David R. Voltmer

A required EMC course for computer engineering undergraduates

A required junior-level course on electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity has been added to our computer engineering curriculum. The goal of the course is to prepare our students for further study in high-speed design and to provide them with a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The course is, of necessity, a compromise between coverage of electromagnetics theory and the breadth of the discussion of EMC practice and techniques. The focus is on those aspects of EMC related to high-speed digital systems and upon EMC laboratory measurements and techniques. This paper reports the course, laboratories; lessons learned and anticipated future directions for the course

A new direction for undergraduate electromagnetics

This paper describes a new approach to undergraduate electromagnetics that responds to changing educational and technological environments. Lumped circuit elements, with which students are already familiar, provide the framework from which the properties of electromagnetic fields naturally evolve. Circuit behavior provides the basis for the introduction, formulation and interpretation of many electromagnetic concepts. This approach emphasizes spatial discretization and numeric formulations in order to exploit the computational power and rich graphical environment of modern computers. Classroom activities include the use of a powerful, PC-based, interactive, electromagnetic computation engine which empowers students to experiment with the geometry and material properties of two-dimensional electromagnetic problems. Course details and software demonstrations are included in the presentation.

Comments on ``Microstrip Circuits for the Classroom Laboratory''

The cost of microstrip copper-tape circuits in a classroom laboratory can be reduced by using ordinary low frequency materials.

Microprocessors: The Key to Cost-Effective Instrumentation

Recent instrumentation developments, paralleling the advances of the microelectronics revolution, have changed the basic character of instruments. Most significant has been the substitution of microprocessors and software for hardware to produce virtual instrumentation. An experimenter using virtual instrumentation communicates with a microcomputer and software via a keyboard to electronically configure the system hardware to meet his measurement needs. Versatile, cost-effective prototype systems have been developed for undergraduate laboratories. The encouraging results of these prototypes and further technological advances suggest a bright future for virtual instrumentation.

Special session - have You tried…? the sequel

This special session is organized to provide a highly interactive forum for a spirited exchange of varied ideas and teaching techniques between presenters and audience. Six presenters have been invited in advance by the session chairs with each presenter limited to 5 minutes and 3 slides followed by 3 minutes of discussion with the audience. Members of the audience are encouraged to bring a 1 paragraph summary for a random selection of up to three additional presenters. A 12 minute, informal exchange between all participants will follow the speakers. Under ideal conditions, the rapid, paced presentations and exchanges with the audience will make it difficult to distinguish between the presenters and the audience.

The design of an Enhanced Curricular Evaluation + Portfolio (ECE+P) software system

A process for curricular monitoring and providing feedback for the continuous improvement Of curricula was presented recently by Moore and Voltmer (2000). The original process was designed to include instructors, administrators, and external reviewers. A subsequent study of the existing software and enhanced capabilities lead to an expansion of the vision and scope of the original evaluation process. The study precipitated the design of a new software system that expands the curricular monitoring to include the student. Improved interaction between the student and instructor as well as grading capabilities is included in the expanded system, the Enhanced Curricular Evaluation + Portfolio (ECE+P) system. An additional enhancement enables every student to store private files and create secure portfolios to which students can grant viewing rights to external guests. The ECE+P system was designed using a Unified Modeling Language (UML) software development tool that allows requirement changes to be incorporated easily. The tool also provides system specifications that can be implemented using various platforms. A discussion of the ECE+P system and the UML tool is included in the full paper and presentation.