Course Descriptions

Fourth Year

Cellular Mobile Communications (ELE815)
Overview and frequency reuse. Radio propagation environments. Wireless links: transceiver architecture, effect of channel impairments, techniques to mitigate impairments. Wireless systems: TDMA/FDMA systems, CDMA systems. Radio resource management: handoff, power control, channel assignment. Wireless networks.

Compilers and Translators (CPS883)
Topics include: Lexical analysis. Deterministic and non-deterministic finite automata. Hardware implementation of DFAs. Context-free grammars. Parsing techniques. Syntax directed translation. Code generation. Compiler generators.

Design Project (ELE800)
This course provides the student with a significant experience in self-directed learning. Project topics are provided from which the students select a topic. The topic selection information search, designs and component sourcing are completed as part of the Fall term course ELE700 Engineering Design. The student individually or in a group, where the topic is a group project, will reserach the topic, design, construct and implement and make operational a design of currency in the fields of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Professional guidance is provided by faculty on a weekly basis in the laboratory. The completed project must be demonstrated operational by the last week of the term. A final bound project report that conforms to professional guidelines is required. The students must demonstrate their working project at an Open House in May. See the Projects Homepage.

Digital Communication Systems (ELE745)
Signal representation and signal space. Binary detection and matched filters. Optimum receiver principles. Basic digital-modulation techniques. Coherent and non-coherent communication systems. Modem standards and implementation. Channel encoding: linear block codes and convolution codes.

Digital Systems Engineering (ELE758)
Topics include: Architecture of advanced processors. CISC and RISC processors. Memory hierarchy. Memory strategies including cache. Virtual memory. Input/Output. Backplane buses. Multiprocessor systems. Specialized computation. Design for testability. The laboratory work includes the design and implementation of memory controller and bus interface units using QuickLogic CAE tools and FPGAs.

Electronics and Instrumentation (ELE744)
An advanced electronics course focussing on the design and analysis of electronic instrumentation, sensors, and signal conversion circuits needed to implement embedded controller intelligence into an industrial or consumer electronic product. Topics include Data Acquisition Circuits such as Analog to Digital Converters, Sample and Hold, Multiplexers, Digital to Analog converters; Temperature, Pressure and Flow Transducers and their electronics; Voltage to Frequency and Frequency to Voltage converters; Op amp and circuit noise analysis and its effect on signal to noise ratio; instrumentation and isolation amplifiers; Common mode rejection both dc and frequency dependent; and noise reduction in practical circuits. In the laboratory each student is required to individually implement an embedded controller design. At the present time the project requires the measurement and display of temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and wind speed. The students are responsible for designing their interfaces, writing the software, calibrating and measuring the error of their instruments.

Robotics (ELE869)
This course provides a comprehensive treatment on the fundamentals of robotics, particularly in kinematics and dynamics. Topics include: Forward kinematics: homogeneous transformations; the Denavit-Hartenberg representation of linkages. Inverse kinematics: closed-form and numerical solutions. Differential motion; Jacobian matrix; singularities. Dynamics: the Euler-Lagrange and Newton-Euler formulations. Trajectory generation. Position and force control of robotic manipulators. Introductory computer vision: image representation; template matching ; image segmentation.

System Models and Identification (ELE 829)
Introduction to modern methods of linear system identification. Different types of models: mechanistic, empiric, parameteric, non-parametric. Review of classic time- and frequency-based approach to "black-box" system modeling. Discrete transfer function models from input-output data using Least Squares. Overview of stochastic processes. Combined deterministic-stochastic parametric models. Data-collection procedures, model structure selection, use of auto- and cross-correlation functions for diagnostics and model validation. Overview of different estimation algorithms. Non-parametric identification: impulse and step weights, spectral analysis. Theory learned in the course is applied in a practical experiment on a positioning servo system. Technology enabled instruction is used in the classroom. Course evaluation by short MATLAB tutorials and a lab report.

Third Year

Communication Systems (ELE635)
This course studies basic principles of communication theory as applied to the transmission of information. The course topics include: baseband signal transmission, amplitude, phase and frequency modulation, modulated waveform generation and detection techniques, effects of noise in analog communication systems, frequency division multiplexing.

Computer Architecture (ELE548)
Topics include: Basic structure of modern computers. Interaction between computer hardware and software at various levels. Computer hardware and technology. Performance evaluation and metrics. Instruction set design. Computer Arithmetic. Processor data path and control design for MIPS Processor. The laboratory work includes the design and implementation of 16 bit CPU using Altera Max+Plus II software and VDHL.

Control Systems (ELE639)
Introductory course in Classical Control. Description of linear, time-invariant systems through differential equations, transfer function representation. Block diagrams and signal flows, Mason's gain formula. Models of electrical, mechanical and electromechanical systems. Transient response and frequency response for first, second and higher order systems. Steady state error analysis. Performance specifications in time and frequency domain. Basic properties of feedback, the three-term controller (PID) and it's tuning. Stability analysis: Routh-Hurwitz criterion, root locus method, Nyquist stability criterion. Frequency domain-based compensation: lead, lag, lead-lag controller design. Laboratory work includes experiments on system modeling and controller design using a computer-controlled, DSP-based positioning servo. Practical aspects of real-life controller design such as controller output saturation and process nonlinearities are discussed. Computer assignment is completed using MATLAB and SIMULINK software. Technology-enabled instruction is used in theclassroom.

Professional Law and Ethics (CEN800)
The engineering profession, business corporations and organization, Tort liability and contract law, legal and ethecial aspects of the engineering practice, business contract law and conflict resolution, intellectual and industrial property, employment and labour law including occupational health and safety, rnvironmental considerations and sustainable development, international standards and trade.

Microprocessor Systems (ELE538)
This course introduces students to small microprocessor-based systems, with an emphasis on embedded system hardware and software design. Topics include: Microprocessor architecture and structure with an overview of 8- 16- and 32-bit systems. Assembly language programming and the use of high-level languages. Basic input/output including parallel communications with and without handshaking and serial protocols. Hardware and software timing. Using interrupts and exceptions. Overview of single-chip microprocessors and controllers with an emphasis on the Motorola 68HC11. The internal structure and design of peripheral devices. Memory system design and analysis. The use and structure of development tools such as (cross) assemblers or compilers, monitor programs, simulators, emulators, etc. The lab work will consist mainly of low-level peripheral interface design and use in a small microprocessor system.

Probability and Statistics (MTH523)
Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference. Topics covered include: descriptive statistics, elements of probability theory, random variables and random vectors, functions of a random variable, expectation, sampling theory, sampling distributions, estimation, confidence limits, hypothesis testing, covariance, correlation.

Real-Time Operating Systems (ELE648)
Topics include: Operating systems basic concepts. Hardware and software features required for real time systems. Process management; scheduling, interprocess communication and synchronization, deadlocks. Memory mangement, virtual memory, files systems. Distributed systems. The major lab will involve developing an RTX kernel.

Signals and Systems (ELE532)
This course deals with the analysis of continuous-time and discrete-time signals and systems. Topics include: Representations of linear time-invariant systems. Representations of signals. Laplace transform.z-transform. Transfer function; impulse response; step response. The convolution integral and its interpretation; numerical convolution. Fourier analysis for continuous-time and discrete-time signals and systems.

Second Year

Differential Equations and Transforms (MTH312)
Generalized functions, Fourier series and transform, second order differential equations, Laplace Transform. Systems of differential equations. Applications to electrical circuits.

Digital Systems and Microprocessors (ELE328)
Topics include: Boolean algebra, number systems and codes. Combinational logic design, Synchronous sequential circuit design. Memory systems. Control structures and data paths. Introduction to microprocessors. Lab work includes basic combinatorial and sequential design using programmable logic devices. The final project involves writing object codes and microprograms for a lab designed controller.

Electric Networks (ELE302)
Three phase circuits- 3-phase voltages, Y and delta-connections, balanced three-phase systems, power calculations, two-wattmeter power measurement; frequency response- Bode plots, resonant circuits, frequency response of OPAMP circuits; Laplace transform applications- initial and final value theorems, solution of differential equations, transfer function and impedance, convolution theorem; Fourier series- exponential form, Fourier spectrum, circuits and Fourier series; filter circuits- second- and high-order filters, pole-zero plots and the s-plane, distortion in filter circuits; two port networks- equations of two-port networks, hybrid and transmission parameters, interconnection of two-port networks; computer aided circuit analyses of all the above topics.

Electronic Circuits (ELE404)
Introduction to electronics, operational amplifiers, diodes, linear and non-linear circuit applications involving op. amps. and diodes. Bipolar junction and field-effect transistors: physical structures and modes of operation. DC analysis of transistor circuits. The transistor as an amplifier and as a switch. Transistor amplifiers: small signal models, biasing of discrete circuits. Biasing of BJT integrated circuits. Multi-stage amplifiers. Frequency response of single-stage amplifiers, feedback amplifiers.

Engineering Algorithms and Data Structures (ELE428)
Basic data structures (arrays, pointers), abstract data structures (trees, lists, heaps), searching, sorting, hashing, recursive algorithms, parsing, space-time complexity, NP-complete problems, software engineering and project management, object-oriented data structures, case studies and lab exercises will be implemented using C-programming language.

Field Theory (ELE401)
Coulomb's law and electric field intensity. Gauss' law and electric flux density, the divergence theorem. Electric fields in material space, capacitance. Poisson's and Laplace's equations, uniqueness theorem. Biot-Savart law and magnetic field intensity, Ampere's circuital law, the curl and Stokes' theorem, magnetic flux density, scalar and vector magnetic potentials. Properties of magnetic materials, magnetic forces, the magnetic circuit, magnetic energy stored, self and mutual inductance. Time varying fields, Faraday's law, the displacement current, Maxwell's equations.

Principles of Engineering Economics (ECN801)
Principles of economic decision analysis applied to private and public sector capital projects. Discounted cash flow methods are studied. Tax impacts of depriciation and interest charges are incorporated into decision rules. Other topics covered include: lease analysis, replacement decicions, sensitivity and breakeven analysis, inflation impacts and public sector project analysis.

First Year

Calculus II (MTH240)
Integration techniques. Improper integrals. Partial derivatives. Infinite sequences and series, power series. First-order differential equations, with applications.

General Chemistry (CHY102)
This course deals with stoichiometry, gases, liquids and solids, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, kinetics, nuclear chemistry and electrochemistry. The treatment of these topics will emphasize problem solving and calculation.

Digital Computation and Programming (CPS125)
The modern Engineering computing environment is introduced using the UNIX operating system and common utilities such as the text editor and electronic mail. The C programming language is used to develop good programming techniques. Topics covered include: C program form, language statements, pseudocode algorithmic representation, numeric data types, flow of control with selection and repetition, standard C libraries, functions and call modes, arrays, pointer arithmetic, sorting, matrix operations, character and string data types, dynamic storage, structures and linked lists, file I/O.

Electric Circuits Analysis (ELE202)
Electric circuit parameters: charge, current, voltage, power. Analysis of direct current (DC) circuits using Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws. Voltage and current sources. Loop and node analysis methods. Network theorems: Thevenin, Norton and Superposition. Capacitance and inductance. Transient response of first- and second-order circuits. Alternating currents (AC) and voltages, rms values; phasors; impedance, admittance and power concepts in simple R, L, or C circuits. Steady-state analysis of AC circuits; impedance bridges. Magnetically coupled networks; mutual inductance, ideal transformer, analysis of coupled circuits.

Linear Algebra (MTH141)
Systems of linear equations and matrices. Determinants. Vector spaces. Inner product spaces. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Applications.

Physics I (PCS125)
Forces, fields and potentials for gravitational, electrical and magnetic systems. Oscillations, sound, electromagnetic waves. Geometric and wave optics. Quantization of radiation.

Solid State Physics (PCS224)
Quantum mechanics and quantum nature of solids, properties of materials. Band theory in metals and semiconductors. Conduction processes, the p-n junction, transistors and other solid state devices.