Master Course Description

No:EE 415

Title: COMPUTER-AIDED SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

Credits: 3

UW Course Catalog Description

Coordinator: C.J. Richard Shi, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering

Goals: To provide students with a fundamental understanding of computer-aided circuit analysis; and to provide an opportunity for students to reinforce the understanding by hands-on programming of the theoretical algorithms presented.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Provide students with fundamental knowledge of network theory.
  2. Introduce the concept of computer-aided circuit analysis based on the network theory discussed.
  3. Investigate practical issues when applying the basic circuit analysis algorithms to solve realistic circuit problems.
  4. Investigate different tradeoffs, such as performance vs. memory, when implementing the circuit analysis algorithms with computer programming.
  5. Introduce symbolic analysis as an alternative to numerical analysis codes in CAD.

Textbook: Adrian Ioinovici, Computer-Aided Analysis of Active Circuits, Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1990 ISBN 0-8247-8126-0

Course Notes and examples provided by Jonny Andersen to augment text material.

Reference Texts: A collection of 10 references on reserve in the Engineering Library

Prerequisites by Topic:

  1. Linear algebra; matrix manipulation
  2. Differential equations, initial conditions
  3. Basic Electronic circuits, RC network analysis, basic transistor operations

Topics:

  1. Fundamental network concepts
  2. Computer-aided network equations formulation and solution
  3. Computer-aided solution methods for nonlinear dynamic networks
  4. Computer-aided network sensitivity and optimization
  5. Modeling techniques for computer-aided circuit designs
  6. Computer-aided symbolic analysis of moderately sized linear networks

Course Structure: The class meets for three lectures a week. The first week consists of an introduction to network concept including KCL, KVL and their implications to basic network analysis. The next six weeks consist of an extensive coverage on applying numerical analysis to solve nonlinear differential equations which describe the dynamic characteristics of typical transistor circuits. The next two weeks cover the basic concepts for circuit optimization. This is followed by a brief discussion on techniques for modeling applicable to computer-aided circuit design. Finally, an introduction to symbolic analysis as an alternative to numerical analysis codes in CAD is addressed.

Computer Resources: Workstations or PCs

Laboratory Resources: 3 programming assignments to verify CAD algorithms for circuit analysis including:

Grading: The midterm counts for 30%, the final exam for 60% and the homework for 10% of the course grade.

Outcome Coverage:

(a) An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering. The class employs a fair amount of linear algebra (from Wang to Modulus 2 Algebra), in addition to complex function theory, as we move along the jw-axis, as in Fourier, and into the left hand plane, as in Laplace.

(c) An ability to design a system, component or process to meet desired needs. The theme for this class is design using the computer as an aid, so if designing systems is not perfectly clear by the end of the class, we have really failed.

(e) An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems. Without the ability to translate the many "word-problems" presented into mathematical form, the various CAD packages introduced are worthless.

(i) A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning. This is emphasized by pointing out that a lot of issues addressed in this class are examples of things they have already seen, and often thought they knew. When exposed to the material again, all kinds of new discoveries are made!

(k) An ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. Mathematics is commonplace in all of our class offerings, but rather than drilling students with routine operations, we attempt to challenge students with problems proportionate to their knowledge and help them solve the problems with stimulating questions. The class attempts to use "discovery problems" and the so-called scientific method for their solution.

Prepared by: Jonny Andersen

Last revised: 5/1/00