Course Syllabus

ECE 1240 CIRCUITS & SYSTEMS Intro

Instructors

ECE1240 Sections 1,2

 

Prof. Cynthia Furse Links to an external site.
(Links to an external site.)

Office: MEB 2280

Office Hours:

Tues & Thur 2-3

cfurse@ece.utah.edu

 

ECE 1240

Sections 3,4

Prof. Ken Stevens Links to an external site.

Office:

MEB  4506 

Office Hours:

By appointment

 

kstevens@ece.utah.edu

 

LECTURE

Sections 1,2
Tues & Thurs 10:45am-12:05pm Dr. Furse WEB L103
Sections 3,4
Tues & Thurs 3:40-5:00 pm Dr. Stevens WEB L114

EXTRA LEARNING TIME! Supplemental Instruction (Wednesday 9-11 Gardner Commons Room 2675 or Zoom)

TA Raksha Prasad will host a weekly problem session, where you can work problems together and focus on answering questions and getting unstuck and cementing your knowledge.

Wednesday 9-11 in (Gardner Commons Room 2675)  Each week, post your "muddiest questions" on the discussion board, and Raksha will help you work on them.

You can also access this via Zoom (see the left bar of canvas)

TAs

TA Info:  Name: Office Hours: Room: Email:
Class Graders Brian Rasmussen u0788514@utah.edu
  Adam Welsh

u1456456@utah.edu

 

  Raksha Prasad Gardener Commons 2675 Wed 9-11

u1298265@utah.edu

Lab Sections:
Section 1
Connor Watson MEB 2555 M 2-5

u1331492@utah.edu

 

Section 2

 

Isaac Thomas

 

MEB 2555

 

F 12-3

u1423032@utah.edu

Section 3
Advait Mahajan MEB 2555 W 2-5

u1250449@utah.edu

Section 4

Brian Rasmussen

MEB 2267

Tues

730-1030

u0788514@utah.edu

 

Section 5

Brian Rasmussen

MEB 2267

F 9-12

u0788514@utah.edu

ECE  Tutors

(and other ECE resources)

https://utah.instructure.com/courses/465115

 

Course Description

Overview

Course ECE 1240
Department Electrical and Computer Engineering
Pre-Requisites C- or better in (MATH 1210 OR MATH 1310 OR MATH 1311) OR AP Calc AB score of 4 or better OR AP Calc BC score of 3 or better. Corequisites: ECE 1245 OR ECE 1050.
Credit Hours 3
Semester Fall 2024
Description System design using electrical and computer engineering concepts. Design, evaluate, build, test, and debug simple circuits using voltage and current sources, resistors and capacitors, op amps, and diodes to accomplish specific engineering tasks. This course also covers applications in electrical and computer engineering including: electrical circuit design, sensors, signal processing, communications, electromagnetics, control and embedded systems.

Goals & Objectives

The main goal is that at the end of this class, you will have the skills to successfully invent a sensor system of your own choosing.  

At the conclusion of ECE 1240 students will be prepared to: 

  • Design and evaluate (with theory/math and simulation), simple electrical/computer engineering circuits using voltage and current sources, resistors and capacitors, op amps, and diodes to accomplish specific engineering tasks. 
  • Explain applications in electrical and computer engineering including: electrical circuit design, sensors, signal processing, communications, electromagnetics, control and embedded systems.

Relationship of the Course to the ABET Student Outcomes:  

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. The course focuses on this outcome by teaching students the basics of circuit design and analysis. 
  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. The course addresses this outcome indirectly through application notes in the textbook and linked in the course schedule.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. This course lacks assignments related to this outcome. 
  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. This course addresses this outcome only in a minimal way through stories from the instructor's experience.
  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. This course addresses this outcome in a modest way by having group assignments in which students create example exams as a team. 
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. This course does not address this outcome directly.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. This course asks students to evaluate their learning style and uses methods such as color coding of connections to help students with different learning styles improve their performance. 

Required Materials

Textbook (Free): (Links to an external site.)Circuit Analysis and Design, 3rd Ed. by Ulaby, Maharbiz, Furse Links to an external site.

Computer or Tablet:

For Matlab, I’d recommend a minimum of  an Intel i5 or an AMD Athlon processor with 16 GB of RAM and an SSD hard drive (preferred but not absolutely necessary).  Most of today’s new computers would run these programs just fine but the key is the amount of RAM.  I’d never try to do anything less that 8 GB on a system running Windows, 16 GB or more is preferred.

Pre-class, short lectures are online, and you'll need to watch these before class.

In class, we'll work through problems and examples. In class time will also be recorded and shared via a Zoom link for those who need it.  We encourage students to attend class in person, and most students finds this makes class a lot more fun and easier to concentrate on, but we understand some circumstances may prevent this.  Please come to class in person if at all possible, but join the Zoom link (see the left bar of canvas) when you are not able to be there in person.

Assignments will be submitted on the Canvas software system. This will require scanning or taking pictures of assignments  that are then submitted via computer or phone. (Download a free scanner for your phone, so you can create a single PDF file of each assignment, if you choose that method.)

Exams should be taken in person. Computers and tablets CAN NOT be used during exams, so be sure you print notes as needed in advance. Exceptions will be made for students who have signed up for the synchronous online (Zoom) version of this class, and for others who discuss needing this exception with the professor in advance.

Calculator:

  • You will also need a calculator to do your homework and exams.  Depending on the method you use to solve problems, the calculator may need to be capable of handling matrix math, including complex matrices.  Calculators that will do the job include TI 85 and up, and also TI 36.  The TI 83 and 84 may be sufficient for complex numbers used in the latter part of the course if you do more work by hand.  Neil Cotter particularly likes the TI-36X Pro to be a good calculator for ECE 1240 and 2240.

Communication

Preferred Contact Methods

The easiest way to reach your professor is through office hours or email (see top of page).

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

Office Hours

Posted above.

Course Schedule

The content in this schedule is subject to change throughout the semester, but the exams and exam reviews will remain as posted).

The course has four main modules:

  1. Basic Circuits
  2. Solving Circuits
  3. Op-Amps and Digital Logic
  4. RC and RL Circuits

Detailed schedule:

Week

Lecture

Topic

1245/1050 Lab

Week 1

Tuesday

Aug 20nd

L1-1 Welcome to ECE!

L1-2 Units & Notation (review)

Lab 0

Thursday

Aug 22th

L1-3 Circuit Elements

L1-4 Charge and Current

Week 2

Tuesday Aug 27th

L1-5 Voltage & Power

 

 

Thursday

Aug 29st

L1-6 Circuit Elements II

L2-1 Ohm’s Law

Week 3

Tuesday

Sept 3th

L2-2 Kirchhoff’s Laws (KCL + KVL)

 

Thursday

Sept 5th

L2-3 V,I Dividers & Equivalent Resistance

Week 4

Tuesday

Sept 10th

Review for Exam 1

 

Thursday

Sept 12th

EXAM 1

Week 5

Tuesday

Sept 17th

L3-1,2 Nodal Analysis

 

Lab 1

Thursday

Sept 19st

L3-4 Solving Circuits w/ Matrices

Week 6

Tuesday

Sept 24th

L3-5 Superposition

Lab 2

Thursday

Sept 26th

L3-6 Thevenin and Norton Equivalents

Week 7

Tuesday

Oct 1rd

Review for Exam 2

Lab 3

Thursday

Oct 3th

EXAM 2

 

 

FALL BREAK

 

Week 8

Tuesday

Oct 15th

L4-1 Op Amp Characteristics

L4-2 Negative Feedback

Lab 4

Thursday

Oct 17th

L4-3 Ideal Op Amp + Non-Inverting Amplifier

L4-4 Inverting Amplifier

Week 9

Tuesday

Oct 22th 

L4-5 Summing Amplifier

L4-6 Difference Amplifier

Lab 5

Thursday

Oct 24th

L4-7 Voltage Follower

L4-8 Multiple Op Amp Circuits

Week 10

Tuesday

Oct 29st

L-Digital

Lab 6

Thursday

Oct 31

Review for Exam 3

Week 11

Tuesday

Nov 5

EXAM 3

Lab 7

Thursday

Nov 7

L5-2 Capacitors

L5-3 Inductors

Week 12

Tuesday

Nov 12

L4-4,5 RC & RL Circuits

Lab 8

Thursday

Nov 14

RC & RL Circuits continued...

Week 13

Tuesday Nov 19

L7-1,2,3 Sine Waves and Phasors

Final Project

Thursday

Nov 21

L7-4 Phasor Domain Analysis

L7-5,6 Thevenin and other equivalent circuits

Week 14

Tuesday

Nov 26

 L7-7 Phasor Diagrams

L7-9 Phasor Domain Analysis Techniques

Final Project

Thursday

Nov 28

 THANKSGIVING (NO CLASSES)

Week 15

Tuesday

Dec 3

Review for Exam 4

Final Project

Thursday

Dec 5

EXAM 4

Finals Week

Wednesday

Dec 11 10:30-12:30

FINAL EXAM (OPTIONAL)

 

Student Preparation And Time Commitment

Previous Experience

No previous experience with electronics or programming is assumed or needed in this class. We will be starting from scratch. However, many 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.

BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS CLASS (Step-by-Step) --

 Step 1: 1-2 days BEFORE class... Look at the Question of the Day (QOD) found by following the link to the lecture video.  This is material you will learn in the lecture/text for that day.  

 Step 2: 1-2 days BEFORE class ... Watch the lecture videos (OR read the textbook section).  Take notes that answer the QOD. 

 Step 3: Come to class and bring questions from videos.  Class will NOT be a repeat of the lecture videos.  We will work together actively solving examples and some of your homework problems, and answering questions (so bring your questions with you).  And we will talk about how to apply what you are learning in real-world applications.  Teaching this way approximately doubles the amount of time we have together, and gives me time to really work with you on the common problems that crop up in your homework.

 Step 4: Finish your homework THAT DAY.  If you can spend some additional time that day (or at least before the next class) finishing the homework for that day, you will be well-prepared for the next day, which typically builds on the previous day.  If you wait until the homework is due, you will probably feel somewhat lost as the week progresses.  Sure, you can pick this up on the weekend, but that is less efficient.  It is fantastic if you can work with other students on your homework, so get a study group together.  You will learn from other people's questions and problems as much as you learn from your own successes.

Step 5: Show your mastery with the comprehension quiz. Each lecture has a comprehension quiz associated with it.  After you complete the homework, take the comprehension quiz on Canvas to show your mastery of the material.  You can take the quiz as many times as you need (we keep the highest score), and each time the question may vary. 

Go to Step 1 to Prepare for the next day  ...

If you find you may have forgotten some math information you need in this class, check out the Khan Academy and others linked in the RESOURCE section of the assignments for help.  The MATH tutoring center (Links to an external site.) and TAs are also available to help you.

No previous experience with electronics or programming is assumed or needed in this class. We will be starting from scratch. However, many 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.

WORK LOAD:  Plan to spend the following amount of time each week:

  • 3 hours watching videos
  • 3 hours in class
  • 6-9 hours on homework
  • Additional time studying for exams.

12+ hours per week

Course Policies

Submitting Assignments

All assignments should be submitted on Canvas. Remember to login to CIS (U computer system you use to register) before trying to submit assignments.

Late Assignments

Late homework and labs will be accepted up through Dec. 13, without penalty of points. Why? You are an engineering professional in training, and deserve to be treated that way. Professional tasks are done for a purpose. In this class, the purpose is to learn.

Grading

Grading for this course

Homework: Homework will be your main study guide.  Therefore, think of it as preparation for each exam.  Collaboration with fellow students on homework assignments and studying is encouraged, but be sure you understand and can do it independently as well.  Solutions to the homework will be posted on the course website before the homework is due so you can get help when you are really stuck.

Comprehension Quizzes:  After you complete the homework, you should do the corresponding comprehension quiz.  This is our check to make sure you mastered the content.  The quiz gives immediate feedback whether your answer is correct or not and you can take the quiz as many times as you need (you will get a different problem each time). 

Exams: To do well in this class, keep up in class, study hard, do well on all the midterms, and you will not have to take the final exam.  That's right.  The final exam is broken into 4 parts that act as "retake" exams for midterms you either missed or didn't do as well as you might have liked. You can take none, any, or all of the parts, to replace any or all of the midterms. You will receive the highest of your midterm score or the score for that section of the final.

Permission codes and Lab Waiting Lists:

If you have the pre-requisites for this course but have been unable to register for it, please submit a permission code request form (Links to an external site.) to get on the waiting list.  The ECE office staff process the requests in about one day and will send you a permission code.   If you are needing special permission for some reason, please describe the reason on the permission code request form. 

Questions of the Day: For each lecture,  make notes to help you answer the question of the day and do the homework. Add to your notes as you discover things you might have missed at first.  You will be able to use these notes on the exams.

Errors: If you find a mistake in the online lecture notes, textbook, solution manual, lab handouts, etc., email me the mistake (details, please, so I can fix it!) plus your corrections.  You may receive extra homework points for mistakes found if you are the first person in the class to notice them.

Midterm 1 or Final                       22%

Midterm 2 or Final                       22%

Midterm 3 or Final                       22%

Midterm 4 or Final                       22%

Homework, Extra Credit  & Comprehension Quizzes    12% (extra credit can bring this up to 12%, but not more)

 

Grades are assigned by an absolute grading scale based on percentage total for course:

≥ 93%    A       ≥ 90%    A-

≥ 87%    B+     ≥ 83%    B      ≥ 80%    B-

≥ 77%    C+     ≥ 73%    C      ≥ 70%    C-

≥ 67%    D+     ≥ 63%    D      > 60%    D-

≤ 60%    E 

Accommodations

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, natural disaster, 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 Links to an external site..

If you will need accommodations in this class, contact:

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

Changes to the Syllabus

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.

Expectations

Student Expectations

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 Links to an external site. at all times while communicating with others online.
  • Students should come to class 3 times per week.
  • Students are expected to interact with their classmates.
  • 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 Links to an external site. and Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities Links to an external site..

Instructor Expectations

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 classroom activities, announcements, office hours, 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 office hours and email.
  • 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.

Department Policies

Please see our ECE Department Student Canvas Hub regarding department policies:

  • Challenging Courses
  • Student Conduct
  • Class Repeats
  • Withdrawal Procedure
  • Exceptions to Policy
  • Permission Codes
  • Probationary Status
  • Grading

For technical issues in the lab (broken equipment, software issues, etc) please send an email that describes the issue, description of setup where error occurred, which bench station, etc to: ecelabs@coe.utah.edu

For student concerns and other feedback, please speak with our department undergraduate advisors Links to an external site..

College Policies

College policies Links to an external site. describe the following:

  • Appeals
  • Withdrawing from Classes
  • Adding Classes
  • Repeating Courses
  • CR/NC Policy
  • Safety

University Policies

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities.

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability & Access Links to an external site. (CDA). CDA 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.

In compliance with ADA requirements, some students may need to record course content. Any recordings of course content are for personal use only, should not be shared, and should never be made publicly available. In addition, recordings must be destroyed at the conclusion of the course.

If you will need accommodations in this class, or for more information about what support they provide, contact:

Center for Disability & Access

  801-581-5020
  disability.utah.eduLinks to an external site.
  162 Union Building
  200 S. Central Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Safety at the U

The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more safety information and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.

To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort, contact:

Campus Police & Department of Public Safety

  801-585-COPS (801-585-2677)
  dps.utah.edu
  1735 E. S. Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Addressing Sexual Misconduct

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information.

If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to university officials: 

Title IX Coordinator & Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

  801-581-8365
  oeo.utah.edu
  135 Park Building
  201 Presidents' Cir.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Office of the Dean of Students

  801-581-7066
  deanofstudents.utah.edu
  270 Union Building
  200 S. Central Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

To file a police report, contact:

Campus Police & Department of Public Safety

  801-585-COPS (801-585-2677)
  dps.utah.edu
  1735 E. S. Campus Dr.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

If you do not feel comfortable reporting to authorities, the U's Victim-Survivor Advocates provide free, confidential, and trauma-informed support services to students, faculty, and staff who have experienced interpersonal violence.

To privately explore options and resources available to you with an advocate, contact:

Center for Student Wellness

  801-581-7776
  wellness.utah.edu
  328 Student Services Building
  201 S. 1460 E.
  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Academic Misconduct

It is expected that students comply with University of Utah policies regarding academic honesty, including but not limited to refraining from cheating, plagiarizing, misrepresenting one’s work, and/or inappropriately collaborating. This includes the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools without citation, documentation, or authorization. Students are expected to adhere to the prescribed professional and ethical standards of the profession/discipline for which they are preparing. Any student who engages in academic dishonesty or who violates the professional and ethical standards for their profession/discipline may be subject to academic sanctions as per the University of Utah’s Student Code: Policy 6-410: Student Academic Performance, Academic Conduct, and Professional and Ethical Conduct.

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and may be punished by failure on an individual assignment, and/or failure in the course. Academic misconduct, according to the University of Utah Student Code:

“...Includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one’s work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information…It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic misconduct.”

For details on plagiarism and other important course conduct issues, see the U's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due
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