Digital Electronics and Microprocessors Flashcards
7 cards from real AET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Digital Electronics and Microprocessors flashcards as text
In a microcontroller used in aircraft fuel management, what is the purpose of a watchdog timer?
Answer: To reset the processor if software fails to service the timer within a set interval
A watchdog timer automatically resets the microcontroller if the main program becomes stuck and fails to periodically 'kick' (service) the timer.
The hexadecimal number 0xAF converted to decimal is:
Answer: 175
0xAF = (10 × 16) + 15 = 160 + 15 = 175 in decimal.
What type of memory is typically used to store the boot firmware in an avionics Line Replaceable Unit (LRU)?
Answer: Flash (EEPROM)
Flash (EEPROM) is non-volatile and retains firmware without power, making it standard for avionics LRU boot code storage.
In a tri-state bus architecture used in avionics backplanes, what is the purpose of the high-impedance (Hi-Z) state?
Answer: To allow a device to disconnect electrically from the bus without causing conflicts
The Hi-Z state effectively disconnects a device's output from the shared bus, preventing bus contention when multiple devices share the same lines.
A shift register in a serial-to-parallel converter for avionics data acquisition receives bits MSB first. After clocking in the 8-bit word 10110100, what is bit 0 (LSB) of the parallel output?
Answer: 0
The word 10110100 binary has its LSB (bit 0) as 0, which is the last bit shifted in when transmitting MSB first.
Which type of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is preferred in avionics for highest accuracy at lower sample rates, such as pressure sensor digitization?
Answer: Delta-sigma ADC
Delta-sigma ADCs achieve very high resolution through oversampling and noise shaping, making them ideal for slow but precise measurements like pressure.
In ARINC 629 multi-transmitter data bus used on the Boeing 777, how is bus access controlled?
Answer: Each terminal uses a decentralized CSMA/CA protocol with periodic and aperiodic transmission
ARINC 629 uses a decentralized protocol where each terminal autonomously manages periodic and aperiodic data transmission without a central bus controller.