ECE 210/211 - Spring 2022

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ECE 210 is the first mathematically oriented course in the electrical and computer engineering curricula. The course begins by building on the circuit analysis concepts you learned in ECE 110 and then progresses into the more abstract world of Fourier and Laplace transforms. Much of what we will do will rely on your background in calculus. Our goal will be to apply mathematical tools to the analysis and design of signal processing systems, culminating in a thorough understanding of an AM radio receiver and the ability to design simple filters. ECE 210 deals with the processing of continuous-time, or analog signals. The follow-on course, ECE 310, covers the processing of sampled, or digital signals. Full description, including course goals and instructional objectives, can be found here.

ECE 211 is the first half of ECE 210. Students in ECE 211 should attend lectures approximately through Friday, March 11 (Chapters 1 through 6 in the course textbook). Full description, including course goals and instructional objectives, can be found here.

Course information in course explorer: ECE 210, ECE 211,

 


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Section: ECE 210 AL1
ECE 211 B
ECE 210 AL2
ECE 211 E
ECE 210 AL3
ECE 211 F
ECE 210 AL4
ECE 211 C
Instructor: Juan Alvarez
slides
Olga Mironenko
slides
Andrey Mironov
slides
Christopher Schmitz
slides
Lectures: MTW F 11-11.50 a.m.
ECEB 1013
MTW F 1-1.50 p.m.
ECEB 1013
MTW F 2-2.50 p.m.
ECEB 1013
MTW F 10-10.50 a.m.
ECEB 1013
Contact: 3046 ECEB
alvarez@
4066 ECEB
olgamiro@
2064 ECEB
amirono2@
3066 ECEB
cdschmit@

 

IMPORTANT: please note that ONLY the first week of classes was fully online, now the course is fully in-person.

Students MUST properly wear a face mask in order to attend the in-person lectures. Visit the University's COVID-19 website here for detailed information on COVID related procedures.

You can access all lecture streaming and recordings via Echo360 directly, or via the Echo360 link in Canvas.

 


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COURSE MATERIALS

 

Textbook: Kudeki & Munson, Analog Signals and Systems Prentice Hall, 2009. Daily reading assignments are shown in the Course Calendar .

Corrections to the text book (errata)

Useful tables (Fourier series, Fourier transform, convolution, delta function, and Laplace transform)

Slides: each instructor might provide lecture slides and can be found in the lectures section of this website.

Additional references/notes:

 


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COURSE STAFF

Instructors:

 

TA's:

Communication: It is the student's responsibility to attend lectures and check their email daily, in case there are announcements from course staff. Missing a lecture and/or not checking your email will not excuse complying with course deadlines and policies.
Please post your questions on the discussion board, Campuswire, instead of emailing the instructors or TAs directly because it is very likely that you're not the only one of enrolled in the course that has that same question. This way, others can take advantage of the responses to your questions, and other students might be able to assist you sooner.

 


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DISCUSSION

 

Active participation in your learning environment is vital to your success in this course.

Campuswire: For discussions and questions regarding course material. Code to join: 5467

Student online behavior: In any social interaction, certain rules of etiquette are expected and contribute to more enjoyable and productive communication. The following are tips for interacting online via e-mail or discussion board messages, adapted from guidelines originally compiled by Chuq Von Rospach and Gene Spafford (1995):

 

 


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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Homework assignment policy:

 

  1. Assignments will be posted every Wednesday in Gradescope at 6.30pm CDT and will be due the following Wednesday by 6.30pm CDT. The first homework will be posted on Wednesday, January 19 and will be due the following Wednesday, January 26 by 6.30pm.
     
  2. Submissions will be made via Gradescope. You can join the course there with the entry code 743VJ8, use your UIN as your Student ID #.
    1. Instructions for uploading your solutions to Gradescope can be found here.
    2. Instructions on how to scan the pdf of the solutions in Android are here.
    3. Instructions on how to scan the pdf of the solutions in MacOS are here.
  3. Late assignments will be deducted 1% per late minute, so after 100 minutes, you will get zero, so please mark your calendar with the deadlines to avoid losing points.
    No exceptions, so don't wait until the last minute to submit it and then run into internet issues.
     
  4. In order to account for sickness, travel or internet issues, your two lowest assignment grades will be dropped (only one for ECE 211).
     
  5. Make sure you box your final answers and match problem parts accurately in Gradescope, or you will be deducted 5% of the corresponding problem part.
     
  6. Make sure that your assignments are neat enough to read. Graders has the flexibility to deduct points for lack of neatness.
     
  7. Assignments constitute an essential component of your learning experience in the course and prepare you for your exams in effective ways. Investing time to do your assignments with care will pay off when you are taking your exams.
    You will be expected to provide detailed explanations of your solutions in order to obtain full credit in your assignments. Conversely, solutions lacking full explanations will receive zero credit even when the answer provided may be correct and further incorrect answers without any work shown may lead to 'academic integrity violation' cases being opened against you.
    You are encouraged to collaborate to understand the problems in the assignment, but each student should solve the problems individually for submission even if they work together initially to understand how to solve the problems. Copying a joint solution is not acceptable.
    The same applies to using external resources: each student should solve the problems individually for submission even if you use external resources to understand how to solve the problems. Copying or "following" the solutions from an external resource is not acceptable.
    Please keep these cautionary remarks in mind as you are working out your assignments and avoid submitting unsubstantiated solutions to avoid any misinterpretations as explained above.
    Any of these academic integrity violations will result in at least a letter grade reduction, and possibly stronger sanctions. It is not worth the risk for what each problem in 14 HWs is worth, and it will not help you learn the course material.
     
  8. Solutions will be posted in Canvas 2 hours after the corresponding deadline.
     
  9. Regrades: You will receive an email from Gradescope so you can log in and see your graded assignment. If after looking at the posted solutions, you feel there was an inaccuracy in the grading of your assignment, you can request a regrade within Gradescope itself.
    Make sure you submit regrade requests before 6.30pm CDT the Wednesday after your graded assignment is made available via Gradescope. Regrades will not be accepted after that date.

 


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GRADING POLICIES

 

It is the student's responsibility to check that the correct grades are entered in CANVAS.

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

Grading for ECE 210:
3 Midterm exams.................. 36%
Final Exam............................ 24%
Weekly HW........................... 15%
Weekly quizzes..................... 15%
Labs...................................... 10%
  Grading for ECE 211:
Final Exam (Exam 2)............. 35%
1 Midterm exam..................... 29%
Written HW............................ 18%
Weekly quizzes...................... 18%

 

In order to account for sickness, travel or internet issues, your two lowest homework grades and your two lowest quiz grades will be dropped (only one for ECE 211).

As a rough guideline, we intend to award letter grades as indicated below, where 'm' is the mean and 's' is the standard deviation.

 

 


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EXAMS

 

The exams dates/times are as follows:

 

Conflict exam requests: Some of you might have an overlapping activity that warrants a conflict exam, as indicated in the Article 3 part 202(e) of the student code. We will offer a conflict exam in those cases but you need to get the approval of the course coordinator, Prof. Alvarez, in order to be able to take the conflict exam. All students will receive an email with a link to request a conflict two weeks before each exam. If you have a conflict with the exam you must complete the form at least 9 days before the exam, which includes information about the class/lab/exam/activity that conflicts with the exam (include contact information for the corresponding instructor for that course).

 


Absences from exams:

If you miss an exam due to illness, injury, family emergency or other reasons beyond your control, you will be asked to provide your professor with an absence letter from the Student Assistance Center in the Office of the Dean of Students. Documentation which validates the absence is required by the Dean's Office to provide the absence letter. The absence letter will serve to verify the reason for your absence from the exam. Prof. Alvarez will then take an appropriate action that may include offering an oral examination or written examination.


Regrades:

 

 

 


Old exams


 

 


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OFFICE HOURS

 

Small study session handouts

Faculty and TA Office Hours (January 24 - May 4, except March 14-20):

  Open office hours (lab questions might be referred to the open lab times), in room 3015 ECEB.
  Office hours strictly for small study sessions (need to sign up in order to attend), in room 2036 ECEB. See more info below the table.
Hrs. Monday
except March 14
Tuesday
except March 15
Wednesday
except March 16
Thursday
except March 17
Friday
except March 18
9-10am       Stephen Messing
ECEB 2036
Binghui Wang
ECEB 2036
10-11am       Yulun Wu
ECEB 2036
Shiyi Yang
ECEB 2036
11am-12pm       Juan Alvarez
ECEB 2036
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 2036
12-1pm       Stephen Messing
ECEB 2036
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 2036
Zoom for Feb 2-4
1-2pm       Chris Schmitz
ECEB 2036
Stephen Messing
ECEB 2036
Zoom for Feb 2-4
2-3pm       Haofeng Sun
ECEB 2036
Zoom for Feb 2-4
Shiyi Yang
ECEB 2036
3-3.30pm Haofeng Sun
Yulun Wu
ECEB 3015
  Chris Schmitz
Yulun Wu
ECEB 3015
Andrey Mironov
ECEB 2036
Zoom for Feb 2-4
Olga Mironenko
ECEB 2036
3.30-4pm Juan Alvarez
Shiyi Yang
ECEB 3015
4-4.30pm Binghui Wang
Yulun Wu
ECEB 3015
Stephen Messing
Yulun Wu
ECEB 3015
  Binghui Wang
ECEB 2036
4.30-5pm Olga Mironenko
Shiyi Yang
ECEB 3015
5-5.30pm Binghui Wang
Stephen Messing
ECEB 3015
Binghui Wang
Shiyi Yang
ECEB 3015
   
5.30-6pm Andrey Mironov
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 3015
6-6.30pm        

 

 

Open office hours

Office hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are open hours where all types of questions are allowed, and we have found that students mostly use them to ask about the upcoming homework.
Course staff will not give you the answers nor check if your answer is correct. Course staff will help you see if your approach is correct/incorrect, and guide you accordingly.

 

 

 

 

Small study session office hours

We also have additional office hours each week of support for you by having small study sessions with course staff members to answer conceptual questions, provide additional examples, etc. but nothing related to that week's HW.

These sessions will be available on Thursdays and Fridays by signing up via this online form before 8am each Thursday.

The signup is voluntary but we do expect your attendance and participation regularly if you do sign up for a slot.
You can add/remove yourself from the timeslot at any time before 8am on Thursday of the corresponding week.
Once you sign up for a slot, it will be assumed that you will attend that slot from then on, so please remember to unregister if you will no longer attend.
If you do not have specific questions, but you want to get some practice and help at the same time, you can use the handouts we will post every week here.

 

 

HKN has started to organize student-led office hours! They will be held over Discord (invite link: https://discord.gg/8jCZ56XSkv).

 


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LABS (only ECE 210 students)

 

Lab syllabus.

Pre-labs and labs are available in Gradescope and Canvas. They are to be submitted via Gradescope.

Here are the dates for the first lab of each section:

 

You will need an ECE 210 lab kit, which you should request starting on January 17 and before January 21. There will be no extensions to deadlines if you order/pick up your kit late. You can request it here. Only students registered in ECE 210 can request it, and there is no charge for it. However, if you drop the course, you will have to return it or you will be charged for it.

If you already have an ADALM2000 because you took ECE 110 last semester, you will still need to order the 210 kit but you will not receive an additional ADALM, only the component kit and a larger breadboard.
All students should bring their last semester's kit with you to campus so components like ADALM, breadboard, and wirekit can be reused.

There is more information regarding the lab kits here.

An introductory Lab 0 plus five laboratory assignments will be given, beginning on February 7.

Lab Times (February 7 - April 29):
(4072 ECEB)

Hrs. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
10am-12pm Sections ABA/ABB
4072 ECEB
Yulun Wu/Stephen Messing
    Section ABP/ABQ
4072 ECEB
Stephen Messing/Shiyi Yang
12-2pm Sections ABC/ABD
4072 ECEB
Shiyi Yang/Yulun Wu
     
2-4pm Sections ABE/ABF
4072 ECEB
Shiyi Yang/Stephen Messing
     
4-6pm Sections ABG/ABH
4072 ECEB
Haofeng Sun/Binghui Wang
  Sections ABM/ABN
4072 ECEB
Haofeng Sun/Yulun Wu
 
6-8pm Sections ABI/ABJ
4072 ECEB
Binghui Wang/Haofeng Sun
  Sections ABK/ABL
4072 ECEB
Stephen Messing/Binghui Wang
 
9-11pm     Section ABO

Binghui Wang
Zoom
 

 

 

Code Guide Resistors are color coded in ohms, inductors in microH, and capacitors (with digits) in picoF.

 

 

 


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HONORS

 

ECE 210 Honors will introduce students to Python programming with 7 weekly lab sessions.

You do not have to be a James Scholar to sign up but you will only get the 'H' in your transcript if you are.

If you are a James Scholar, you must complete the corresponding HCLA form from the College and submit it within the first 15 days of the semester, so before February 4.

Programming will be done in Jupyter Notebook. In this course, students will apply concepts they learned in ECE 210 into Python programs.

Topics to be covered include: Intro to Python and Jupyter Notebook, Libraries (Numpy, Scipy), Fourier series, Array Operations, Fourier transform, Convolution, and Pole-Zero plots. Prior programming experience in any language can be helpful but is not required.

The sessions will start the week after the first midterm, and you will receive more information on how to sign up before then. James scholars must still submit their HCLA forms before February 4.

There is more information and a signup form here. Please complete by February 14 if you want to participate.

 


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TOPIC SCHEDULE

 

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Jan. 17
NO LECTURE
Jan. 18
Introduction & voltage, current power, KVL, KCL 0, 1.1-2
Jan. 19
Elements, sources, solutions of circuit problems, 1.3
Jan. 20
Jan. 21
Complex numbers review 1.4, App. A, Resistor combinations 2.1
Jan. 24
Source combinations, node voltage method 2.1-2
Jan. 25
Node voltage method 2.2
Jan. 26
Loop current method 2.3
Jan. 27
Jan. 28
Linearity & superposition 2.4
Jan. 31
Thevenin & Norton 2.4
Feb. 1
Available power & max power transfer 2.5
Feb. 2
Op-amps & ideal op-amp approximations 3.1
Feb. 3
Feb. 4
Linear op-amp ckts 3.1
Feb. 7
Differentiators & integrators 3.2

Lab 0
Feb. 8
Introduction to LTI systems 3.3
Feb. 9
1st order RC ckt response to constant inputs 3.4.1
Feb. 10
Feb. 11
RC & RL ckts with constant inputs 3.4.1-2
Feb. 14
RC & RL ckts with time-varying inputs 3.4.3

Lab 1
Feb. 15
Transient & steady-state response in LTI systems 3.4.3, 3.5
Feb. 16
Phasors & sinusoidal SS solutions of linear ODEs 4.1.1-2
Feb. 17
Midterm Exam I
8.45pm CDT
Feb. 18

NO LECTURES
Feb. 21
Impedance & phasors in sinusoidal steady state ckts 4.1.3, 4.2.1
Feb. 22
Phasor ckt analysis 4.2.2-3
Feb. 23
Avg and available power 4.3
Feb. 24
Feb. 25
Resonance 4.4
Feb. 28
Frequency response of dissipative LTI systems 5.1-2

Lab 2
Mar. 1
LTI system response to co-sinusoids & multi-frequency inputs 5.3-5
Mar. 2
Post-review of Exam I
Mar. 3
Mar. 4
Periodic signals 6.1
Mar. 7
Fourier series & its forms 6.2
Mar. 8
Fourier series examples 6.2
Mar. 9
LTI system response to periodic inputs 6.3.1
Mar. 10
Mar. 11
Avg signal power, Parseval's thm, harmonic distortion 6.3.2-3
Last day for ECE 211
Mar. 14
Spring break
NO LECTURES
Mar. 15
Spring break
NO LECTURES
Mar. 16
Spring break
NO LECTURES
Mar. 17
Spring break
NO LECTURES
Mar. 18
Spring break
NO LECTURES
Mar. 21
Fourier transform of aperiodic signals 7.1

Lab 3
Mar. 22
Fourier transform pairs and properties of FT 7.1
Mar. 23
Signal energy and bandwidth 7.2
Mar. 24
Midterm Exam II
8.45pm CDT
Mar. 25

NO LECTURES
Mar. 28
LTI system response using FT 7.3
Mar. 29
Modulation property, AM signal, coherent demodulation 8.1-2
Mar. 30
Post-review of Exam II
Mar. 31
Apr. 1
Envelope detection, superhet AM receiver 8.3-4
Apr. 4
Convolution & FT convolution properties 9.1.1-2

Lab 4
Apr. 5
Graphical convolution 9.1.3
Apr. 6
Convolution examples 9.1.3
Apr. 7
Apr. 8

NO LECTURES
EOH
Apr. 11
Impulse & its properties 9.2
Apr. 12
FT of power signals 9.2-3
Apr. 13
Sampling & analog signal reconstruction 9.4
Apr. 14
Apr. 15
Impulse response & BIBO stability 10.1-2
Apr. 18
Causality & LTIC systems 10.3-5

Lab 5
Apr. 19
Transfer function & Laplace transform 11.1
Apr. 20
Properties of Laplace Transform 11.1
Apr. 21
Midterm Exam III
8.45pm CDT
Apr. 22

NO LECTURES
Apr. 25
Inverse Laplace transform & PFE 11.2
Apr. 26
Inverse Laplace transform & PFE, s-domain ckt analysis 11.2-11.3
Apr. 27
Post-review of Exam III
Apr. 28
Apr. 29
s-domain ckt analysis, general response of LTIC systems 11.3, 11.4.1
May 2
General response of LTIC systems, zero-input response in LTIC ckts & systems 11.4.1-2
May 3
Zero-input response in LTIC ckts & systems, ckt initial value problems 11.4.2-11.4.3
May 4
Ckt initial value problems, LTIC system combinations 11.4.3-11.5
May 5
Reading Day
May 6

 


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QUIZZES

 

Each week, there will be a short in-class quiz testing a concept from the topics covered during the previous week's lectures.

The day of the week and the time during lecture at which the quiz will take place will be randomly chosen each week, but it will not occur within the first 10 minutes of the lecture.

You must take the quiz in the section in which you are registered.

If you are not in the lecture room at the time of the quiz, you will receive a zero.

In order to account for sickness or emergencies, your lowest two quiz grades will be dropped.

 


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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

 

 


Academic integrity

 

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code should is very important for you to know.

Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity. Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade. Every student is expected to review and abide by the Academic Integrity Policy. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this policy to avoid any misunderstanding. Do not hesitate to ask the instructor(s) if you are ever in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or any other breach of academic integrity.

 


Inclusivity

 

The effectiveness of this course is dependent upon the creation of an encouraging and safe classroom environment. Exclusionary, offensive or harmful speech (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.) will not be tolerated and in some cases subject to University harassment procedures. We are all responsible for creating a positive and safe environment that allows all students equal respect and comfort. I expect each of you to help establish and maintain and environment where you and your peers can contribute without fear of ridicule or intolerant or offensive language.

 


Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES)

 

Students with documented disabilities must notify the instructor within the first 7 days of classes.

To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible.

To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to the DRES website.

If you are concerned you have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, there are academic screening appointments available on campus that can help diagnosis a previously undiagnosed disability by visiting the DRES website and selecting “Sign-Up for an Academic Screening†at the bottom of the page.

 


FERPA

 

Any student who has suppressed their directory information pursuant to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) should self-identify to the instructor to ensure protection of the privacy of their attendance in this course. Click here for more information on FERPA.

 


Sexual misconduct

 

The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the University’s Title IX and Disability Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX and Disability Office will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options. A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here. Other information about resources and reporting is available here.


Support Resources and Supporting Fellow Students in Distress

As members of the Illinois community, we each have a responsibility to express care and concern for one another. If you come across a classmate whose behavior concerns you, whether in regards to their well-being or yours, we encourage you to refer this behavior to the Student Assistance Center (1-217-333-0050) or online. Based upon your report, staff in the Student Assistance Center reaches out to students to make sure they have the support they need to be healthy and safe. Further, as a Community of Care, we want to support you in your overall wellness. We know that students sometimes face challenges that can impact academic performance (examples include mental health concerns, food insecurity, homelessness, personal emergencies). Should you find that you are managing such a challenge and that it is interfering with your coursework, you are encouraged to contact the Student Assistance Center (SAC)in the Office of the Dean of Students for support and referrals to campus and/or community resources. The SAC has a Dean on Duty available to see students who walk in, call, or email the office during business hours. For mental health emergencies, you can call 911 or contact the Counseling Center.

 


Run, hide, fight.

 

Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. It is important that we take a minute to prepare for a situation in which our safety or even our lives could depend on our ability to react quickly. When we’re faced with almost any kind of emergency – like severe weather or if someone is trying to hurt you – we have three options: Run, hide or fight.

Run, hide, fight video.

Run
Leaving the area quickly is the best option if it is safe to do so.
  • Take time now to learn the different ways to leave your building.
  • Leave personal items behind.
  • Assist those who need help, but consider whether doing so puts yourself at risk.
  • Alert authorities of the emergency when it is safe to do so.
Hide
When you can’t or don’t want to run, take shelter indoors.
  • Take time now to learn different ways to seek shelter in your building.
  • If severe weather is imminent, go to the nearest indoor storm refuge area.
  • If someone is trying to hurt you and you can’t evacuate, get to a place where you can’t be seen, lock or barricade your area if possible, silence your phone, don’t make any noise and don’t come out until you receive an Illini-Alert indicating it is safe to do so.
Fight
As a last resort, you may need to fight to increase your chances of survival.
  • Think about what kind of common items are in your area which you can use to defend yourself.
  • Team up with others to fight if the situation allows.
  • Mentally prepare yourself – you may be in a fight for your life

Please be aware of people with disabilities who may need additional assistance in emergency situations

Other resources