ECU Web Unit Outline
 
FACULTY OF HEALTH, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Full Unit Outline - Enrolment Approved Friday, February 8, 2013
Disclaimer
This unit outline may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
 
UNIT TITLE Signals and Systems
UNIT CODE ENS3553
CREDIT POINTS 15
FULL YEAR UNIT No
PRE-REQUISITES MAT2236 - Differential Equations
OR
MAT2437 - Differential Equations
AND
ENS1253 - Electrical Engineering 1B
MODE OF DELIVERY On-campus
DESCRIPTION

This unit introduces the basic concepts of signal and system analysis via applications drawn from acoustics, communications, automatic control, mechanical engineering, electronics, image processing, etc. Students will be introduced to methods of convolution, Fourier series and transforms, sampling and discrete-time processing of continuous-time signals, and the Laplace transform.
 
LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
  1. recognise the various categories of signals (continuous-time, discrete-time, analog and digital), as well as systems;
  2. graph mathematical descriptions of continuous-time and discrete-time signals, and write mathematical descriptions of graphed signals;
  3. classify systems based on their properties: in particular, understand and exploit the implications of linearity, time-invariance, causality and memory;
  4. explain the time-domain properties of linear, time-invariant (LTI) systems: in particular, represent an LTI system by its impulse response and determine the response of the LTI system to an arbitrary input signal using convolution;
  5. explain the frequency-domain properties of linear, time-invariant (LTI) systems: in particular, represent an LTI system by its frequency response and determine the input-output behaviour in the frequency domain;
  6. decompose a signal in terms of complex exponentials in the frequency domain: determine Fourier series coefficients for both discrete-time and continuous-time periodic signals and understand the implications of what the coefficients mean; determine Fourier transforms for both continuous-time and discrete-time aperiodic signals and be able to interpret and plot Fourier transform magnitude and phase responses;
  7. describe the various properties of transforms and exploit them to analyse and design signals and systems;
  8. describe the relationships among various representations of LTI systems and infer one representation from another;
  9. explain the sampling theorem and use it to interpret aliasing phenomena in the real world;
  10. describe the sampling process in both the time and frequency domain and approximate continuous-time signals and systems with their discrete-time counterparts.
 
UNIT CONTENT
  1. Signal representation and mathematical modelling of signals: continuous-time and discrete-time signals; classifications of signals; basic operations on signals; sinusoidal, exponential and singularity function signals; signal energy and power.
  2. Defining systems as processes that map signals into signals: continuous-time and discrete-time systems; system classification and characteristics (linearity, causality, order, time invariance, memory, stability); system representations (block diagrams, differential and difference equations); interconnections of systems.
  3. Time-based investigation of LTI systems with real engineering applications: impulse response; the convolution integral for continuous-time LTI systems; the convolution sum for discrete-time LTI systems.
  4. Frequency-domain concepts and examining the frequency-domain content of signals: Fourier series representations of continuous-time and discrete-time periodic signals; continuous-time and discrete-time Fourier transforms of aperiodic signals; properties of the four Fourier transforms (the Fourier series, the Fourier transform, the discrete-time Fourier transform, and the discrete Fourier transform) and transforms of basic signals; complex exponentials as eigenfunctions of LTI systems.
  5. Sampling and reconstruction as a major application of Fourier analysis techniques: aliasing; the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem; the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm.
  6. The Laplace transform as an extension of the continuous-time Fourier transform: the Laplace transform and the inverse Laplace transform; Laplace transform theorems and transforms of basic signals; analysis and characterisation of LTI systems using the Laplace transform (transfer function, causality, stability, response, block diagram representations and block diagram algebra).
 
TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESSES
Lectures, tutorials and laboratory work.
 
GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES

The following graduate attributes will be developed in this unit

  • Critical appraisal skills
  • Ability to generate ideas

 
 
ASSESSMENT
Grading Schema 1
 
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
 

Item

On-Campus Assessment

Value

  

Test

Mid-semester theory test

10%

Assignment

Design Project

10%

Exercise

Quizzes

10%

Laboratory Work

Laboratory work and reports*

10%

Participation

On-line discussion board

10%

Examination

End of semester examination

50%

 
To be eligible to pass this unit, students must pass the end-of-semester examination.

*Due to professional competency skill development associated with this unit, participation in all laboratory sessions and successful completion of associated tasks is a mandatory requirement for passing this unit. Students who are unable to attend a lab session for a legitimate reason will need to arrange a make-up session with their lecturer. Students who fail to complete all required laboratory tasks without legitimate cause may be awarded an FI grade (Fail Incomplete).
 
TEXTS
Haykin, S., & Veen, B. V. (2005). Signals and systems (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
 
SIGNIFICANT REFERENCES
McClellan, J. H., Schafer, R. W., & Yoder, M. A. (2003). Signal processing first. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
 
WEB SITES
Signals and Systems Demonstrations http://www.jhu.edu/~signals/
 
 
 
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Student Equity, Diversity and Disability Service website:
http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/student/support/student-equity
 
 


Academic Misconduct


Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students’ work.

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.


The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
ECU Web Unit Outline