EEE2009 : Signals and Communications
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Dr Martin Johnston
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
To provide knowledge of the fundamentals of linear systems theory and its application to the analysis of signals and system behaviour.
To be able to design a basic communication systems and explain communications concepts and systems.
To explain the vital role of analogue and digital communications in the modern world.
To explain basic concepts of information theory and their importance in digital communications.
Outline Of Syllabus
Signals and Systems Overview
Introduction to continuous and discrete signals and systems, and classifications of signals
Laplace Transform
The definition of Laplace transforms and their properties and applications, inverse Laplace transform, continuous-time poles and zeros concepts, circuit analysis by applying Laplace transforms.
Fourier Transform
The impulse response, transfer function, Fourier transforms for systems and signals and their applications, inverse Fourier transform, Fourier transform properties and their application to communication systems.
Z-Transform
Z transform and its applications, sampling, discrete time pole/zero concepts, description of transfer matrices, analysis of discrete time systems.
Communication system overview
Introduction to elements of communication systems, coding, modulation, channels.
Analogue modulation
Amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, narrow and wide band FM systems.
Digital Communication Schemes
Amplitude shift keying (ASK), Frequency shift keying (FSK), Phase shift keying (PSK), performance in noisy channels.
Information Theory
Entropy and mutual information, conditional entropy and mutual information, relationship between entropy and mutual information, channel capacity and Shannon theorems
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 44 | 1:00 | 44:00 | 4x1hr lectures per week over 11 weeks |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | Writing of summatively assessed lab report |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Formatively assessed online NUMBAS test in middle of semester |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Revision for online NUMBAS test |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Final Exam in Assessment Period |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Revision for final exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | One three-hour practical lab session on Frequency Modulation. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Reading activity to supplement knowledge of material taught in each week. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | One online synchronous tutorial per week from second week, covering tutorial sheets. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | One timetabled optional synchronous session for students to attend if they have any queries. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 68:00 | 68:00 | Reviewing lecture notes; general reading |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provides the core material and synchronous review sessions give students the opportunity to query material taught in that week. Face-to-face lectures can be replaced with online synchronous sessions supported by non-synchronous videos if the public health situation requires it.
Problem solving is introduced and practiced through synchronous tutorial sessions.
Laboratory sessions provide an opportunity to gain practical experience and validate the theory introduced in lectures. These sessions can be immediately replaced with a simulation-based experiment, supported by synchronous drop-in sessions if the public health situation requires it.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 85 | 24-hour Closed-Book Exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 15 | Lab Report with a maximum of 2000 words. |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | NUMBAS mid-term assessment |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The examination allows students to demonstrate their ability to solve engineering problems focused on signal processing and communication, based on the knowledge and methodology presented in the course material. The laboratory report assesses technical writing skills and provides the opportunity for the students to apply practical skills to validate the theory taught on the course. The formative computer-based assessment will assess the students’ current level of understanding of the material taught up to the middle of the semester and provide useful feedback on strengths and weaknesses.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- EEE2009's Timetable