ENGR-4300
Electronic Instrumentation

Topics

• Instrumentation Methodology
• Analog Electronics
• Sensors
• Analog/Digital Transitional Electronics
• Digital Electronics

Studio Activities

Graded Work

• Quizzes/Exams (35% of total course grade)

  • 4 Topical Quizzes (35%) -- There will be one quiz on each of the main topics of the course, except for Instrumentation Methodology, which will be addressed in the practical quizzes. All Quizzes will be closed book, but students are permitte d to bring one 8.5" x 11" crib sheet. Specific topics to be addressed on each quiz will be announced at least one week before the quiz date. Check the syllabus for last semester to see the kind of questions you can expect to see on the quizzes.

• Homeworks (15%) -- Assignments are made in class. Problems will be posted on the webpage or on the bulletin board outside the studio. Each student must hand in the homework.

• 10 Experiments (30%) -- When an experiment is completed, the Experiment Completion Sheet must be signed by one of the TAs or the Instructor. All collaborating partners must be in attendance to obtain this signature. For full credit,the resul ts, discussion and any calculations called for are to be turned in on the date announced in class. This date will also be posted next to the assignment schedule below.. Usually, this section can be completed as the experiments are being done. Thus, it will be best to hand in this sheet at the time the experiment is completed. Experiments are to be done by each pair of partners (2 students). Experimental data are to be shared by the cooperating partners (4 students). If the Experiment repo rt is not handed in by the posted date, it can be handed in anytime before the following project report deadline for half credit. A participation grade will be assigned for each of the experiments, based on attendance and contribution to the classwor k involved in each activity. You will earn 5 points for each experiment if you are in attendance and doing your share. It will be possible to make up class time missed during open shop.

• 4 Design Projects (20%)

  Please check each project write up for specific instructions.

  • Project Reports (25 pts) -- The general issues to be addressed in each report include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following. Please note that the guidelines are somewhat different for each project.
    • Introduction (2 pts): Introduce and describe the goals of the project. Usually, you will be asked to list at least two issues from the course that have an impact on the project.
    • Design (5 pts): Describe your project design, how you came up with this particular design, and discuss potential problems you will look for when you build and test your circuits and other apparatus. Develop a plan for testing your design.
    • Analysis (4 pts): Discuss why your project should work and support your discussion with calculations, graphs, PSpice simulations, and common sense reasoning.
    • Implementation (2 pts) -- Discuss what problems were encountered during the implementation of your project and how you solved them. Include advice you would offer to someone who wished to avoid these problems in the future.
    • Final Design and Testing (4 pts): Describe your final design. Demonstrate the operation of your apparatus to a TA or instructor and have them sign off that you have done so. Have your experimental data signed by a TA or instructor.
    • Personal Responsibilities (2 pt): A short paragraph should be written describing what each group member contributed to the project design, analysis and testing.
    • Creativity (0-5 pts):
    • Appendix (1 pt): Include any background materials you used in the preparation of your design.
    • Participation (5 pts)-- A participation grade will be assigned for each of the projects, based on attendance and contribution to the classwork involved in each activity. It will be possible to make up class time missed during open shop.
  • A list of specific issues to be addressed for each project may also be posted in the class announcements. A discussion of how your design deals with each of these issues must also be included at the appropriate place in your report.
  • Late Penalty -- The Design Project Reports are due on the dates indicated below. If they are handed in late, the following penalty will be applied. For each school day late (weekends and vacations are not counted): 1 point per day for the first two days, 2 points per day for the next three days, 3 points per day for the next four days, and so forth. Thus, if the report is handed in 5 days late, the penalty is 8 points. Please note that there are, at most, 5 school days per week.