ECE 210/211 - Fall 2021

Home --- Recordings/Streaming --- Topic schedule --- Campuswire (9956) --- Homeworks --- Office hours --- Labs --- Exams --- Grading --- Honors --- Staff --- Additional resources

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, October 15 (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,



back to top
Section: ECE 210 AL1/AL8
ECE 211 B/ONB
ECE 210 AL2/AL5
ECE 211 C/ONC
ECE 210 AL3/AL6
ECE 211 E/ONE
ECE 210 AL4/AL7
ECE 211 F/ONF
Instructor: Andrey Mironov
slides
Juan Alvarez
slides
Olga Mironenko
slides
Larry Lee
slides
Lectures: MTW F 3-3.50 p.m.
ECEB 1013
Live stream
MTW F 11-11.50 a.m.
ECEB 1013
Live stream
MTW F 12-12.50 p.m.
ECEB 1013
Live stream
MTW F 2-2.50 p.m.
ECEB 1013
Live stream
Contact: 2064 ECEB
amirono2@
3046 ECEB
alvarez@
4066 ECEB
olgamiro@
2258 MNTL
mllee@

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

Instructions on how to access the live-stream are here.



back to top

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:

back to top

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: 9956

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):



back to top

COURSE STAFF

Instructors: TA's:

Communication: It is the student's responsibility to check their email daily, in case there are announcements from course staff. 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.



back to top

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Homework assignment policy:
  1. Assignments will be posted every Wednesday in Gradescope at 10.30pm CST and will be due the following Wednesday by 10.30pm CST. The first homework will be posted on Wednesday, August 25 and will be due the following Wednesday, September 1.
     
  2. Submissions will be made via Gradescope. You can join the course there with the entry code 7452KJ, 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 receive no credit.
    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.
    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.
     
  8. Solutions will be posted in Canvas immediately after the corresponding due date.
     
  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 10.30pm CST the Wednesday after your graded assignment is made available via Gradescope. Regrades will not be accepted after that date.


back to top

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.................. 45%
Final Exam............................ 30%
Written HW........................... 15%
Labs...................................... 10%
Grading for ECE 211:
1 Midterm exam.......... 35%
Exam 2 (final)............. 45%
Written HW................. 20%

In order to account for sickness, travel or internet issues, your two lowest homework 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.



back to top

EXAMS

The exams dates/times are as follows:


Conflict exam requests: Some of you might have an overlpaping 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




back to top

OFFICE HOURS

Small study session handouts

Faculty and TA Office Hours (Aug. 26 - Dec. 8, except Sept. 6, Nov. 22-26):
  Open office hours (lab questions might be referred to the open lab times)
  Office hours strictly for small study sessions (need to sign up in order to attend). See more info below the table.

Password for online office hours is ece210here.

Hrs. Monday
except Sept. 6, Nov. 22
Tuesday
except Nov. 23
Wednesday
except Nov. 24
Thursday
except Nov. 25
Friday
except Nov. 26
8-9am Binghui Wang
online
Xinhang Song
online
9-10am Xinhang Song
ECEB 3034
10-11am Shiyi Yang
ECEB 3034
Binghui Wang
ECEB 3034
11am-12pm Juan Alvarez
ECEB 3034
Shiyi Yang
ECEB 3034
12-1pm Haofeng Sun
ECEB 3034
1-2pm Kevin Huang
ECEB 3034
Binghui Wang
ECEB 3034
2-3pm Xinhang Song
ECEB 3034
Olga Mironenko
ECEB 3034
3-3.30pm Xinhang Song
Shiyi Yang
ECEB 3015/online
Kevin Huang
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 3015/online
Xinhang Song
ECEB 3034
Larry Lee
ECEB 3034
3.30-4pm Olga Mironenko
Kevin Huang
ECEB 3015/online
4-4.30pm Binghui Wang
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 3015 only
Juan Alvarez
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 3015 only
Andrey Mironov
ECEB 3034
Binghui Wang
online
4.30-5pm Andrey Mironov
Kevin Huang
ECEB 3015 only
5-5.30pm Larry Lee
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 3015 only
Kevin Huang
Haofeng Sun
ECEB 3015 only
5.30-6pm Kevin Huang
Xinhang Song
ECEB 3015 only
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 using your Google Apps @ Illinois account.

The signup is voluntary but we do expect your attendance and participation regularly if you do sign up for a slot.
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.



back to top

LABS (only ECE 210 students)

You will need an ECE 210 lab kit, which you should request starting on August 30. If you will not be in town for the semester, you must request it by September 3 to make sure you receive it on time. 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 September 13.

Password for online labs is ece210here.

Lab Times (September 13 - December 3):
Hrs. Monday Tuesday Wednesday
10am-12pm Sections AB1/AB2 in 4072 ECEB
Section ABF via Zoom
Xinhang Song/Binghui Wang
12-2pm Sections AB3/AB4 in 4072 ECEB
Section ABG via Zoom
Haofeng Sun/Kevin Huang
2-4pm Sections AB5/AB6 in 4072 ECEB
Section ABH via Zoom
Haofeng Sun/Kevin Huang
4-6pm Sections AB7/AB8 in 4072 ECEB
Section ABI via Zoom
Kevin Huang/Shiyi Yang
6-8pm Sections AB9/ABC in 4072 ECEB
Section ABJ via Zoom
Binghui Wang/Kevin Huang
Sections ABD/ABE in 4072 ECEB
Section ABK via Zoom
Shiyi Yang/Xinhang Song
Sections ABA/ABB in 4072 ECEB
Xinhang Song/Haofeng Sun
9-11pm Section ABL via Zoom
Binghui Wang


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



back to top

HONORS

ECE 210 Honors will introduce students to Python programming with 7 weekly lab sessions. The sessions will start the week after the first midterm. You do not have to be a James Scholar to sign up.

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.

Please complete this form before Friday to find the best time to schedule the sessions.

If you are a James Scholar, you must also complete the corresponding form from the College and submit it before September 20.

UPDATE: Here is information about the times/dates for this semester's honors.

>

back to top

TOPIC SCHEDULE

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Aug. 23
Introduction & voltage, current power, KVL, KCL 0, 1.1-2
Aug. 24
Elements, sources, solutions of circuit problems, 1.3
Aug. 25
Complex numbers review 1.4, App. C, Resistor combinations 2.1
Aug. 26
Aug. 27
Source combinations, node voltage method 2.1-2
Aug. 30
Node voltage method 2.2
Aug. 31
Loop current method 2.3
Sept. 1
Linearity & superposition 2.4
Sept. 2
Sept. 3
Thevenin & Norton 2.4
Sept. 6

Labor day
NO LECTURES
Sept. 7
Available power & max power transfer 2.5
Sept.
Op-amps & ideal op-amp approximations 3.1
Sept. 9
Sept. 10
Linear op-amp ckts 3.1
Sept. 13
Differentiators & integrators 3.2

Lab 0
Sept. 14
Introduction to LTI systems 3.3
Sept. 15
1st order RC ckt response to constant inputs 3.4.1
Sept. 16
Sept. 17
RC & RL ckts with constant inputs 3.4.1-2
Sept. 20
RC & RL ckts with time-varying inputs 3.4.3

Lab 1
Sept. 21
Transient & steady-state response in LTI systems 3.4.3, 3.5
Sept. 22
Phasors & sinusoidal SS solutions of linear ODEs 4.1.1-2
Sept. 23
Midterm Exam I
Sept. 24

NO LECTURES
Sept. 27
Impedance & phasors in sinusoidal steady state ckts 4.1.3, 4.2.1
Sept. 28
Phasor ckt analysis 4.2.2-3
Sept. 29
Post-review of Exam I
Sept. 30
Oct. 1
Avg and available power 4.3
Oct. 4
Resonance 4.4

Lab 2
Oct. 5
Frequency response of dissipative LTI systems 5.1-2
Oct. 6
LTI system response to co-sinusoids & multi-frequency inputs 5.3-5
Oct. 7
Oct. 8
Periodic signals 6.1
Oct. 11
Fourier series & its forms 6.2
Oct. 12
Fourier series examples 6.2
Oct. 13
LTI system response to periodic inputs 6.3.1
Oct. 14
Oct. 15
Avg signal power, Parseval's thm, harmonic distortion 6.3.2-3
Last day for ECE 211
Oct. 18
Fourier transform of aperiodic signals 7.1

Lab 3
Oct. 19
Fourier transform pairs and properties of FT 7.1
Oct. 20
Signal energy and bandwidth 7.2
Oct. 21
Midterm Exam II
Oct. 22

NO LECTURES
Oct. 25
LTI system response using FT 7.3
Oct. 26
Post-review of Exam II
Oct. 27
Modulation property, AM signal, coherent demodulation 8.1-2
Oct. 28
Oct. 29
Envelope detection, superhet AM receiver 8.3-4
Nov. 1
Convolution & FT convolution properties 9.1.1-2

Lab 4
Nov. 2
Graphical convolution 9.1.3
Nov. 3
Convolution examples 9.1.3
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
Impulse & its properties 9.2
Nov. 8
FT of power signals 9.2-3
Nov. 9
Sampling & analog signal reconstruction 9.4
Nov. 10
Impulse response & BIBO stability 10.1-2
Nov. 11
Nov. 12
Causality & LTIC systems 10.3-5
Nov. 15
Transfer function & Laplace transform 11.1

Lab 5
Nov. 16
Properties of Laplace Transform 11.1
Nov. 17
Inverse Laplace transform & PFE 11.2
Nov. 18
Midterm Exam III
Nov. 19

NO LECTURES
Nov. 22
Thanksgiving break
NO LECTURES
Nov. 23
Thanksgiving break
NO LECTURES
Nov. 24
Thanksgiving break
NO LECTURES
Nov. 25
Thanksgiving break
NO LECTURES
Nov. 26
Thanksgiving break
NO LECTURES
Nov. 29
Inverse Laplace transform & PFE, s-domain ckt analysis 11.2-11.3
Nov. 30
s-domain ckt analysis, general response of LTIC systems 11.3, 11.4.1
Dec. 1
Post-review of Exam III
Dec. 2
Dec. 3
General response of LTIC systems, zero-input response in LTIC ckts & systems 11.4.1-2
Dec. 6
Zero-input response in LTIC ckts & systems, ckt initial value problems 11.4.2-11.4.3
Dec. 7
Ckt initial value problems, LTIC system combinations 11.4.3-11.5
Dec. 8
Review
Dec. 9
Reading Day
Dec. 10


back to top

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)

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 theStudent 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