Specific Outcomes of Instruction:
Upon completion of ECE 1050, students will be able to:

• Write simple program scripts and functions in MATLAB.
• Use MATLAB for applications in electrical & computer engineering.
• Collect data and analyze basic electronic sensors and circuits.
• Create and simulate a circuit in LTspice

Relationship of the Course to the ABET Student Outcomes:
Upon completion of ECE 1050, students will be able to:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. The final project in this course directly addresses this outcome, as students choose a simple project to build to solve a practical problem.  The students simulate the circuit design to verify that it works.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. When students choose and design their final projects, the instructor interacts with them to ensure that the project is safe and affordable.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. For the final project, students write an email proposal and submit a critical design review describing simulation results.  This gives students practice with technical writing.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. Students receive feedback on proposed project ideas to ensure they are safe and ethical.  Most projects, however, solve a problem that is local in scope.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.  Students work individually in this course rather than on teams.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. Work in this course addresses this outcome in an introductory way by asking students to make simple observations and answer straightforward questions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. Although not specifically required, students often find sensors or other circuit ideas on their own to use for final projects.

Topics Covered in the Course:

• MATLAB environment
• MATLAB variables
• MATLAB built-in functions
• MATLAB logic operations
• MATLAB user-defined functions
• MATLAB loops
• LTspice circuit simulations

UCard Access to Labs:

• Labs have doors that open with your UCard.  After the first lab, you may need to submit this ECE Card Access Request form to gain access to your laboratory classroom.
• Email the completed form to: mel.parkes@utah.edu

Computer:

• You may find that using your laptop computer is more convenient than using the computers in the lab, but either option is fine.

MATLAB (software):  (free from U of U Software Licensing Office) 

• MATLAB is a simple programming interface that engineers use for quick, effective simulation, computation, and graphing.  We will use it throughout the course (which is meant to be your first introduction to this powerful tool), and in several other classes throughout your degree.  The link above will allow you to install MATLAB on your computer, and also has tutorials and support to get you started.  You may also use MATLAB on the machines in this lab, where you log in using your CADE login information.

Circuit Simulation Software: LTspice available free online for Windows or Mac

•  LTspice is made available for free by Analog Devices.  On their website, Analog Devices describes LTspice as follows:

"LTspice^® is a high performance SPICE simulation software, schematic capture and waveform viewer with enhancements and models for easing the simulation of analog circuits. Included in the download of LTspice are macromodels for a majority of Analog Devices switching regulators, amplifiers, as well as a library of devices for general circuit simulation."

Word Processing Software: 

• Microsoft Office (Word) is available to UofU students free from the Office of Software Licensing (Links to an external site.) Check out other free and discounted software for students.

Ensure you have these ahead of time as they will be required to complete assignments and activities throughout the course.

Please review the communication methods and requirements for this course:

Preferred Contact Methods

The easiest and preferred way to contact your instructor directly is to use the   Inbox, located in the far left Canvas menu.

You can also contact your instructor in the following ways:

• email: christen@ee.utah.edu to ask questions or set up an appointment.
• Stay after class to talk in person
• See me during my Office Hours: Weds 1:00 - 2:00 in the lab.

To contact the TA, use the   Inbox, or email u1298265@utah.edu.

Office Hours

The instructor will hold office hours according to the following schedule:

 Wednesdays 1:00-2:00 before lab, in person after each ECE 1240 class, or by appointment.

The TA will hold office hours according to the following schedule:. 

Thursdays 3:45-4:45 in MEB 2440, or by appointment.

There will be approximately one lab exercise per week.  The labs are as follows (for dates, see complete schedule on Home page):

Lab M0: Test MATLAB and LTspice

Lab M1: MATLAB Basics

Lab M2: Plotting with the Voltage Divider

Lab M3: Additional Plotting

Lab M4: Matrices & Vectors, Quantization, and Truncation

NOTE: Lab M5 has supplemental videos you will need to watch BEFORE coming to lab.

Lab M5: Thévenin Equivalent Circuits

Lab M6: Sensors and Comparator Op-Amp

Lab M7: Non-Inverting Op-Amp

Lab M8: Digital Logic Gates

Lab M9: Transient Analysis with Capacitors

Your performance in this course will be evaluated by:

• Lab reports based on responses to questions in lab handouts.
• Lab attendance/checkoffs and interaction with the Instructor and TA, assessed subjectively by the Instructor and TA.

There are no exams in this course.

Previous Experience

No previous experience with electronics or programming is assumed or needed in this class. We will be starting from scratch. However, some students in this class will have had some experience, either formal or informal, and a few students will have had a lot of experience.  If you are someone with little or no experience, do not be intimidated!  We will be working together, and the course is designed to start from the beginning.

Workload

It is anticipated that a typical student will need to spend the following amount of time each week:

0.5 hours watching videos

1.5 hours in lab

Additional time for completing a lab.

2+ hours per week

Lab attendance is mandatory, and all lab work must be done in the lab under the supervision of your Instructor and lab TA. You must attend labs at the times listed in the University's Class Schedule . If you must miss a lab session due to an emergency, contact your Instructor and lab TA to make arrangements to make up the lab. The lab TA will grade you on attendance. You must contact the lab TA before leaving the lab each week.  Doing all of these things is necessary in order to receive attendance credit.

You must do your OWN lab work (even though you can consult with other students for help).

All assignments, unless otherwise announced, must be submitted to the designated area of Canvas.  Do not submit assignments via email.  Remember to login to CIS (the UofU computer system you use to register) before trying to submit assignments.  Otherwise, Canvas does not know who you are!

Each lab assignment sheet will tell you how to format and turn in Lab Reports.  Submit everything to the appropriate assignment link in Canvas.

Lab work is due by the dates listed on each of the lab assignment sheets, usually by Friday immediately following the Wednesday lab at 11:59 pm.

Late labs receive 20% less credit the first week after the due date, then 20% less for each successive week. If you have not finished a lab on time, be sure to turn in the portion that is completed on time for the best score.  Then hand in the remaining work for reduced credit.

Grading for this course

To calculate your grade, your total scores in assignment categories are weighted as follows:

• 90% Lab Reports
• 10% Lab Attendance/Checkoff

Course Grading Scale

This course uses the following absolute grading scale.  Grades are calculated by Canvas using a weighted sum of percentages as shown in the Assignments section of Canvas.  Be aware that Canvas grades may be inflated if missing scores have not been set to zero, so you must take this into account.

Disclaimer

Accommodations will be considered on an individual basis and may require documentation.

Please contact your instructor and/or teaching assistant as soon as possible (preferably shortly before the semester begins) to request accommodations of any kind.

Extreme personal circumstances

Please contact your instructor as soon as possible if an extreme personal circumstance (hospitalization, death of a close relative, etc.) is interfering with your ability to complete your work.

Religious Practice

To request an accommodation for religious practices, contact your instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Active Duty Military

If you are student on active duty with the military and experience issues that prevent you from participating in the course because of deployment or service responsibilities, contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Disability Access

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services (CDS). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations.

If you will need accommodations in this class, contact:

Center for Disability Services
  801-581-5020
  disability.utah.edu
  162 Union Building
200 S. Central Campus Dr.
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

This syllabus is not a contract. It is meant to serve as an outline and guide for your course. Please note that your instructor may modify it to accommodate the needs of your class.

You will be notified of any changes to the Syllabus.

This course has a structure and timeline.  As such, the following is expected of all students in this class:

• Students must be self-motivated, organized, and willing to stay on top of their schedule. Students should take control of their learning while in this course.
• Students are expected to follow the Core Rules of Netiquette at all times while participating in the class and communicating with others.
• Students will log in to the course a minimum of 1 time per week.
• Students will regularly check for course updates and will update their Canvas notification settings to ensure they receive timely notifications from the course.
• Students will contact their instructor or teaching assistant in a timely manner if they have any questions, are struggling with course materials, or need further assistance from their instructor.
  • If you do not hear back within 3 days after sending a message, please contact your instructor/TA again.
• Students will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, academic dishonesty, and other rights and responsibilities of students outlined in the University of Utah Student Handbook and Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
  • If you have any questions about this, please contact the Dean of Students.

Your course instructor is an expert in the topics you will learn about this semester. Your instructor is your mentor and facilitator of the classroom experience, aided by teaching assistants. Instructors are committed to:

• The instructor will design the course to include lectures, learning materials, and assignments that are accessible and provide students with opportunities to learn and practice course content.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will ensure that the course remains a safe space where students can engage with difficult content thoughtfully and respectfully.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will interact with the class regularly via announcements, one-on-one video conferencing by appointment, emails, the Canvas Inbox, feedback on assignments, and comments on Discussions, among other methods.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will respond to students in a timely manner: within 48 hours, not including weekends and holidays.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will be available for individual consultation via one-on-one video conferencing by appointment, email, or phone and will not require students to meet in person.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will provide relevant feedback in a timely manner.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, accommodations, and other important duties.