ECEN - Electrical and Computer Engineering

This course introduces students to the practice of electrical and computer engineering. It exposes students to the fundamentals of computers, electricity, hardware and software systems, and the process of building solutions that meet functional and technical requirements. It gives students an opportunity to hone problem solving skills in the context of a number of hands-on engineering design activities.

This course introduces students to tools and techniques for creating graphics and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) artifacts for every stage of the engineering design process, including conceptual and spatial modeling, generation of functional and physical architectures, and production of physical prototype components. The course's graphics topics include orthographic projection, pictorials, dimensioning, sectioning, tolerances, and assembly drawings utilizing free hand sketching, two-dimensional computer aided design, and solid modeling. Students are introduced to software applications and the operation of machines used for creating 3D models and parts.

This course provides a modern introduction to logic design and technology .It covers a survey of common combinational circuit components, sequential circuit design and timing analysis and use of modern HDL CAD Tools for digital systems design, synthesis, and simulation. Topics include representation and manipulation of information, combinational and sequential logic fundamentals, digital logic technology, combinational and sequential functions, finite state machines, hardware descriptive language, programmable logic devices, memories, and register transfer logic (RTL) design.

This course provides an in-depth coverage of RLC circuit analysis techniques such as nodal, mesh, superposition, Thevenin and Norton theorems. Other topics include op-amp, RC transient, 2nd order circuit analysis, phasors, transfer functions, bode plots as well as operations of diodes and transistors.

This course focuses on the design and analysis of analog and digital circuits, particularly AC circuits, resonant circuits, two-port networks, filters and polyphase circuits. Other topics include pole-zero analysis, mutual inductance and circuit analysis using Laplace and Fourier techniques.

This course provides an introduction and methodology of linear dynamic systems in relation to discrete- and continuous-time signals. Topics include representation of systems and signals; Fourier, Laplace, and Z-transforms; and convolution. Linear systems are described in terms of inputs and outputs and expressed as transfer functions. Systems are analyzed in the time domain and frequency domain. Filtering and processing of signals will be discussed as application of the theory. System response will be modeled and visualized using simulation software.

This course covers the material properties of semiconductors, the physics of semiconductor operation and the operating principles of diodes, bipolar and field-effect transistors. Circuit analysis techniques are applied and industry-standard tools and applications are used to model and understand the characteristics, operation, performance and limitations of fundamental electronic devices. Topics include semiconductor energy bands, formation of n and p-type carriers, p-n junctions, I-V characteristics, BJT and FET operating modes and switching effects.

This course examines the principles of electromagnetic phenomena and their effects and applications. Topics include Maxwell’s equations, wave equations, propagation and wave guides. Applications to transmission lines, wireless communication systems, antennae design, energy storage and electromagnetic effects on modern electronics, optical and photonic devices are studied.

This study of computer architecture covers the design and operation of basic components of the computer, including the central processor unit, memory unit, and I/O unit. The course covers fundamental computing concepts such as instruction set arcthitectures, machine mode, memory systems, and I/O interfacing. Programming assignments provide practice working with assembly language techniques, including looping and subroutines, while hardware-focused assignments provide practice with datapath design and implementation.

This course builds on the foundation provided in ECEN Computer Architecture 1. This course covers various processor performance improvement techniques including pipelining, instruction-level parallelism, branch prediction, memory multi-level caching and virtual memory, with emphasis on the implementation and performance analysis of these techniques.Students use hardware description language and CAD tools for the design input and timing analysis of the processor design. The course also provides a survey of modern and state-of-the-art processor implementations.

This course discusses the operation, design and analysis of integrated computing systems, considering both the hardware and software and their impact on each other. The material will be taught from the application perspective of embedded systems. Topics include embedded systems as hardware/software platforms; networks of devices; communication buses; device drivers and interrupts; processes, threads, and tasks; real-time operation systems; embedded software development tools; real-time operating systems; and benchmarking of computer systems.

This course introduces the fundamental principles of wired and wireless digital communications systems, including conversion of information to digital data, encoding and decoding techniques, and the reliable transmission of digital data. Topics include foundational concepts such as bandwidth and power constraints, digital modulation methods, transceiver design principles, and channel coding. The course also introduces the operation and design of digital communication systems including cellular, sensor, wi-fi and satellite networks, as well as wired systems such as cable, phone and optical modems.

This course covers the fundamental concepts of modern digital signal processing. The course includes topics such as the theory and implementation of fast Fourier transforms, FIR and IIR filter design, and applications of signal processing. DSP hardware and software implementations are covered, as well as DSP simulations through Matlab.

This course covers the basic theories and techniques of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuit design and CMOS technology. Topics Include standard CMOS fabrication process, CMOS design and layout rules, simulation and testing, low power VLSI techniques, and various design tools and methodologies. Performance impact of VLSI design choices on speed, power consumption, reliabiliity and cost are also covered.

This course covers the analysis and design of analog and digital electronic circuits using bipolar junction transistors and MOS field effect transistors. Topics include first-order and second-order transient analysis, operation circuit models and electronic instrumentation. Emphasis is placed on the application of diodes and transistors to design amplifiers, regulated power supplies and integrated circuits.

This course covers power and energy fundamentals, three-phase power, electromagnetic forces and torques, network equivalents, and how electromechanical devices such as motors, generators, and relays work.

This course covers the design and analysis of automatic control strategies for electromechanical systems. It covers traditional and state-space control techniques and computer simulation of such systems.

This course covers the analysis and design of three-phase electric power systems, including the generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption of electric power. It describes the physical and mathematical principles that govern electric power generation and consumption, how to describe the reliability of such systems, and how to model their operation numerically.

This course prepares the senior Electrical and/or Computer Engineering student for the practical application of engineering principles to the senior design course and professional practice. Various skills that are of vital importance to the professional engineer are covered, including engineering ethics, teamwork, communication skills and problem-solving, with emphasis on the application of systematic design process, product life cycle management and reliability analysis. This course is the first part of the Capstone experience where the Capstone project is researched and developed. It must be taken in the semester directly preceding the semester ECEN 49600 is taken.

Topics central to Artificial Intelligence are covered, including knowledge representation, the predicate calculus, goal-directed and data-directed search techniques, and rule-based expert systems. Two languages for problem-solving is presented: LISP and PROLOG.

This course introduces the student to the modeling, identification, and control of robotic systems. The course focuses on the implementation of identification and control algorithms on a two-link robot. Topics include the mathematical modeling of robotic systems and the analysis, simulation, and implementation of both linear and nonlinear representations of such systems. The design and integration of sensors and actuators and algorithms for responding and controlling these devices will be pursued.

This course considers electronic circuits for conditioning and managing large electric power signals such as those found in power supplies, motor controls, and smart electrical grid devices. It covers switching functions for control; ac and dc power conversion; power semiconductor switching devices; motor control, and smart grid device design and operation.

This course covers the design and analysis of efficient electrical energy systems that minimize adverse environmental impact. Topics include green generation technologies such as solar and wind as well as new power transmission and distribution architectures such as microgrids and the use of smart-grid technologies for autonomous control.

This course is the culminating project experience in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) programs. Students will work in teams to implement solutions to a realistic engineering problem initially researched and developed in ECEN 40000. Such solutions must demonstrate the synthesis of knowledge gained from foundational, core and elective courses in the program, must meet identified functional requirements, and must consider contextual factors such as safety, environmental and economic concerns. This course must be taken in the student's final semester in the program.

This course is an electrical and/or computer engineering internship work experience. Students acquire practical experience through an industry partner company that will assign relevant and meaningful tasks to complement concepts and theory learned in the classroom. This course will help prepare the student for a future role as a professional engineer. The student must apply for and be accepted by the employer for an internship position, and must work a minimum of 210 hours to receive 3 credits. This course is repeatable.

This course is designed to meet the needs of Computer Engineering majors wishing to study an advanced topic not found in the curriculum