Class Hours

Office Hours  (GITC 2104)

 Or by appointment:  (973) 642-7155  or  rockland@njit.edu

home page:    http://web.njit.edu/~rockland/

Text and software

Strangeway, R. A., et al., Contemporary Electric Circuits- Insights and Analysis, Second Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006

 Rockland, R., ECET 303 Laboratory Manual and PSpice Manual (downloaded from the web)

Go to my home and then go to Classes and then EET 303 –003.  You will be able to download this as a .pdf file (either print it out or look at it on your computer – need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader)

 To get the PSpice software – the current free version is 9.1, go to http://www.electronics-lab.com/downloads/schematic/013/        .   

There are other web resources that you can use – go to http://web.njit.edu/~rockland/Circuits.htm .  .

Course objective

By the end of the course you should be able to do the following: 

• Circuit Theorems.  Understand how to apply various circuit theories, such as Ohm’s Law, Kirchoff’s Voltage and Current Laws, Source Transformation, Superposition and Thevenin to various resistive circuits.  Be able to understand which of these circuit theories is the best for obtaining an answer.
• Software Applications.  Simulate a circuit with the use of PSpice to obtain a prior understanding of the circuit’s behavior.  Incorporate the results of this application, including graphical outputs, in a laboratory report.  Utilize Excel to perform data analysis and graphing on laboratory results.
• Frequency Analysis.  To understand the difference between time and frequency analysis of a circuit.  Be able to theoretically and experimentally generate a Bode plot, as well as simulate these results with PSpice.
• Communication Skills.  Develop an understanding of the elements for an effective laboratory report.  Understand how to orally present technical information.
• Laboratory Skills.  Understand how to combine the theory, simulation and actual laboratory procedures.  
• Teamwork.  Learn how to interact with others to analyze circuits and complete assignments

Course Outline

Homework is due the week after it is assigned – to be handed in before

The Course Outline may be modified at the discretion of the instructor or in the event of extenuating circumstances.  Students will be notified in class of any changes to the Course outline and laboratory sessions.

Laboratory Outline 

Presentations

During the last lab period, on week 15, you will be asked as a group, to give a 20-25  minute discussion on one of the topics listed below.  A 3-5 page  report must accompany this presentation (single space with 1 inch margins), and any handouts, overheads, etc. should be given to the professor after the class.  Also, handouts should be given to the class just prior to the presentation. 

The report should include an introduction, description of the topic and relevant topics.  It must also include at least five references, two of which is either a journal paper or a textbook.  The written report should not be in overhead style (i.e. bulleted) but must be written as a regular report.  The presentation must be in PowerPoint.  The report format, methods of creating a report and how to deliver an effect presentation will be covered in the computer lab during week six. 

The topics are very general in nature, and entire lectures (or even courses) can be written about them.  I want you to summarize the main points, as well as interesting topics or applications, within the 3-5 pages and 20-25 minute presentation.  Areas to cover should include, but not necessarily limited to: an overview of the technology, who are the manufacturers of these products, typical instrumentation and future developments in that area. 

At the end of the laboratory for week six, you will need to tell me what topic will be chosen.  While this is a group presentation, each person must participate in the presentation.  If you want to present another topic, you must get permission by the end of the fifth week.  If you do not choose a topic at this time, a topic will be assigned to the group. 

Suggested Topics: 

·         Current state of the art in digital oscilloscopes

·         Current instrumentation used in power measurements

·         Overview of the current state of the art in batteries

·         Overview of the current state of the art in power supplies

·         Flat Panel monitor technology

·         Touch Screen technology

·         New advances in high frequency measurement equipment

·         LCD technology for monitors

·         Overview of current technology in power measurement equipment

·         Test instrumentation in the telecommunications industry

·         Test instrumentation for computer networks

Grading:

Presentation                                          10%

Homework and Class Participation           10 %

Tests                                                    30 %

Laboratory                                             25 %

Final Exam                                            25 %

Note:  Cannot pass course if you having failing grades on tests and final exam 

There are three tests during the semester.  The lowest grade will be dropped. However, if you achieve an A for all three tests, you will not be excused from the final.  Students achieving an A on all three tests will receive 5 bonus points that will count for the final grade, so there is an incentive to take all three tests. 

There will be no makeup tests – if you miss one test, then that is the test you will drop.
 

Homework and LABS - Important

Homework  is due the week following the date they are assigned (see syllabus), and must be given to the instructor.  The homework must show how you derived the answers – they will be graded either with a check, or a double check (exceptional).  They will not count towards your final grade if they are turned in more than one week late.   Homework must be handed in individually.  Lab assignments are to be handed in as a team, rotating among each member.   You must show on the front cover of the lab report who did what.   Lab grades will be reduced by 10 points if one week late, and not graded if more than one week late. 

Honor Code and Behavior

NJIT has a zero-tolerance policy regarding cheating of any kind and student behavior that is disruptive to a learning environment. Any incidents will be immediately reported to the Dean of Freshman Studies.  In the cases the Honor Code violations are detected, the punishments range from a minimum of failure in the course plus disciplinary probation up to expulsion from NJIT with notations on students' permanent record.  Avoid situations where honorable behavior could be misinterpreted.  For more information on the honor code, go to http://www.njit.edu/academics/honorcode.php

No eating or drinking is allowed at the lectures, recitations, workshops, and laboratories.

Cellular phones must be turned off during the class hours.

Notes Regarding the Laboratory Work

(1) The students will be divided, by the instructor, into groups.  Group work will be done according to the section titled “Laboratory Procedures.”  Groups may either be assigned for the entire semester, or change for each lab assignment. 

(2) To be graded, every lab report submitted must: 

(a)     have the prelab work completed before the lab. Each individual team member must hand in a separate pre-lab.

(b)     be written using a word processing program

(c)     follow the format defined in the handout “Laboratory Procedures” and other handouts.

(d)     state clearly the responsibility of each group member.

Grading of Laboratory Report

In grading a report, there are five areas that will be graded.  The total of the points will be the grade for the lab report.

The instructor may have groups correct each other’s reports prior to handing in the final report.  Grades will be given out for the report and the grading.  Lab grades will be reduced by 10 points if one week late, and not graded if more than one week late.  Labs are due the week after the scheduled completion date for that lab. 

Laboratory Procedures 

A group of students who meet at the assigned time and then start working on a lab project are not engaging in teamwork.  Planning, assigning tasks, and assuming responsibility are all requirements of effective teamwork. A little extra work at the beginning of the project or experiment will pay for itself many times in terms of knowledge gained and accomplishing the given task. 

Properly implemented teamwork will help the students develop skills in: 

·         pre-lab preparation

·         working together as a group

·         oral and written communications

·         problem solving

·         leadership.

Pre-lab preparation 

Before a laboratory experiment is performed, you should have an idea of what the result might be.  This insight could  be as a result of theoretical predictions of the result, or by performing a computer simulation of the experiment.  By understanding what the results should be, you can gain a better understanding of: 

1. Why the experimental results might not be following the theoretical or computer simulation prediction.

2. What other changes in the experiment could be made to gain further insight into the main purpose of the experiment

Pre-lab work will consist of readings in the chapter, looking up material in various handbooks or manufacturer’s specification sheets, developing theoretical graphs and/or charts for the data, answering selected questions and possibly performing computer simulations using PSPICE.  Pre-lab preparation also includes determining what parts are needed, purchasing those parts, and making sure that your team has those parts for the lab. 

All Pre-lab work must be done prior to the start of that lab. 

The pre-lab will be collected while you are performing the experimental portion of the laboratory.  Each member of the team must understand and perform the pre-lab.  You should keep a copy of the pre-lab to review during the experiment, and comment if the experimental results differ.  It is the responsibility of both team members to have their pre-work done.  If the pre-lab is not done prior to the lab, 0 points are given for the pre-lab. Pre-lab will be considered a homework assignment. 

Laboratory reports 

Laboratory reports must be handed in at the beginning of the next laboratory (not necessarily the next week in cases of two or three week labs).  Grading of the lab report will be based on the following criteria: 

1.       Neatness

2.       Lab completed

3.       Report format and style

4.       Discussion

5.       Proper use of terminology

6.       Spelling/Grammar

 The laboratory report should be based on results gathered in a lab notebook.  The lab notebook should be a hardbound, composition book, which will be reviewed by the instructor prior to the end of each lab.  You should number and date each page, and cross out information (do not erase data if it is in error). The general format of a laboratory report is described on the next page. 

  TAC of ABET stands for the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 105, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012  Telephone (410) 347-7700   

Modification of Course 

The Course Outline may be modified at the discretion of the instructor or in the event of extenuating circumstances.  Students will be notified in class of any changes to the Course outline. 

Honor Code and Behavior

NJIT has a zero-tolerance policy regarding cheating of any kind and student behavior that is disruptive to a learning environment. Any incidents will be immediately reported to the Dean of Students.  In the cases the Honor Code violations are detected, the punishments range from a minimum of failure in the course plus disciplinary probation up to expulsion from NJIT with notations on students' permanent record.  Avoid situations where honorable behavior could be misinterpreted.  For more information on the honor code, go to http://www.njit.edu/academics/honorcode.php  

No eating or drinking is allowed at the lectures, recitations, workshops, and laboratories.

Cellular phones must be turned off during the class hours.  No headphones can be worn in class.