PHYSICS 340 : Electronics and Signal Processing

Science

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Electronics and digital signal processing with a strong emphasis on practical circuit design and data acquisition techniques. Topics will be selected from: linear circuit theory, analytical and numeric network analysis, feedback and oscillation, operational amplifier circuits, Fourier theory, sampling theory, digital filter design, and the fast Fourier transform.

Course Overview

This course will cover elements of electronics and digital signal processing with a strong emphasis on practical circuit design and data acquisition techniques. Topics will be selected from: Resonant matching networks, poles and zeros, Bode plots, the Laplace transform in network theory, feedback and oscillation, active filters, Nyquist and the elements of DSP, digital filters, the DFT and signal processing using the DFT, modulation formats.
The course includes a practice electronics design project that will be carried out in the physics advanced lab 1 day per week during class time.
The course assumes a knowledge of the material covered in PHYSICS 240 or 244, and a mathematics background which includes differential equations, complex numbers, and a little linear algebra (matrices). If you don’t have this background, extra reading will be necessary.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: PHYSICS 240 or 244 Restriction: PHYSICS 341 Concurrent enrolment in PHYSICS 390 is recommended

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply network theorems taught in class to a practical electronic design problem (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Understand, explain and apply transform and programming techniques taught in class to DSP problems (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Develop and contribute to group-based problem solving and experimental work (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  4. Understand, explain and apply of linear network theory and DSP (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  5. Understand, explain and apply of the design of analog filters and their application in DSP (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  6. Analyse electronic feedback circuits and understand their practical application in different circuits. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Project 20% Group Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignments
Project
Final Exam

Key Topics

  • Resonant matching networks
  • Poles and zeros
  • Bode plots
  • The Laplace transform in network theory
  • Feedback and oscillation
  • Active filters
  • Nyquist and the elements of DSP
  • Digital filters
  • The DFT and signal processing using the DFT
  • Modulation formats

Special Requirements

None

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 this course, a typical weekly workload includes:

  • 2 hours of lectures
  • A 1-hour tutorial
  • 3 hours of reviewing the course content
  • 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials 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 exam.
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.

Textbook:
  • “Network Theory and Digital Signal Processing”, 3rd Edition, 2015, Gary E.J. Bold.
  • This text is available from the student bookshop. An online version is also available on Canvas.
Software:
  • Numerical circuit simulations used will be based on LTSpice. 
  • Instructions on using LTSpice, and Spice programs in general, will be given in class. 
  • LTSpice IV has been installed on all Advanced Lab machines, it may also be downloaded for free from: http://ltspice.linear.com/software/LTspiceIV.exe
  • Other simulations, and DSP-related filtering work, will use Python and the scientific libraries NumPy and SciPy

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course 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.

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

add more PCB design in experimental project as developed in 2022

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.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

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.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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.

Published on 18/10/2024 08:38 a.m.