Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The concepts of signals and systems arise in a wide variety of fields, and the ideas and techniques associated with these concepts play an important role in such diverse areas of science and technology as communications, aeronautics and astronautics, circuit design, acoustics, seismology, biomedical engineering, process control, and speech processing. Voltage and currents as functions of time in an electrical circuit are example of signals, and a circuit is itself an example of a system, which in this case responds to applied voltages and currents. The field of signal processing has grown rapidly in the last few decades and it continues to grow in importance as technologies such as very large scale integration, programmable logic devices and high performance computing make it possible to implement digital signal processing algorithms for many practical applications. This unit is located in third year as it builds on pre-requisite units in mathematics and telecommunications.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with fundamentals of deterministic analogue and discrete-time signals, analysis of linear systems driven by such signals, and digital filter design. You will be provided with examples and applications arising from various disciplines.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Use Fourier and Z-Transforms for analysis of continuous and discrete systems.
2. Explain the significance of sampling on signals and their spectra and the consequences for signal reconstruction.
3. Analyse signals and systems using computer applications such as Matlab.
4. Design and test signal processing systems such as filters.

Content

1. Review of Fourier Transforms and their properties.
2. Sampling of Analog signals.
3. Z-transforms - definitions and properties.
4. Z-transforms - signals and systems analysis.
5. Discrete-time and discrete Fourier Transforms.
6. Digital Filters - IIR, FIR.
7. Fast Fourier transforms.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Lectures will provide the knowledge base required for this unit including real examples and applications. This will be supported within tutorials, enabling you to apply the theory described in lectures. Tutorial sessions will involve problem-solving tasks of increasing complexity to understand, integrate and apply mathematical concepts to signal processing. The School of Mathematical Science also will assist in developing some of the mathematical concepts applied to engineering systems. You will also be introduced to computer aided numerical computation and graphical presentation of results using an appropriate software package such as MATLAB. Together these problem based and practical approaches should develop your conceptual and applied skills in more advanced signal processing components and systems.

Assessment

Assessment in the unit consists of a series of problem-solving tasks throughout the semester of increasing complexity involving signal processing systems and related components. This is reinforced with two practical laboratory experiments to relate theory to practice and a final exam covering all major concepts and learning across the unit.You will receive formative oral feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester. You will receive written feedback on the unit's problem solving tasks as well as immediate feedback for the practical laboratory work. Formative practice and feedback on exam related concepts will also be covered in lectures and tutorials. Additional feedback on a group or individual basis will also be available through appointment with the lecturer.

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: This consists of a series of 3 mini assignments throughout the semester covering problem solving, presentation and software development.

Please note that submissions will be required in Weeks 4,7 and 10.
Relates to objectives: 1 - 4
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: You will design and analyse solutions to a significant problem and present your results using Matlab.
Relates to objectives: 3, 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: This tests all of the major concepts covered in the unit including principles, problem solving and analysis of signals, systems and transforms.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Type: Recommended Text Book
Author: Oppenheim, A V and Schafer, R. W.
Title: Discrete Time Signal Processing
Year: Publisher: (1992), Prentice-Hall

Type: Recommended Text Book
Author: Ambardar, A.
Title: Analog and Digital Signal Processing
Year: Publisher: (1999), Brooks/Cole Publishing Company

Type: Text Book/Software Package
Title: Matlab Student Edition (any version)
Year: Publisher: Mathworks Inc.

Type: Reference Book
Author: Schetzen, M. & Ingle, V.K.
Title: Discrete Systems Laboratory using Matlab,
Year: Publisher: (2000 ) Brooks-Cole

Type: Reference Book
Author: Cavicchi, T.J.
Title: Digital Signal Processing
Year: Publisher: (2000), John Wiley & Sons

Type: Reference Book
Author: Porat, B.
Title: A Course in Digital Signal Processing
Year: Publisher: (1997), John Wiley & Sons

Type: Reference Book
Author: Mitra, S.K.
Title: Digital Signal Processing - A Computer Based Approach
Year: Publisher: (1998), McGraw-Hill

Type: Reference Book
Author: Jackson, L. B.
Title: Digital Filters & Signal Processing
Year: Publisher: (1988), Kluwer Academic Press

Type: Reference Book
Author: Ludeman, L. C.
Title: Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing
Year: Publisher: (1986), Harper & Row

Risk assessment statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

You will be required to undertake practical sessions in the laboratory under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff of the School. In any laboratory practicals you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes or steel capped shoes).

You will undergo a health and safety induction before the commencement of the practical sessions and will be issued with a safety induction card. If you do not have a safety induction card you will be denied access to laboratories.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 22-Oct-2012