and still those are conventional. The duration allocated
for each junction is a constant cycle time, which is clearly not an optimal solution. Though
from the view of Lionel (2012), Sri Lankan Transport Authority (SLTA) Engineering Division
currently involve in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and the new generation of solutions
offers features such as traffic prediction, analysis and decision making.

But most of the rural areas in Sri Lanka still not developed with the traffic lights systems.
According to Tops Sri Lanka (2012) website, SLTA mention that the design and installing a
traffic lights system in a rural area costs around 400,000 Sri Lankan Rupees.

SLTA plan to develop the traffic light control system with the low cost and you are recruited
by the Electronic Design Department to complete the project. Your key task is to design a
digital based traffic light system according to Project Engineers design specification.

Design specification

Design specification prepared for a single main and sub-road junction in a rural area is given
below. (Specification based on Floyd (2011)

The green light for the main road will stay ON for 20 s.
The green light for the side road will stay ON for 15 s.
The amber caution light will stay ON for 5 s between changes from green to red.
Main road and side road timing countdown should display in a 7 segment display.
Sequence changes of the traffic lights shown in the Appendix I.
Student Activity

Student has to follow the following design procedure to complete the traffic light controller
with count-down.

Design task 1: Procedure for designing traffic light controller, (30%)

Draw a complete block diagram of the traffic light system include all the light outputs
and the timing inputs.
Draw the complete state diagram using Moore model and include all the inputs and the
outputs.
Draw a state table using D-Type FF synthesis.
Generate and simply the state equations and the state outputs using state table.
Complete and simulate the circuit using ORCAD/MULTISIM software.
Test the system in laboratory using appropriate electronics components.

Design task 2: Timing Count-down counter design procedure, (25%)

Using a system time input, design a sequential counter using J-K Flip Flops.
Design the counter such that, it limits and counts up or down only 30 s for main road
and
Design the counter such that, it limits and counts up or down only 20 s for side road.
Interface the counter output to 7-Segment display using appropriate digital devices.
Complete and test the design using ORCAD/MULTISIM software.
Test the system in laboratory using appropriate electronics components.

Design task 3: Timer input design procedure, (15%)

According to time trigger feedback and appropriate clock, design the complete combinational
logic circuit to input the appropriate time signal to the system.

Design Analysis (10%)

After completion of convectional traffic light with count down, write an analysis report to the
Project Engineer include following,

1. Analyzing system functionality chip count.

2. Importance of microprocessor based system to implement the traffic light rather than
digital IC based design.

Design Enhancement for cost reduction (10%)

After your design analysis report, Project Engineer identified that the design 1 can be enhanced
with following methodologies to reduce the cost.
PAL or GAL methodology can be used since combinational logic design of traffic light
controller can be implemented using OR and AND gate arrays. Or,

Traffic light output sequence can be implemented using simple decoder device, since design
output can be decode accordingly timing input of the system.

Improve your design with given methodology and justify the improvements based on chip
count and cost.

Design enhancement according to functionality (10%)

At the completion of the traffic light controller according to the given specification, SLTA
identified that in rural areas at main to sub road junctions, sub roads get vehicle very rarely.

Identify and describe the possible design solution which you need to enhance in the
convectional traffic light controller design in design 1 according to SLTA identification, and
propose the specification for enhanced design.

Repeat the traffic light controller design procedure according to enhanced specification and
complete the design with ORCAD/MULTISIM simulation.

Appendix I Traffic light sequence

Reference

Lionel, W. (2012) ITS for a better transport system. Available:

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/06/03/imp01.asp. Last accessed 18th Aug 2012.

Ronald J. Tocci, Neal S. and Widmer (2001). Digital Systems. 8th ed. columbus, ohio:
Prentice Hall. 412 - 483.

Mano M.M, Michael D.C. (2008). Digital Design. New Delhi: PHI.

Floyd, L. (2011). Digital Fundamentals. 10th ed. India: Pearson. p271 - 287.

Ronald, J. Tocci, Neal S. Widmer (2001). Digital Systems. 8th ed. columbus, ohio: Prentice
Hall. 412 - 483.

topssrilanka website (2012), http://www.topssrilanka.com/article24948-new-traffic-light-

system-at-bambalapitiya.html. Last accessed 17th Aug 2012.