Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Effective integration of electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity in electrical and computer engineering curricula Abstract: The frequencies and switching speeds used by today’s high-speed electronic systems require engineers who understand electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity for system design and layout. At Rose-Hulman, we are responding to this emerging need by introducing courses which effectively integrate high-speed design into our undergraduate curricula. Initial steps include one new required course and one redesigned elective course for our computer engineering curriculum and redesigning our required two-course electromagnetics sequence in our electrical engineering curriculum.

Introduction

Fifteen years ago, clock speeds on personal computers were 33 MHz. Today, clock speeds have reached 3 GHz—an almost hundred fold increase. This trend will continue with the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors calling for on-chip frequencies of 12.4 GHz and chip- to-board frequencies of 7.6 GHz by 2009. At 7.6 GHz, wavelengths are between two and three centimeters. Engineers working in this environment—from design to application to installation— require a thorough understanding of the electromagnetic principles that provide the basis of effective high-speed design.

Most electrical and computer engineering departments do not adequately prepare their undergraduate students to work in high-speed design. The result is that electrical and computer engineering (ECE) departments will soon face the prospect of having a majority of their graduating electrical and computer engineers ill-prepared to work effectively in this emerging high-speed environment. With increasing speeds and frequencies, needs in this area will only grow and engineering education in the United States must begin responding to this challenge, beginning at the undergraduate level. To this end, one of the first steps needed is to integrate topics which support high-speed design into core undergraduate ECE curricula

At Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT), we are developing a high-speed design program in which the educational foundations of our high-speed design program are provided by courses that explore electromagnetics, electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity. System-level issues are then discussed in courses in high-speed design and are extended via applications in wireless systems. Planned courses include a laboratory-based course in modeling and measurement and a course in RF integrated circuit design.

In this paper we report on courses in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), signal integrity (SI), and high-speed design that will provide the foundations of the high-speed design program being developed . The needs of both disciplines, electrical engineering and computer engineering, must be kept in view. In the discussion below, therefore, keep in mind that, since electrical engineering and computer engineering students typically have backgrounds which differ significantly in electromagnetic fundamentals, any practical program designed to integrate EMC and SI into ECE curricula must address these differences to ensure plans are practical and so that both groups benefit to the greatest extent possible.

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Wheeler, E., & Song, J., & Voltmer, D. (2006, June), Effective Integration Of Electromagnetic Compatibility And Signal Integrity In Electrical And Computer Engineering Curricula Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--265