ECE - Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)

An introduction to electrical and computer engineering, systems engineering design, programming, microcontrollers, soldering and circuit building.Students will work individually and on teams to complete projects and create a system for an end of term competition.Students will also learn about technical documentation and communication.Topics include functions, arrays, conditionals, loops, Boolean algebra, wireless communication, resistors, transistors, diodes motors, sensor, analog and digital inputs and outputs.

An introduction to discrete-time signal processing applied to audio, images, and video. Topics include phasor representation of sinusoidal signals, complex arithmetic, sampling, signal spectra, linear time-invariant systems, frequency response, convolution, filter implementation, and MATLAB programming. Integral laboratory.

The professional experiences course captures the practical work experiences related to the student’s academic discipline. Students are required to submit a formal document of their reflections, which communicates how their employment opportunity reinforced and enhanced their academic studies.

A review of the definition of voltage, current, energy and power.An introduction to Ohm's Law, ideal DC independent and dependent voltage and current sources, resistors, inductors, capacitors, and operational amplifiers.Circuit analysis and simplification by using series, parallel, and Wye-Delta reduction, Kirchhoff's laws, mesh and nodal analysis, Thevenin, Norton and Maximum Power Theorems, superposition, and source transformations.An integral laboratory to build electric circuits and measure voltage, current, resistance and power.

Introduction to 1st and 2nd order circuits and review of differential equations. Bode plots. System classification, impulse and step response, convolution. Laplace and inverse Laplace transforms, block and signal flow diagrams. Benefits of feedback. Modeling and simulating electrical systems. Matlab and Simulink. Integral laboratory.

A course designed for engineers (other than electrical or computer) covering analysis of passive circuits, introduction to op-amps, instrumentation, sinusoidal steady-state, a-c power, and induction motors. EE and CPE majors may not take this course.

Sensors and actuators. Input and output devices. Microcontroller architecture. Standard communications protocols. Interrupt generation and processing. Data representation and storage. Memory management. The C programming language and programming styles. Integral laboratory and a term project.

Number systems, Binary arithmetic, logic gates, forming logic circuits. Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps. Propagation delay, hazards, common Combinational logic circuits, structures, and design. Contraction, latches, flip-flops, finite state machines, counters, Sequential circuit timing, and designing Sequential circuits. Register design, control and datapath design. Basic computer architecture, including memory. Integral laboratory.

Modeling, analysis, and simulation of electronic circuits that contain two-terminal and threeterminal semiconductor devices. Large-signal, biasing, and small-signal analysis models. Introduction to wave shaping circuits, switching circuits, and amplifiers. Integral laboratory.

Signal modeling. Fourier series and Fourier transforms. Response of systems to periodic and aperiodic signals. Filter characterization and design. Ideal and practical sampling. Use of numerical analysis software. Integral laboratory

Transmission of information over bandlimited, noisy communication channels. Line codes, probability of error, intersymbol interference. Modulation techniques, synchronization and frequency conversion. Integral laboratory.

Layered architectures. Circuit and packet switching. The ISO Reference Model. Point-to-point protocols, error control, framing. Accessing shared media, local area networks. Virtual circuits, datagrams, routing, congestion control. Queuing theory. Reliable message transport, internetworking.

Analysis of linear control systems using classical and modern control theories in both continuous and discrete time. Plant representation, closed loop system representation, time response, frequency response, concept of stability. Root locus, Bode, and Nyquist methods. Computer modeling and simulation of feedback systems, implementation of discrete-time algorithims on microcontrollers.

Instruction-Level Parallelism. Pipelining. Data Hazards. Exceptions. Branch Prediction. Multilength Instructions. Loop Unrolling. TI C6000 Digital Signal Processor. Cache. Memory. MSP430 Microcontroller. PIC Microcontroller. Intel Itanium. Multiprocessors. Hardware Multithreading. Graphics Processors. Supercomputers.

Static and dynamic fields. Electric and magnetic properties of materials. Energy, force and power. Resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Application in sensing and actuation. Maxwell's equations. Introduction to electromagnetic waves. Use of vector calculus and numeric approximation. Technical reports and/or term papers.

Wave propagation and reflection. Power and lossy materials. Quasistatic analysis. Steady-state and transient analysis of transmission lines. Application in high-speed systems. Introduction to antennas. Technical reports and/or term papers.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) regulations and measurement. Frequency behavior of passive components. Electromagnetic fields and waves. Transient behavior of transmission lines. Dipole and monopole antennas. Four coupling mechanisms: electrical and magnetic fields, common impedance, and electromagnetic wave. Conducted emissions. Radiated emissions. Electromagnetic shielding and grounding.

Signal path modeling through connecting lengths of transmission lines with lumped element models of discontinuities. Circuit parameters from geometries and material properties for resistance, capacitance, inductance and transmission line segments. Lossless and lossy transmission line circuit modeling. High-frequency and high-speed behavior of passive components. Frequency spectrum of digital signals. Digital device driver and receiver modeling. Transmission line impedance discontinuity and termination techniques. Electric and magnetic field coupling mechanisms for capacitive and inductive crosstalk. Ground noise, power plane noise and resonance. Signal and power integrity issues in high-speed digital systems at both the printed-circuit board and chip levels.

Amplifier design and analysis including discrete and integrated circuit topologies. Cascaded amplifier, input and output stages, frequency response. Linear and non-linear op-amp circuits. Introduction to the non-ideal properties of op-amps. Integral laboratory.

A formal design course that emphasizes the design process. Project management, project reporting and decision-making are learned by student teams as they carry a project through several stages of a formal design process.

Analysis of generation systems consisting of: modeling of synchronous and induction generators, examination of fossil, nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, and wind technologies. Analysis of transmission and distribution systems consisting of modeling: power transformers, transmission lines, switchgear, and protection systems. Analysis of customer systems consisting of modeling: induction motors, linear and non-linear loads.

Conventional and modern sources of energy for power generation in electric power industry with the imposed economic, regulatory, and environmental constraints. Wind, solar-photovoltaic, micro-hydropower, and fuel cell systems. Integral laboratory.

System properties: linearity and time-invariance. Sampling and reconstruction. Convolution in discrete-time systems. Z-transform, FIR and IIR filters. Discrete-time filter design. Discrete Fourier transform. Random Variables and Random Processes.

Special design or research projects. Students may take up to four credits in any given term. In contrast to ECE498, no public presentation of work is required. Students cannot use this class to satisfy ECE Area Elective credit.

Essential concepts of wireless communications. Software defined radio (SDR) architecture. Analog and digital modulation formats. Transmitter and receiver system design and implementation methods. Synchronization techniques. Term project.

Introduction to wireless communications and networks. Wireless channel models, vector space, modulation and demodulation, optimal receiver design, equalization, channel capacity, multipleaccess techniques, spread spectrum, and multiple-antenna systems.Additional recommended prerequisite: MA371 or MA373 with a grade of B or higher.

Design, fabrication, and testing of a high frequency transmitter-receiver system including but not limited to oscillators, mixers, filters, amplifiers, and matching networks. Integral laboratory.

Properties of silicon wafers; wafer-level processes, surface and bulk micromachining, thin-film deposition, dry and wet etching, photolithography, process integration, simple actuators. Introduction to microfluidic systems. MEMS applications: capacitive accelerometer, cantilever and pressure sensor. Cross-listed with CHE 405, NE 410, and ME 416.

Analysis and design of common photonic systems such as fiber optic communication links, optical sensing systems, and optical networks. Topics include basic architectures, component overview, system design, and expected degradations along with mitigation techniques. An oral presentation of a technical paper is required.

Sampled systems and z-transforms. Transfer function and state-variable models of systems. Discrete-time control of systems including state variable feedback and observer construction.

This course will introduce the basic principles of mobile robotics history, theory, hardware and control. Topics will include robot components, effectors and actuators, locomotion, sensors, feedback control, control architectures, representation, localization and navigation. This is a project-oriented course and the student will have hands-on experience with a real mobile robot. The student will be required to complete several laboratory assignments and a multidisciplinary team design project.

Microcontroller register set, addressing modes and instruction set. Microcontroller peripheral support modules. Assembly language and C programming. Fundamental data structures. Interrupts. Real time programming. Data communications. Microcontroller interface to displays, digital and analog devices, sensors, and actuators. Embedded system design, implementation and applications. Integrated development environment. Formal final report and oral presentation. Integral laboratory. Credit cannot be obtained for both ECE 331 and ECE 430.

Concepts and designs of combinational and sequential digital systems; Modern design methodology; ASM and ASMD charts for behavioral modeling; Synthesizable Verilog descriptions and synthesis techniques; Design verification and functional simulations; FPGA implementations of digital systems; Timing analysis and constraints; Storage devices; Implementation options; I/O clocking techniques; Synchronous and asynchronous designs; Complex digital systems; IP core applications. Integrated Development Environment. Integral laboratory.

Brief introduction to Linux on an embedded processor. Software development in various languages (C, shell scripts, Python, JavaScript, etc.). Hardware interfacing. Kernel development. Software tools (IDE, gcc, make, node.js, etc.)

Analysis and design of networks that use electronic devices as power switches. Silicon-controlled rectifiers, power transistors, and power MOSFETS are used to form phase-controlled rectifiers, AC voltage controllers, choppers, and inverters. Integral laboratory.

Analysis and design of Op-Amp circuits: wave shaping circuits, Schmitt triggers, power amplifiers, high power buffers, controlled current sources, peak detectors, sample and hold circuits. Precision Op-Amp Circuits. Non-ideal properties of Op-Amps. Integral laboratory.

A continuation of a sequence of formal design courses that emphasizes completion of a client-driven project using a formal design process. Student teams carry a project from inception to completion to satisfy the need of a client. Integral laboratory.

Continuation of the design project from ECE460. Integral laboratory.

Completion of the design project from ECE 460 and ECE 461. Integral laboratory.

Discussion problems in the field of consulting engineering; seminars presented by practicing consulting engineers. Cross-listed with BE 400, ME 420, CHE 420, and CE 420.

Per-unit concepts. Modeling and analysis of synchronous machines. Configuration of transmission and distribution lines. Modeling of power system components. Formulation of power flow equations. Computer solutions of the load-flow problem. Fault-level evaluation by symmetrical components. Principles of grounding. Integral laboratory.

Design and analysis techniques for low and medium voltage power distribution systems. Harmonics, transients, system coordination, reliability and economics. A design project is carried throughout the course.

Power system protection and stability. Design and application of relaying schemes for protection of transformers, buses, distribution lines, transmission lines, generators, motors, capacitors, and reactors. Power system stability and generator rotor dynamics phenomenon with use of the equal-area criterion. Integral laboratory.

Principles of interconnected operation of power systems. Optimum scheduling of generation using economic dispatch and unit commitment. Primary and secondary load-frequency control. Voltage and reactive-power flow control. Principles of state estimation. Integral laboratory.

This course explores fundamental image processing techniques including intensity transformations, spatial and frequency-domain filtering, restoration, reconstruction, geometric transformations, segmentation, and morphological processing. Through the projects, students build practical engineering and computer science expertise, focusing on real world implementation and application while discussing foundational mathematical concepts. Cross-listed with OE437.

Analog synthesis techniques. Instrument control using MIDI. FM, additive and subtractive synthesis. Physical modeling and sound spatialization. Course project.

Study of finite word length effects in DSP systems. Cascaded filter structures. Coefficient quantization, roundoff noise, scaling for overflow prevention. Discrete-time noise, filtering noise, power spectral density. Polyphase filtering, interpolation and decimation. Implementation and system design and test issues for a SSB communication system. Integral laboratory based on a fixed point programming project.

Introduction to radar systems and electronic warfare (EW) techniques. Basic concepts in the field of electromagnetic energy propagation, antennas, and data acquisition systems. The students will gain knowledge on the different types of radar systems, perform analysis on RF signals, and simulate electronic warfare systems and operation. This class helps provide a foundation to work professionally in the areas of radar and other sensor applications.

Topics of current interest to undergraduate students.

Special design or research projects. Students may take up to four credits in any given term. Level and rigor of work should be consistent with other 400-level ECE elective courses. Work must be presented publicly at the end of term. Up to four credits of ECE498 can count towards ECE Area Elective credit. Students not wishing to give a public presentation of their work should take ECE398.

Coding for reliable digital communication. Topics to be chosen from: Hamming and BCH codes, Reed-Solomon codes, convolutional codes, Viterbi decoding, turbo codes, and recent developments, depending on interests of class and instructor. Mathematical background will be developed as needed.

Design of digital communication systems. Autocorrelation function and power spectrum, vector space models of signals and noise, optimal receiver structures and performance, bandlimited channels and equalization, convolutional coding.

Review of probability and random variables, random vectors, topics in estimation and detection theory, linear and nonlinear estimation, orthogonality principle, hypothesis testing, random processes, stationarity, correlation functions, and spectra. Additional topics chosen from Wiener and Kalman filtering, and Markov chains.

Information measures. Source coding theorem and lossless compression limit. Data compression techniques. Uniquely decodable codes and their properties. Reliable communication over noisy channels. Channel coding theorem and channel capacity. Error-control coding techniques. Linear codes and their properties. Near-capacity codes.

Properties of silicon wafers; wafer-level processes, surface and bulk micromachining, thin-film deposition, dry and wet etching, photolithography, process integration, simple actuators. Introduction to microfluidic systems. MEMS applications: capacitive accelerometer, cantilever and pressure sensor. Cross-listed with BE 516, CHE 505, NE 510, and ME 516.

32-bit microcontroller architecture. Software development in both assembly language and C language. Hardware interfacing. Use of a real-time-operating system (RTOS). System-on-a-chip (SOC) hardware/software design using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip containing an embedded microcontroller cores. Software debugging tools. Integral laboratory.

Industrial testing techniques for microcontrollers and other digital integrated circuits. Includes common digital system fault modeling, test generation, and design for testability in addition to memory testing strategies. Integral labs using an industrial grade automatic test environment (ATE).

Superscalar processors. Out-of-Order Execution. Register Renaming. Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). Prefetching. Trace Cache. Victim Cache. 3D DRAM. Multithreading.Multicore. Cache Coherence. Transactional Memory. Performance Modeling. Power Modeling. Intel Pentium Pro Architecture. Transmeta Crusoe Architecture. Code Morphing. ARMv7 Architecture. Nvidia G80 Architecture.

Signal and power integrity modeling and measurement in high-speed digital systems at IC, PCB, and chassis levels. High-frequency behavior of passive components and packages. Behavior and SPICE models of drivers and receivers. Lossy transmission lines and discontinuity characterization. Mixedmode s-parameters and other network parameters. Frequency and time-domain modeling of capacitive and inductive crosstalk. Differential signaling techniques; timing conventions. Synchronization. Signal equalization. Power plane noise and resonance. High-speed PCB design guidelines. Measurement techniques including time-domain reflectometry, vector network analyzer and impedance analyzer. PCB simulation. Full-wave simulations.

Electromagnetic radiation, antenna terminology and characteristics, dipole antennas, arrays, aperture antennas, measurements, computer-aided analysis, design projects and reports.

Wave-guiding structures, microwave network analysis, scattering parameters, Z, Y and ABCD parameters, passive devices and components, design, fabrication, simulation and measurement of microwave devices and components, matching strategies, multi-conductor transmission lines and crosstalk.

Maxwell's equations, EM field theorems, potential functions, power and energy, material properties, wave propagation, reflection and transmission, radiation, scattering, Green's functions, metamaterials and metamaterial-inspired structures, modeling & simulation, measurement technique.

Electromagnetic fundamentals, control of permittivity and permeability, dispersion, causality, double-negative materials, epsilon near-zero materials, transmission line-based metamaterials, composite right/left handed wave-guiding structures, even/odd mode analysis,differential signaling, electromagnetic bandgap structures, phase control, dual band devices, enhanced bandwidth devices, zeroth-order resonators, full wave simulation, device fabrication and laboratory measurement.

Design, performance analysis, and physical layout of CMOS logic. Custom and standard cell methodologies. Use of commercial CAD tools. Design issues such as interconnect, timing, and testing methods. Integral laboratory and project.

Design, performance analysis, and physical layout of analog integrated circuits. Focus on operational amplifier design and op-amp circuits. Introduction to mixed-signal circuit design such as switch-capacitors, A/D, or D/A systems. Integral laboratory and design project.

Design, analysis, and physical layout of high-frequency analog integrated-circuits for modern RF transceivers. Circuit design for each primary transceiver component. General issues such as impedance matching and design of inductors on integrated circuits. Integral laboratory and design project.

Transducers and their applications. Analog signal processing techniques using operational amplifiers. A/D and D/A converters. Protection from electric shock. Measurement of biological potential waveforms (ECG, EMG, EEG, ENG, EOG, ERG). Ultrasound techniques and instrumentation. X-ray CAT techniques. No laboratory, but many in-class demonstrations and emphasis on circuit simulation.

Analysis and design of AC-DC and DC-DC converters. Linear, basic switching, charge-pump, and fly-back topologies. Introduction to devices used in a power switching supplies. Thermal management. Integral laboratory.

Fundamental skills necessary to be an industrial integrated circuit test engineer or product engineer. Includes the economics associated with testing, impact of fabrication variation on devices, instrumentation associated with industrial testing, turning a data sheet into a test plan, industrial testing techniques for analog circuits, trade-offs between test time and test accuracy, statistical analysis of the data and statistical process control, the use of device interface boards necessary to control device loading for different tests. Integral labs with an industrial grade automatic tester (ATE).

Industrial testing techniques for AC and DC tests of mixed-signal integrated circuits using an automatic test environment (ATE). Includes the structure and operation of comparators and standard data converters (DACs, ADCs), common data converter datasheet specifications, impact of data converter design on testing strategies, and statistical analysis of accuracy-time trade-offs. Integral labs using an industrial grade ATE.

Digital filters. Fundamental concepts of digital signal processing. Analysis of discrete-time systems. Sampling and reconstruction. Theory and application of z-transforms. Design of recursive and nonrecursive digital filters. Window functions. Discrete Fourier transforms and FFT algorithm.

Introduction to image segmentation and recognition. Use of neural networks, fuzzy logic and morphological methods for feature extraction.Advanced segmentation, detection, recognition and interpretation. Relevant laboratory experiments and required project.Cross-listed with OE 537.

Engineering principles of major imaging techniques/modalities for biomedical applications and health care including diagnostic x-ray, computed tomography, nuclear techniques, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. Topics include general characteristics of medical images; physical principles, signal processing to generate an image, and instrumentation of imaging modalities. Clinical applications of these technologies are also discussed. Cross-listed with BE541 and OE584.

Thesis topic selected in consultation with adviser. Graduate students only.

Special topics of current interest to graduate students and senior undergraduates.

Thesis topic selected in consultation with adviser. Graduate students only.

The professional experiences course captures the practical work experiences related to the student's academic discipline. Students are required to submit a formal document of their reflections, which communicates how their employment opportunity reinforced and enhanced their academic studies. The work experiences should be informative or integral to the advancement or completion of the student's program requirements.