Introducing programmable logic devices in physics laboratories: a practical guide for the implementation of experiments

Modern electronic instrumentation techniques are being introduced in the programs of the Physics and Physical Engineering courses and, in this context, the programmable logic devices play an important role. We present the fundamental steps for the design, development, and validation of systems based on programmable logic devices. Two digital filters have been implemented for illustrating the guide procedures. The results show that the function–response complies with the common requirements of generic filter performance. This work is targeted at students and lectures and aims stimulate and challenge them to develop electronic instrumentation using programmable logic devices in teaching activities.