UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

ECE 310: Digital Signal Processing (Spring 2025)

Course Description:

Introduction to discrete-time systems and discrete-time signal processing with an emphasis on causal systems; discrete-time linear systems, difference equations, z-transforms, discrete convolution, stability, discrete-time Fourier transforms, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, digital filter design, discrete Fourier transforms, fast Fourier transforms, spectral analysis, and applications of digital signal processing.

 

Course Prerequisite:

ECE 210

I. Teaching Staff

1. Instructors:

Prof. Zhi-Pei Liang (Sec. E) Prof. Corey Snyder (Sec. G)
Office: 4257 Beckman Institute Office: ECEB 2058
Email: z-liang@illinois.edu Email: cesnyde2@illinois.edu

2. Teaching Assistants:

Shilan He Jackson Craig Shensheng Zhao Yulun (Ben) Wu Christopher Kim
Email: shilanh2@illinois.edu Email: jc168@illinois.edu Email: sz35@illinois.edu Email: yulun4@illinois.edu Email: ck18@illinois.edu

II. Schedule

1. Lectures:

Lecture Time Day Location
Section E 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. M W F CIF 4029
Section G 3:00 pm. - 3:50 p.m. M W F CIF 4029

2. Office Hours and Recitation Sessions:

Note: Start from 1/27

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9-10 a.m.       Shensheng Zhao
(ECEB 2034)		 Ben Wu
(ECEB 2034)
10-11 a.m.       Shilan He
(ECEB 2034)		 Shilan He / Ben Wu
(ECEB 2034)
11 a.m.-12 p.m.       Shilan He / Ben Wu
(ECEB 2034)		 Shilan He
(ECEB 2034)
12-1 p.m.       Ben Wu
(ECEB 2034)		  
1-2 p.m.         Jackson Craig / Shilan He
(ECEB 3020)
2-3 p.m.       Prof. Corey Snyder
(ECEB 2034)		 Jackson Craig / Shilan He
(ECEB 3020)
3-4 p.m.   Ben Wu
(ECEB 2034)		      
4-5 p.m.   Ben Wu
(ECEB 2034)		      
5-6 p.m.     Jackson Craig
(ECEB 2034)		 Shensheng Zhao / Jackson Craig
(ECEB 3013)		  
6-7 p.m.     Jackson Craig
(ECEB 2034)		 Shensheng Zhao / Jackson Craig
(ECEB 3013)		  

III. Resources

1. Recommended Textbook:

2. Course Campuswire:

3. Associated Lab Course (Strongly recommended):

4. Additional Resources

The following additional resources cover much of the same material as the lectures and textbook. The syllabus below provides references to these resources as well as the Manolakis and Ingle textbook.

Lecture recordings

Lecture recordings for Section G are available in the below table under the "Lecture Notes" column.

IV. Syllabus

Time Topics Reading Assignment Lecture Notes Additional Resources Assessment Due

Week 1:
1/20 - 1/24

(No class on 1/20 for MLK Day)

 Course introduction
Continuous-time (CT) and discrete-time (DT) signals
Review of complex numbers		 Chapter 1: 1.1 - 1.4
L1 Notes Blank Slides Complete Slides  
L2 Notes Blank Slides Complete Slides Recording

 

 SM: Ch 1, Appendix D, Appendix A, 3.1, 3.3-3.6
OS: 1, 2.1-2.2
PM: 1.1-1.2, 2.1-2.2
FK: 1, 5, 2, 9
Python Demo
What is DSP? - Video by IEEE
DSP at UIUC - 1
DSP at UIUC - 2		  
Week 2:
1/27-1/31		 Discrete-time systems
Linear and time-invariant (LTI) systems
Impulse response
Convolution
Difference equations		 Chapter 2: 2.1 - 2.7; 2.10
L3 Notes Blank Slides Complete Slides Recording
L4 Notes Blank Slides Complete Slides Recording
L5 Notes Blank Slides Complete Slides Recording

 

SM: 3.7-3.9
OS: 2.3-2.5
PM: 2.3-2.5
FK: 9, 10, 3
Convolution Python Demo
Difference Equations Python Demo

 HW1
 
Week 3:
2/3-2/7		 z-transform
Poles and zeros
Inverse z-transform		 Chapter 3: 3.1 - 3.4   SM: 4.1-4.5
OS: Ch 3
PM: 3.1-3.5
FK: 6, 7, 8 13
Partial Fractions Python Demo
Some z-transform properties
Some z-transform pairs		 HW2
 
Week 4:
2/10-2/14		 System analysis via z-transform
System transfer function
Stability		 Chapter 3: 3.5 - 3.7   SM: 4.10-4.14
OS: 5.2
PM: 3.6
FK: 14, 15, 16
Stability Python Demo		 HW3
 
Week 5:
2/17-2/21		 Applications of linear system models
Sinusoidal signals
Fourier transforms
Discrete-time Fourier transform (DTFT)		 Chapter 4: 4.1 - 4.3   SM: 2.1-2.4
OS: 2.6-2.7 PM: 1.3, 4.1
FK: 17
Inverse Filter Python Demo
Applications of Linear System Theory		 HW4
 
Week 6:
2/24-2/28

Midterm 1 (Wednesday, 2/26)

No class Wednesday

Properties of the DTFT
Frequency response

 Chapter 4: 4.3 - 4.5
Chapter 5: 5.1 - 5.2		   SM: 2.4, 5.1
OS: 2.8-2.9, 5.1
PM: 4.2-4.4
FK: 18, 19
DTFT Python Demo
Filtering Python Demo		 HW5
 
Week 7:
3/3-3/7		 Frequency response (magnitude and phase responses)
Ideal filters
Sampling of continuous-time signals		 Chapter 5: 5.3 - 5.6
Chapter 6: 6.1		   SM: 5.2, 3.2
OS: 5.3-5.4, 4.1-4.2
PM: 4.4-4.5, 1.4
FK: 20, 21		 HW6
 
Week 8:
3/10-3/14		 Ideal C/D and D/C conversion
Aliasing effect
Discrete Fourier transform (DFT)
 Chapter 6: 6.2 - 6.3
Chapter 7: 7.1 - 7.2		   SM: 3.2, 2.5
OS: 4.2-4.3
PM: 1.4, 4.2.9, 5.1
FK: 22, 34
Sampling Demo		 HW7
 

Spring Break:

3/17-3/21

          
Week 9:
3/24-3/28		 Discrete Fourier transform (DFT)
DFT spectral analysis
DFT applications		 Chapter 7: 7.2 - 7.4; 7.6
Chapter 6: 6.4-6.5		   SM: 2.5-2.6
OS: 8.1-8.6, 10.1-10.2
PM: 5.2, 5.4
FK: 34, 36
DFT Python Demo		 HW8
 
Week 10:
3/31-4/4		 Fast Fourier transform (FFT)
Convolution using the DFT
Digital processing of analog signals		 Chapter 7: 7.5
Chapter 8: 8.1; 8.3		   SM: Ch 14, 6.3
OS: 8.7, 9.3, 6.1-6.2
PM: 5.3, 6.1-6.2, 7.1
FK: 37, 38.		 HW9
 
Week 11:
4/7-4/11

Midterm 2 (Wednesday, 4/9)

No class Wednesday

Practical digital filters
FIR filter design

 Chapter 12: 12.1-12.2     HW10
 
Week 12:
4/14-4/18		 Generalized linear phase filters
FIR filter design by windowing		 Chapter 9: 9.1-9.3
Chapter 10: 10.1-10.3
Chapter 11: 11.1; 11.3		   SM: 6.4, Ch 11, Ch 12
OS: 5.7, Ch 7
PM: Ch 8 
FK: 28, 29, 30.		 HW11
 
Week 13:
4/21-4/25		 Downsampling and decimation
Upsampling and interpolation
Multirate signal processing		 Chapter 12: 12.1-12.2  

 

 HW12
 
Week 14:
4/28-5/2		 Practical A/D, D/A, upsampling D/A, ZOH
Applications: instructor's choice, student's choice		 Chapter 6: 6.5
Chapter 15: 15.3		     HW13
 
Week 15: 5/5-5/9 Applications: instructor's choice, student's choice
Final exam review		    

 

 

  
Final Exams: 5/12-5/19          

V. Grading

  1. Weekly Homework: 20% of final grade
    • Grading: Homework average is computed by dropping the two lowest scores and then computing the average; this implies that each student may omit two homeworks in case of extenuating circumstances. Since the solutions will be posted immediately after the submission deadline, no late submission will be accepted.
    • Submission: Homework should be uploaded as a PDF file to Gradescope in which we have added each student enrolled. If you have not been auto-enrolled to our course Gradescope, you may join using entry code
    • Due dates: Homework is assigned each Friday, due the following Friday at 11:59pm. The corresponding solution will be posted immediately after the due date.
    • Write neatly. Please box the equations you will be solving and the final answer. If we cannot read it we cannot grade it!
    • Regrade requests must be submitted on gradescope within one week of grades being posted. All regrade requests must have a brief justification.
    • Again, late homework submissions will not be accepted.
  2. Exams (will be held in-person): 80% of Final Grade
    1. Midterm Exam 1: 22% of Final Grade
      • Date: Wednesday, 2/26, 7:00-9:00pm
      • Location: CIF 0027/1025 (CIF Auditorium)
      • Coverage: material from weeks 1-4, through HW4.
      • You are allowed 1 sheet (two-sided) of handwritten notes (no printed notes) on 8.5x11" paper. No calculator allowed.
      • Conflict exam:
        • Date: Thursday, 2/27
        • Location:
      • HKN Review Session:
        • Date:
        • Location:
    2. Midterm Exam 2: 22% of Final Grade
      • Date: Wednesday, 4/9, 7:00-9:00pm
      • Location: CIF 0027/1025 (CIF Auditorium)
      • Coverage: materials corresponding to HWs 5-9.
      • You are allowed 2 sheets (two-sided) of handwritten notes (no printed notes) on 8.5x11" paper. No calculator allowed.
      • Conflict exam:
        • Date: Thursday, 4/10
        • Location:
      • HKN Review Session:
        • Date:
        • Location:
    3. Final Exam: 36% of Final Grade
      • Date:
      • Location:
      • Coverage: material from the whole semester
      • You are allowed 3 sheets (two-sided) of handwritten notes (no printed notes) on 8.5x11" paper. No calculator allowed.
      • Conflict exam: (need approval from instructor to attend)
      • HKN Review Session:
        • Date:
        • Location:
  3. Final Grade Cutoffs: The following cutoffs will be used to assess final grades. The cutoffs will never be raised, but might be lowered based on the class distribution. We will communicate any changes clearly in class and here on the website.
  • A+: 93-100%, A: 90-93%, A-: 87-90%
  • B+: 83-87%, B: 80-83%, B-: 77-80%
  • C+: 73-77%, C: 70-73%, C-: 67-70%
  • D+: 63-67%, D: 60-63%, D-: 57-60%

VI. Integrity

This course will operate under the following honor code: All exams and homework assignments are to be worked out independently without any aid from any person or device. Copying of other students' work is considered cheating and will not be permitted. By enrolling in this course and submitting exams and homework assignments for grading, each student implicitly accepts this honor code.

VII. Homework Material

Exercises Due Date Solution
Homework 1 01/31 @ 11:59pm Homework 1 Solution
Homework 2 02/07 @ 11:59pm Homework 2 Solution
Homework 3 02/14 @ 11:59pm Homework 3 Solution
Homework 4 02/21 @ 11:59pm Homework 4 Solution
Homework 5 03/02 @ 11:59pm (Extension for Exam 1) Homework 5 Solution
Homework 6 03/07 @ 11:59pm Homework 6 Solution
Homework 7 03/14 @ 11:59pm Homework 7 Solution
Homework 8 03/28 @ 11:59pm Homework 8 Solution
Homework 9 04/04 @ 11:59pm Homework 9 Solution
Homework 10 04/13 @ 11:59pm (Extension for Exam 2) Homework 10 Solution
Homework 11 04/18 @ 11:59pm Homework 11 Solution
Homework 12 04/25 @ 11:59pm Homework 12 Solution
Homework 13 05/02 @ 11:59pm Homework 13 Solution