MECHENG 370 : Electronics and Signal Processing

Engineering

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to the design, analysis and implementation of electronic circuits or systems for various applications such as signal generation and processing, interfacing, and high power electronics.

Course Overview

Overview
As a Mechatronics engineer, knowledge of electronics circuits and signal processing for various selected applications is important. This paper provides an introduction to the design, analysis and implementation of electronics and signal processing. The lectures would cover topics such as fundamental skills for electronics circuit analysis, passive and active elements used in electronics circuits, power converters and control, small signal and large signal amplifiers, passive and active analogue filter circuits, concepts and basic mathematical skills for digital signal processing, and digital filters. 
The labs are designed to aid the understanding of concepts and theories covered in the lectures. There is also coursework that allows students to experience the design process of electronics circuits for controlling systems and filtering signals. 

Topic summary
  • Basic Circuit Analysis
  • Passive Components
  • Active Components
  • Basics of Power Electronics
  • Electronics Circuit Prototyping
  • Analogue Filters
  • Basic Digital Signal Processing
  • Digital Filters
  • Signal Generation and Transmission

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ELECTENG 101

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 6: Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand commonly used electronic components. (Capability 3.1)
  2. Demonstrate necessary knowledge in designing commonly used analogue circuits (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  3. Understand how to select and incorporate circuits into appropriate applications. (Capability 3.2)
  4. Understand wider applications of analogue circuits. (Capability 3.2)
  5. Understand fundamental concepts in signal processing and acquire necessary mathematical skills. (Capability 3.1)
  6. Demonstrate writing codes for implementing fundamental procedures of digital signal processing. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  7. Communicate with members in a team environment as well as presenting work through writing reports. (Capability 6.1)
  8. Understand safety risks in the process of circuit assembly and eliminate causes of safety hazard (Capability 1.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 45% Individual Examination
Test 15% Individual Test
Report 10% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 28% Group Coursework
Soldering workshop 2% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Final Exam
Test
Report
Laboratories
Soldering workshop

  • Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
  • A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
  • Penality (1% of course grade per 24 hours including weekends/public holiday per assignment) may be applied to any late submission of assignments without prior approval by the course coordinator or its delegates.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For each week in this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures and a 1 hour tutorial. The remaining hours are expected to be spent for reading and studying the content and working on coursework/or preparation for test and examination.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Course Structure

  • 3 x 1-hr lectures each week
  • 1 x 1-hr tutorial/lectorial each week
  • 3-hr laboratory sessions throughout the semester

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test and laboratory sessions.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Lecture slides or course notes are provided electronically. No required textbooks. A list of recommended textbooks will be provided in the lectures.

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.

Students must complete lab inductions prior to attending the first lab session. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

- Waiting time during the lab for being marked (SET feedback 2023 S1; response rate 21.9%). Some students didn't have enough time to complete the tasks (SET feedback 2024 S1; response rate 27.8%) -> encourage students to come prepared by reading the lab worksheets and trying software-based tasks before the lab; instruct TAs to manage their time spent on each group
- Better timetabling (no early hour lectures). Avoid using lecture theatres far from the engineering building (SET feedback 2022 S1; response rate 21.4%)-> request better timetabling

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.