Edward R. Doering

CircuitViz: a new method for visualizing the dynamic behavior of electric circuits

Visualizing the dynamic behavior of electric circuits constitutes an important part of the learning process for students studying circuits. Circuit variables (voltage, current, power, and stored energy) are traditionally displayed separately from the circuit schematic as a Cartesian plot, but advances in scientific visualization indicate that merging all relevant data into a single visualization object, or graphic metaphor, improves the viewers ability to perceive global relationships and thereby enhances understanding of the system under study. CircuitViz places the two-dimensional circuit diagram into a three-dimensional coordinate system and displays the circuit variables directly on the circuit diagram along the third spatial variable, and the display is animated to show time-dependent behavior. The visual cues are motivated by mechanical analogies (primarily the water-flow analogy) so as to draw upon the students existing knowledge base. Examples of first-order circuits are presented in the paper. Initial classroom tests indicate that CircuitViz can motivate discussions of circuit operation by effectively illustrating qualitative circuit behavior, and most students report that the technique improved their understanding of transient circuit behavior.

Teaching mixed-signal integrated circuit design to undergraduates

A two-course sequence that teaches the basic concepts associated with digital, analog, and mixed-signal integrated circuit design for senior-level undergraduate students has been developed. The use of hands-on experiences using custom integrated circuits is employed to help teach these complex topics. This sequence has been taught for three years, and the affective learning has been assessed through precourse and postcourse surveys, focus groups, and in-class surveys.

Low-cost, high-impact video production techniques for laboratory instructional materials

Video production techniques have been developed to produce laboratory instructional materials that are low cost, both in terms of cash outlay and in instructor development time, and yet which achieve high impact in terms of student learning effectiveness. This paper reviews the instructional needs of the students that motivate the specific choice of production techniques, and presents assessment results from classroom use of the methods. The techniques have been developed to support lab-oriented courses that require students to become proficient users of a set of CAD tools.

Scientific visualization in the circuits curriculum: enhancing student insight

Scientific visualization techniques translate large and/or multidimensional numerical data sets into images. Properly prepared images enable the user to more readily correlate information, determine cause-and-effect relationships, and gain insight into the underlying principles embodied in the data. Concepts from scientific visualization have been used to develop CircuitViz, a tool for visualizing the behavior of dynamic circuits. This circuit visualization technique places a 2D circuit schematic in a 3D coordinate system. The third spatial dimension displays circuit variables (current, voltage, power, stored energy) directly on the schematic diagram, and animation displays the temporal dimension. The visual cues are designed to be intuitively appealing and to reinforce understanding of device operation. The technique, implemented as a Mathematica package, was pilot-tested for two weeks in a second-quarter sophomore circuits class studying the transient response of first- and second-order circuits. The animated imagery stimulated student interest in the material, and students made insightful observations about how circuits work as a result of viewing the global operation of the circuits.

Circuits Learned by Example Online (CLEO): A video-based resource to support engineering circuit analysis courses

The “Circuits Learned by Example Online” (CLEO) web-based repository of over 250 worked problems in engineering circuit analysis provides students with a video-based learning tool suitable for self-guided study, homework support, and exam preparation. Each problem offers the complete solution process embodied as a narrated video “screencast” of handwriting and drawings captured from a tablet device; the audio commentary explains each step of the multistep solution process. The searchable repository matches the organization of leading circuit textbooks, and can also be tailored to a specific course syllabus. Many examples of correct problem-solving strategies are presented, including explanations of why specific strategies are selected among competing approaches. Students report that they consider the CLEO system a useful resource to support their homework activities, as a tutorial to learn more about concepts presented in class, and as preparation materials for exams. Students also reported that the system helped them to better understand course concepts, make efficient use of study time, and improve their problem solving skills.

Making music with MATLAB: an electronic music synthesis course for engineering students

An elective course in electronic music synthesis has been developed for electrical and computer engineering students. The course provides an interesting way to integrate and apply DSP and computer manipulation concepts studied in previous courses, and extends student understanding of more advanced concepts such as time-evolving spectra. MATLAB is a standard platform used in the signals and DSP courses, so MATLAB forms the primary tool for converting algorithmic descriptions of waveforms into sound. The paper outlines course topics and methods, includes a detailed example of pedagogy, and presents assessment results.

Custom chips developed to reinforce learning integrated circuit design

This paper describes four custom integrated circuits that we are using in hardware labs to provide a hand-on experience with integrated circuit concepts difficult to simulate.

Making music with DSP

The recent trend has been to move DSP education earlier in the curriculum. This paper demonstrates using music to teach sinusoids and MIDI at both the undergraduate (DSP First) and high school (Infinity Project) level.