Conference Session

Innovations in ECE Education III

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Suryaprasad Jayadevappa, PES School of Engineering; Ravi Shankar, Florida Atlantic University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

into 4 core categories namely, software, hardware, human-computerinteraction and networking. Further each category curriculum is divided into 4 levels: (1) Level1 (basic/system level) courses broadly include Software Engineering, SOC (System on a Chip)overview, Principles of User Interface Design, and Internet technology; (2) Level 2(intermediate/component level) courses include Object Oriented Analysis & Design (OOAD),System Level Design, Operating Systems (OS), and Computer Networking; (3) Level 3(higher/expanded level) courses could include Aspect Oriented/Extreme Programming,Computer Architecture, Modern Computer Design, OS Design, Grid Computing etc; and (4)Level 4 (detailed/micro level) courses include Data Structures &

Conference Session

ECE Pedagogy and Assessment II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Aurenice Oliveira, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

for effective teaching non-EE majors. These guiding principles are based on the author’s teaching experiences asjunior faculty member at two different Midwest institutions. Teaching philosophy forgrading, homework assignments, and exams, are not discussed in detail since the authorbelieves that these topics should be tailored in a case by case basis.1. Appropriate pedagogyThe traditional order to teach EE is that one must learn about semiconductor junctionsbefore common emitter amplifiers. Wolaver et al. 10, defend the thesis that electricalengineering instruction for non-majors can be greatly improved by taking up many topicsin reverse of the usual order. Instruction should follow an order that starts with the broaduses and system components

Conference Session

Innovations in ECE Education III

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mark Lau, Universidad del Turabo; Sastry Kuruganty, Universidad del Turabo

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

the power flows in a small-scale power sys-tem. The examples are simple enough so that readers can replicate hand calculations and repro-duce the spreadsheet implementations. The application of spreadsheets for solving power flowsand other related problems has been reported in the literature.1, 5−7 The emphasis of this paper ison the educational value of spreadsheets in the analysis of power systems.The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 provides a spreadsheet implementation for solvingthe power-flow problem using the Gauss-Seidel method; Section 3 presents an implementation ofthe Newton-Raphson method for solving the power-flow problem; Section 4 discusses the au-thors’ experience in the classroom and their pedagogical insights; and

Conference Session

Innovations in ECE Education II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carl Shek, Virginia Tech; Kathleen Meehan, Virginia Tech; Robert Hendricks, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

) Department,addressing a need that was identified through student and employer surveys for concreteexamples of fundamental concepts in electrical engineering.1 LiaB is a set of ‘hands-on’exercises in which students design, build, and test at home various d.c. and a.c. circuits using aninexpensive electronics kit, digital multimeter, and a software oscilloscope.2 Thus, LiaB doesnot require significant resources to implement. The inclusion of LiaB in our ECE curriculum hasreceived overwhelmingly positive comments from the students as well as from faculty memberswho have adopted the kits for projects in upper division courses, which traditionally have beenlecture-based with no lab component. LiaB has also been adopted by three community collegesin

Conference Session

Project-Based Learning in ECE Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stuart Wentworth, Auburn University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

block diagram consistingof an antenna, mixer, oscillator (LO), bandpass filter (BPF), intermediate frequency (IF)amplifier, detector (det), audio (Aud) amplifier and speaker (see Figure 1 block diagram). Here,the antenna-received amplitude modulated RF signal is mixed with a tunable oscillatorfrequency. The output of the mixer is filtered to leave behind only the intermediate (ordifference) frequency, which is then amplified. This amplitude modulated IF signal is passedthrough a detector to extract the audio signal. The audio signal is then amplified and passed tothe speaker.The weekly progression for the trial run of the AM radio lab is shown in Table 1. Prior to

Conference Session

Innovations in ECE Education I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohamed Omer, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg; Peter Idowu, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

presented in this paper was developed using the userinterface toolbox (GUIDE) in MATLAB®,1, 2 but this new version is designed and developedusing C# to overcome the graphical interface limitations present in the MATLAB® environment.Unlike the previous version which required the MATLAB® environment to run, the new versionis completely portable and does not require special software other than an operating system, suchas Windows or UNIX. While MATLAB® may be readily available in many of the engineeringdepartments some students cannot afford to install it on their personal computers. By eliminatingthis issue, the new visualization tool enables students to spend extra time on the treated topicsout of the classroom and school premises. In addition, the

Conference Session

Innovations in ECE Education I

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Xingguo Xiong, University of Bridgeport; Linfeng Zhang, University of Bridgeport; Junling Hu, University of Bridgeport; Lawrence Hmurcik, University of Bridgeport

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

CurriculumAbstractMEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) and nanotechnology are believed to be theexciting drive to trigger the next wave of technology revolution. MEMS refer to systemsin micro scale (1 micron to 1 millimeter) that integrates mechanical components, sensors,actuators, and electronics on a common silicon substrate through micromachiningtechnology. Due to its low cost, small size, light weight and high resolution, MEMS hasbeen widely used in automobiles, medical health care, aerospace, consumer products andRF communications. Nanotechnology refers to a field of applied science and technologyabout materials and devices in the atomic and molecular scale, normally 1 to 100nanometers. It can offer better built, longer lasting, cleanser, safer and

Conference Session

ECE Pedagogy and Assessment II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Esteban Rodriguez-Marek, Eastern Washington University; Min-Sung Koh, Eastern Washington University; Michael Brzoska, Eastern Washington University; Claudio Talarico, Eastern Washington University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

rise from within.The prospect of a new program, potentially very costly for the University, incited severalprograms at EWU to protest against the opening of an Electrical Engineering degree. Greattemple and adroit political maneuvering by the administration, which was fully behind the newprogram, were required for the eventual internal approval of the degree. And the HigherEducation Coordinating Board was still to come! This paper describes the trials and tribulationsthat were overcome by the Department of Engineering & Design from the initial idea to the finalaccreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) [1] in thesummer of 2008.I. IntroductionIt is not every day that a new Electrical Engineering

Conference Session

Laboratory Development in ECE Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ahmed Rubaai, Howard University; Ramesh Chawla, Howard University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

EXPERIMENTATION AND REAL-TIME COMPUTING: AN INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTABSTRACTThis paper presents an integrated environment for rapid control prototyping that allows rapidrealization of novel designs, from the initial design phase until the final steps of code generation.It uses a collection of tools that include both software (MATLAB/Simulink) and an off-the-shelfhardware (dSPACE DSP DS1104). The integrated environment presented in this paper has manyeducational advantages as compared to multi-environment settings. The main features of thisenvironment are: 1) controller code can be generated automatically for hardwareimplementation; 2) different languages can be used to describe different parts of the system. Inparticular, Simulink block diagrams

Conference Session

Project-Based Learning in ECE Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sharlene Katz, California State University, Northridge; James Flynn, California State University, Northridge

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

sense, the SDR is given a signal and it “solves for” or“calculates” the intelligence riding on it.Even before the development of microprocessors in the 1970s, engineers had been makingefforts to move signal processing out of the analog domain and into the more precise and flexiblerealm of digital signal processing (DSP). Early systems were crude, often converting the inputsignal with a single bit analog to digital converter (ADC) and integrating the number of 1 countsor triggering a counter with the input and processing the counter output for timing detection.Applications included LORAN and OMEGA navigation systems which relied on the relativetiming between received signals to fix location.Early systems were limited in a number of ways. Fixed

Conference Session

Innovations in ECE Education II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amendra Koul, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Keith Hoover, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Vysakh Sivarajan, Missouri University of Science and Technology; JianJian Song, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Edward Wheeler, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; James Drewniak, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

Compatibility Laboratory. His research and teaching interests include electromagnetic compatibility in high speed digital and mixed signal designs, electronic packaging, and© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 electromagnetic compatibility in power electronic based systems. Page 14.463.2© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Development and Evaluation of a Characteristic Impedance Calculator Amendra Koul1, Keith Hoover2, Vysakh Sivarajan1, Jianjian Song2, Edward Wheeler2, James Drewniak1 1 Missouri University of Science and Technology

Conference Session

Project-Based Learning in ECE Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Keith Hoover, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; JianJian Song, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Edward Wheeler, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; James Drewniak, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

in power electronic based systems. Page 14.1269.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2009 Three Practical and Effective RF and EMC Experiments for a Computer Engineering Course on Electromagnetics and EMC Keith Hoover1, Jianjian Song1, Edward Wheeler1, James Drewiniak2 1 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 2 Missouri University of Science and Technology AbstractThis paper presents three practical and effective electronic hardware experiments whichdemonstrate respectively (1) use of a common

Conference Session

Pedagogy and Assessment III

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chao Chen; Carlos Pomalaza-Ráez; Ma Oo

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

Evaluation of IEEE 802.15.4 for Use in Smart Home Medical CareAbstractThe IEEE 802.15.4 wireless standard has been identified as a potential candidate to be used insmart home medical care. This undergraduate research project evaluates the performance ofIEEE 802.15.4 under interference from other wireless devices that operate in the same frequencyband. Specifically, we focus on two very common wireless interfering systems in typical homeenvironments: IEEE 802.11 WLANs and microwave ovens. The measurement results give arough indication about the mutual interference of different systems and showcase the challengesof utilizing IEEE 802.15.4 for smart home medical applications.1. IntroductionRecently, there has been a growing interest in

Conference Session

New Trends in ECE Education

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lihong (Heidi) Jiao, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

elective course titled“Introduction to Fiber Optics” which was first offered in Summer 2008. In this paper, a brief overview of fiber optic network is presented first, followed by detaileddescription of course objectives, outline, and assessment and future modifications.Overview of Optical Communication Network Today’s optical communication network carries a mixture of voice, video, and data signals.The distance that signals travel ranges from less than a mile to thousands of miles. To bettermanage different signals, optical communication network is classified into four sub-networks.They are undersea network, long-haul network, metropolitan network, and access network asillustrated in Figure 1. Undersea network crosses the ocean and

Conference Session

ECE Pedagogy and Assessment II

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Neelam Soundarajan, Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

resources to administer and sustain on a long term basis.1. IntroductionPrados, Peterson and Lattuca, in their article 15 tracing the history and evolution of engineeringeducation and accreditation criteria through the twentieth century, write: “By the late 1980s, . . .engineering practice was changing dramatically and irreversibly . . . [existing programs] producedgraduates with strong technical skills, but these graduates were not nearly so well prepared inother skills needed to develop and manage innovative technology . . . engineering accreditationhad become an impediment to reform . . . criteria were increasingly prescriptive . . . institutions thatattempted flexible and innovative programs were increasingly harassed in accreditation reviews

Conference Session

Embedded System Design

Collection

2009 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James Holt, Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.; Hongchi Shi, Texas State University, San Marcos; Harold Stern, Texas State University, San Marcos

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

processor core alongside a digital signal processorcore.A brief examination of the product portfolios of major semiconductor companies will show thatmulticore chips are becoming part of the mainstream offerings in many embedded applicationdomains including consumer, industrial, networking, medical, military, gaming, and automotive.This change is happening very rapidly, and has caused consternation within the embedded Page 14.513.2programming community. Many in the industry believe that the concerns stem from two mainissues: (1) lack of tools and infrastructure to enable effective programming, debugging, andoptimization of multicore systems, and (2

Conference Session

New trends in ECE education

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maurice Aburdene, Bucknell University; Thomas Goodman, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

and software components, as appropriate to program objectives.”(Seehttp://www.abet.org/criteria.html).We present one of five projects used in our course, Probability with Applications in ElectricalEngineering. The course is required for all electrical engineering students and is open to thirdand fourth year students. We introduce a way to make this topic more appealing to students. Inthe latest offering, the four other projects included linear averaging,1 computer networks andsimulation,2 frequency response and least-squares estimation,1 and conditional probability andreceivers in communication systems1.The project focuses on the applications of probability to image enhancement using bothhistogram equalization and histogram specification

Conference Session

ECE Curriculum Innovations

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Godfrey, U.S. Coast Guard Academy; Joseph Staier, U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

course for more thanone or two semesters.Decision to ChangeDuring the spring of 2004 “End-of-Course Review,” a normal part of the assessment process, thecourse’s direction was discussed. The E&CE section discussed the “health” of the course, usingthe two major assessment instruments available: feedback from students and the feedback fromthe Coast Guard fleet (our customer) on what electrical engineering topics new Ensigns mustunderstand during the course of their duties.At the end of each semester, students are asked to fill out an anonymous on-line survey thatcovers five broad categories using a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. Appendix Bshows the results of the course surveys for the 11 semesters prior to the course change

Conference Session

Digital System Design

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sin Ming Loo, Boise State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

usually have steep learning curves.In some cases, a non-working design can have problems in the hardware or software portion, which canbe difficult to track. This paper describes teaching microprocessor design using a soft processor core, ourexperiences, our methodology, and the pitfalls in depth. 1 IntroductionDuring the last three decades, the microprocessor course has traditionally been taught using a discretemicroprocessor such as the Motorola 6800 series, Intel x86 series, or IBM PowerPC series. The usualtopics include the architecture of a selected microprocessor or microcontroller, assembly and Cprogramming, and devices interfacing. Usually, an off-the-shelf prototyping board with the

Conference Session

Digital System Design

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sin Ming Loo, Boise State University; Arlen Planting, Boise State University; Matt Murdock, Boise State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

system more than three years old will introducemany problems in the laboratory. This is because the CAD tools are processor and memory intensive.Older computer systems have difficulties satisfying what is required by the CAD tools. 1 IntroductionTeaching a sophomore digital systems course using just basic discrete transistor-transistor logic (TTL)components is no longer a viable and productive option [1-6]. In this case, the pace of technology shoulddictate what is being taught in the classroom and used in the laboratory, such that students emerging fromthe course will find the knowledge and skills learned to be useful in the upper division courses and thosecompleting the degree program will be more

Conference Session

ECE Curriculum Innovations

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gregory Plett, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; Rodger Ziemer, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; Michael Ciletti, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; R. Dandapani, University of Colordo-Colorado Springs; T. S. Kalkur, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; Mark Wickert, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

robotics course had been successful in part because the concept of robotswas not foreign to the students, because there was a high degree of hands-on content in thecourse, and because we had been careful to use modern pedagogy in different learning environ-ments. We have made several decisions that are designed to propagate these successes further:(1) to put a signal processing course first in the systems sequence, followed by two updatedcourses in circuits and systems (previously, we had two circuits courses first, followed by a lin-ear systems course); (2) to combine the lecture and laboratory portions of each of these threecourses into a single entity; and (3) to update the pedagogy of each course to reach, reinforce,and challenge students of

Conference Session

ECE Poster Session

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lihong (Heidi) Jiao, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

electricity, magnetism, and basicideas in optics. CHM 115 includes the structure of matter, nuclear chemistry, periodic properties,bonding, molecular shape, etc. Students have learned atomic theory in CHM 115 course. In EGR255, concepts such as protons, neutrons, electrons, atomic number, and atomic mass arereviewed. To study the particle behavior at an atomic level and to explain questions such as whyatoms are stable, why periodic table has the structure it does, basic quantum theory areintroduced. Problems arise when students first encounter the theory of quantum mechanics. Thefirst problem is that quantum concepts are largely mathematical and the second is that it isdifficult to connect it with “reality”. My approach in this module is to (1

Conference Session

ECE Pedagogy and Assessment

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Mark Jansson; Ying Tang; Ravi Ramachandran, Rowan University; John Schmalzel, Rowan University; Shreekanth Mandayam, Rowan University; Robert Krchnavek, Rowan University; Robi Polikar, Rowan University; Linda Head, Rowan University; Raul Ordonez, University of Dayton

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

environments to graduate engineers that can berapidly productive in the professional and research worlds is at least enhanced by somedegree of clinic and/or project based learning experiences in the ECE curriculum.IntroductionIn the guest editorial for the recent (2003) special issue of the IEEE Transactions onEducation devoted to providing visions for the undergraduate ECE curriculum a strikingquote is found: “There is no one common vision of ECE education” [1]. It is clear from Page 11.1329.2review of the many fascinating visions presented in that important issue that this was anunderstatement. The editorial and manuscripts clearly show, however, that a

Conference Session

ECE Pedagogy and Assessment

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joni Spurlin, North Carolina State University; Hatice Ozturk, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

makesa simple request that evidence is needed before any actions are taken about the problem.Engineering programs have gone through transformations after EC2000, designed processeswhich would facilitate the continuous improvements of their programs and placed the curriculumat the center of their operations. Electrical and Computer Engineering department at NorthCarolina State University was one of the leaders of this movement and adopted a two tiercurriculum after a year of intense work involving all of its constituents. The contributions of Page 11.245.2courses in the ECE department to the ABET program outcomes are shown in Figure 1

Conference Session

Digital Communications Systems

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joseph Hoffbeck, University of Portland; Andrew Melton, University of Portland

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

Spectrum Analyzer Antenna Figure 1: Experimental Setup for Most of the Database RecordingsThe Tektronix RSA3408A Real Time Spectrum Analyzer captures the inphase component x(n)and quadrature component y(n) of the complex envelope[4] of the signal as shown in Figure 2.The value of the center frequency ω c in Figure 2 is determined by the center frequency setting ofthe spectrum analyzer. The decimate operations reduce the amount of data required to representthe signal. LPF Decimate by X N x(n) ADC 2cos(ωcnT) s(t

Conference Session

ECE Poster Session

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Chia-Jeng Tseng, Bucknell University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

. With these considerations inmind, the module was also offered in the course of “High-Performance ComputerArchitectures” for students to understand the fundamentals of CPU design.1. IntroductionAs the complexity of digital design continues to increase, system level design isbecoming the focus of digital design activities. These days digital design often beginswith an algorithmic specification. The algorithmic description is then scheduled [8, 9].The structure of a design is generated based on the scheduled data and control flowspecification.Given a scheduled dataflow specification, a clique-partitioning procedure can be appliedto the synthesis of data paths in a digital system [9]. Slicing techniques can be used toproduce a controller for the

Conference Session

ECE Laboratory Design

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Throne, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

systems are utilizedin electives ECE-520 Discrete-Time Control Systems and ECE-521 Modern Control Systems,which usually have about ten students per year. The majority of this paper discusses thelaboratories for the introductory controls course. All of the labs for ECE-320, ECE-520, andECE-521 can be found using the link http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~throne/CCLI.html. Theselabs are continually undergoing revision as we gain more experience.Laboratory ApproachIn the initial labs the students determine models for the different plants they will be utilizing.Figure 1 shows one of the “carts” for one of our ECP rectilinear systems. The position encoder isshown toward the back of the system. The carts are moved via a motor with a rack and pinionmechanism

Conference Session

ECE Poster Session

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

S. Hossein Mousavinezhad, Western Michigan University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

involving reflection coefficients and voltagestanding wave ratio (VSWR). Input impedance and reflection coefficient and impedancematching calculations using the Smith Chart are discussed next. Additional topics arethen discussed at the conclusion of the course (time permitting), including transients ontransmission lines, pulse response, dispersion, waveguides, antennas and introduction tomicrowave engineering.Lecture ExamplesBecause of the mathematical nature of the subject, it is useful to introduce examples andwork problems following the lecture materials which usually deal with theorems andlaws important in the electromagnetics. We include a few examples in the paper withadditional examples provided during the presentation.Example 1. Consider a

Conference Session

ECE Poster Session

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Qian Du, Mississippi State University; Judy Schneider, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

the near future.I. IntroductionOne key mission of baccalaureate engineering programs is to develop and offer theinterdisciplinary coursework that is essential to preparing highly-qualified engineering graduateswho will be successful and productive in their future careers.1 As Electrical Engineering (EE)has increasing cross-correlation with other engineering fields, most engineering institutions offeran introductory course in EE to non-electrical engineering (non-EE) students.At Mississippi State University (MSU), the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering(ECE) is tasked with offering such a “service” course, ECE3183 Electrical Engineering Systems,to non-EE majors in other engineering departments. In this course, basic circuit

Conference Session

New trends in ECE education

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Qian Du, Mississippi State University

Tagged Divisions

Electrical and Computer

Communications, where probability and random processes theories arewidely used as well.A dozen of developed projects are documented. Similar projects will be modified for anundergraduate level probability and random processes class, MA4533/6533 Probability andRandom Processes, for ECE majors at MSU.II. Improvement of ECE88032.1 Introduction of ECE8803 at MSUECE8803 Random Signals & Systems is a graduate level course for electrical engineering (EE)majors at MSU. It consists of three hours of lecture, and offered every fall semester. Theprerequisite is MA4533/6533 Probability and Random Processes, an undergraduate courseoffered by Department of Mathematics and Statistics (MATH)The objectives of this course are: 1) to teach the students theoretical