Spring 2011 Course Descriptions

ECE 197 SA: Systems Appreciation

This course focuses on the basic functionality of example ECE systems and explores the technological and scientific principles on which they are based. The goal is to provide a deeper understanding of the operation of these systems and to spark interest in some of the more advanced topics in ECE.

CMPSCI 121: Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers (R2)

CMPSCI 121 provides an introduction to problem solving and computer programming using the programming language Java; it also provides an integrated introduction to some of the wonderful innovations to modern science and indeed modern life that can be attributed to computer science. The course teaches how real-world problems can be solved computationally using the object-oriented metaphor that underlies Java. Concepts and techniques covered include data types, expressions, objects, methods, top-down program design, program testing and debugging, state representation, interactive programs, data abstraction, conditionals, iteration, interfaces, inheritance, arrays, graphics, and GUIs. No previous programming experience required. A companion introduction to programming class, CMPSCI 191P is also offered. If you are fairly sure you only want to do just one programming class, take that course; if you think it likely that you will do more than one programming course, take 121. Use of computer is required. Prerequisite: R1.

ECE 212: Circuit Analysis II

With lab. Continuation of ECE 211. Analysis techniques for ac circuits, frequency response, resonance, Bode plots, phasor representation of sinusoidal steady-state systems, complex frequency domain, transfer functions. MOSFETs as amplifiers; operational amplifiers. Transformers, two-port networks, Fourier series. Lab includes circuit hardware and PSPICE simulation experiments. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in E&C-ENG 211.

ECE 232: Hardware Organization and Design

An introduction to computer architecture and hardware design. Computer abstractions and technology, performance evaluation, instruction set architectures, computer arithmetic, pipelining, memory systems, interfacing. Hardware description languages, machine languages and assembly languages.

ECE 197DP: ECE Design Project 1

This course is part of the DP123 initiative: Design Project for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Year ECE Students. It enables students to design and build hardware and software systems. Most projects will be team-based. Solo projects are also an option. The projects are guided from concept to final designs by the course instructors and design project mentors (ECE upper-division students) and are supported by the M5 facility.

ECE 297DP: ECE Design Project 2

ECE 397DP ECE Design Project 3

ECE 497DP: ECE Design Project Mentoring

ECE 303: Junior Seminar

Overview of the electrical and computer engineering field, including introduction to various subdisciplines and the corresponding upper-level ECE courses. Prerequisite: grade of C or better in E&C-ENG 212, 222 or 232.

ECE 314: Intro Probability and Random Processes

Probability space, conditional probability, Bayes theorem. Combinatorial analysis. Random variables (r.v.'s), distribution and density functions. Expected value, moments, characteristic function. Function of r.v.'s, Multiple r.v.'s, conditional distributions, independent r.v.'s. Multivariate Gaussian r.v.'s. Parameter estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing. Introduction to random processes: mean, autocorrelation, power spectral density. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 313.

ECE 324: Electronics II

Continuation of E&C-ENG 323. Design of more advanced electronic circuits. Design and analysis of integrated circuit amplifiers. Design and analysis of feedback amplifiers. Includes major design project. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 323.

ECE 333: Fields and Waves

The nature of electromagnetic fields and waves. Transmission lines modeled as distributed circuits. Propagation of waves and wave reflections on transmission lines. Review of vector analysis, coordinate systems, gradient, divergence, curl; review of surface and volume integrals. Electrostatic and magnetostatic fields and boundary conditions. Fields in conductors, dielectrics and magnetic materials. Time-varying fields and electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's equations for time-varying fields. Prerequisites: E&C-ENG 212 with a grade of 'C' or better, AND a passing grade in PHYSICS 152 (or 182), PHYSICS 154 (or 184) and MATH 233 (or MATH 233H or ECE 290S).

ECE 354: Computer Systems Lab II

Lab. Advanced computer systems engineering. CISC and RISC microprocessors, microcontrollers and their role in embedded systems. Integration of hardware and software, assembly language, memory systems, programmable logic, and I/O systems. Design methodologies. Manufacturing issues. Advanced diagnostic techniques. Project management. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 353.

ECE 374: Computer Networks and Internet

This course explores the principles of computer networking and how the theoretical principles are implemented in practice. Introduction to concepts, principles, and practice of computer communication networks and the Internet with examples from existing architectures, protocols and standards. Emphasis on physical layer communication, data link layer protocols, routing protocols, transport layer protocols, application layer programming, network management, network security and wireless networks. Prerequisites: E&C-ENG 122 (or CMPSCI 121) & E&C-ENG 242 (or CMPSCI 187)

ECE 416: Senior Design Project II

Continuation of E&C-ENG 415. Design of small electronic system built, refined, tested, and demonstrated. Final prototype shown to meet initial specifications. Final design review. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 415.

ECE 559: VLSI Design Project

Lab. The design of very-large-scale integrated circuits. Experience in VLSI design through team projects emphasizing issues involved in the design of an entire custom chip. CAD tools used in the design process, resulting in specification of circuitry suitable for fabrication. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 558

ECE 564: Communication Systems

Waveform coding, source coding and data compression. Pulse modulation systems: signal spaces, optimal receivers, probability of error. Baseband and bandpass data transmission. Introduction to channel coding. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 563.

ECE 565: Digital Signal Processing

With lab. IIR and FIR digital filter design. Applications of DFT and FFT. Transform domain analysis of discrete-time (DT) linear time-invariant systems: minimum phase, allpass, linear phase systems. Im-plementation of DT systems. Finite wordlength effects. Multirate digital signal processing. Power spectrum estimation. Lab includes projects using digital signal processors. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 563.

ECE 585: Microwave Engineering II

Analysis and design of passive microwave devices, including resonators, filters, and ferrite devices, in various transmission-line media. Noise and noise effects in detectors, mixers, and modulators. Introduction to FET amplifier design. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 584.

ECE 608: Signal Theory

Unified treatment of techniques for representation of signals and signal processing operations. Emphasis on physical interpre-tation of vector spaces, linear operators, transform theory, and digital signal processing with wavelet filter banks. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

ECE 609: Semiconductor Devices

In-depth examination of semiconductor devices. The physics of semiconductors, p-n junction diodes, bipolar transistors, Schottky barriers, JFETs, MFSFETs, MIS diodes, CCDs, and MOSFETs. Prerequisite: E&C-Eng 344, or introductory semiconductor theory course.

ECE 618: Fundamentals of Solid State Electronics II

Physical and electronic structure of semiconductors, band theory, semiconductor statistics, scattering processes and carrier transport, optical properties, modern quantum electronic devices. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 607.

ECE 636: Reconfigurable Computing

We investigate the state-of-the-art in reconfigurable computing both from a hardware and software perspective. Initially, we review in detail the basic building blocks of most reconfigurable computers, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). These physical limitations are then contrasted with computer-aided design issues such as the selection of circuit component locations in devices (the placement problem) and subsequent circuit interconnection between components (the routing problems).

ECE 659: VLSI Design Project

A graduate version of ECE 559. Groups of students encouraged to work on VLSI chip designs tied into VLSI research in the Electrical and Computer Engineering or Computer Science departments. Involves knowledge of some additional aspects of computer architecture, circuit design, computer arithmetic, or a particular application area such as digital signal processing, control, cryptography, or computer graphics. Use of the chip within an overall sytem also stressed. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 558.

ECE 665: Computer Algorithms

Introduction to the design and analysis of algorithms. Topics include basic algorithmic paradigms (e.g. divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming, the greedy approach and randomization), their application to core problems in graph theory and optimization, as well as analysis of time and space complexity.

ECE 667: Synthesis and Verification of Digital Systems

Modern techniques for synthesis and verification of digital systems. Topics in synthesis cover high-level synthesis, decision diagrams, multi-level logic and sequential optimization. Topics in verification include symbolic techniques, combinational and sequential equivalence checking, and functional test generation. Open to Graduate Students only. Recommended Prerequisites in the following: "Undergraduate courses in digital logic design and hardware organization"

ECE 668: Computer Architecture I

A graduate version of E&C-Eng 568. Quantitative study of pipelined processor architectures, memory, Input/Output, RISC processors and vector machines. Prerequisite: undergraduate courses in digital design and hardware organization.

ECE 683: Active Microwave Circuits

Theory and techniques used in the design of modern microwave and millimeter wave active circuits. Emphasis on amplifier and oscillator circuits using devices such as FETs, HEMTs, HBTs and optoelectronic devices. Modern reference material used as much as possible. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 585.

ECE 684: Microwave Metrology

Lecture, laboratory. Metrology fundamentals. Advanced microwave measurement techniques including error correction, de-embedding, and noise effects in amplifiers and oscillators. Prerequisites: familiarity with microwave CAD software, basic microwave theory.

ECE 686: Active Microwave Circuits

Introduction to fundamentals of radar systems. Radar range equation, critical radar components, and system performance. Detection, modulation, noise, and propagation effects. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 584 or equivalent.

ECE 691 WS: S-Wireless Network Security Information — Theoretic vs. Cryptographic Approaches

The widespread adoption of wireless medium in computer networks has opened many challenges in securing the transmitted information. Fortunately, advances in cryptography, information theory, and coding techniques allow us to mitigate many problems inherent in broadcasting your data packets to the world. Unfortunately, many questions remain. The objective of this seminar is to look at the problems of securing wireless data networks from both the information-theoretic concerns and cryptographic points of view. We hope to find interesting avenues of research, perhaps synthesizing the disciplines. We will start with an overview of information theoretic concepts as well as the background in cryptographic security. Having established the foundation, we will read seminal works in the field of network security, as well as newest research papers. Throughout the seminar, we will be discussing the potential research directions.

ECE 697 NS: Nanostructure Engineering

Introduction to fundamental physics of nanolithography. Survey of technologies for making nanostructures with recent advances. Investigation of applications in nanoscale electronic, optical, biological and magnetic devices.

ECE 697 SN: Online Social Networks

Online social networks such as Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter have attracted over a half billion users. This course focuses on discussing the challenges and important questions posed by online social applications. The topics include measurement studies of online social networks, analysis of online community, privacy in online social networks, system design for social networks, and recommendation system for social networks.

ECE 745: Advanced Communication Theory

Advanced modulation theory, performance limits, and error calculation techniques. The algebra of coding. Trellis-coded modulation. Fixed and adaptive channel equalization. Advanced signaling over fading channels. Prerequisite: E&C-ENG 603.