Electrical Systems

Subjects you could take in this major

• Digital System Design

  AIMS

  This subject develops a fundamental understanding of concepts used in the analysis and design of digital systems. Such systems lie at the heart of the information and communication technologies (ICT) that underpin modern society. This subject is one of four subjects that define the Electrical Systems Major in the Bachelor of Science and it is a core requirement for the Master of Engineering (Electrical and Mechatronics). It provides a foundation for various subsequent subjects, including ELEN30013 Electronic System Implementation, ELEN90066 Embedded System Design and ELEN90061 Communication Networks.

  INDICATIVE CONTENT
  

  Topics include:

  • Digital systems - quantifying and encoding information, digital data processing, design process abstractions;
  • Combinational logic – timing contracts, acyclic networks, switching algebra, logic synthesis;
  • Sequential logic – cyclic networks and finite-state machines, metastability, microcode;
  • Interconnection structures - buses, crossbar switches, interconnection networks.

  
  These topics will be complemented by exposure to the hardware description language Verilog and the use of engineering design automation tools and configurable logic devices (e.g. FPGAs) in the laboratory.

  Handbook entry for ELEN30010
• Electrical Device Modelling

  AIM

  This subject develops the theoretical and practical tools required to understand, construct, validate and apply models of standard electrical and electronic devices. In particular, students will study the theoretical and practical development of models for devices such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, motors, batteries, diodes, transistors, and transmission lines. In doing so, students will gain exposure to a variety of fundamental fields in physics, including electromagnetism, semiconductor materials and quantum electronics. This material will be complemented by exposure to experiment design and measurement techniques in the laboratory, the application of models from device manufacturers, and the use of electronic circuit simulation software.

  INDICATIVE CONTENT
  

  Topics include:

  Vector calculus for device modelling, Maxwell’s equations, physics of conductors and insulators, passive device models (including for resistors, capacitors and inductors), lumped and distributed circuit models for wired interconnections (including treatment of signal integrity and termination strategies), semiconductors and quantum electronics, static and dynamic models for p-n junctions diodes and bipolar junction transistors.

  Handbook entry for ELEN30011
• Electrical Network Analysis and Design

  AIMS

  This subject develops a fundamental understanding of linear time-invariant network models for the analysis and design of electrical and electronic systems. Such models arise in the study of systems ranging from large-scale power grids to tiny radio frequency signal amplifiers. This subject is one of four subjects that define the Electrical Systems Major in the Bachelor of Science and it is a core requirement for the Master of Engineering (Electrical). It provides a foundation for various subsequent subjects, including ELEN30013 Electronic System Implementation, ELEN90066 Embedded System Design, and ELEN30012 Signal and Systems.

  INDICATIVE CONTENT
  

  Topics include:

  • Transient and frequency domain analysis of linear time-invariant (LTI) models – linearity, time-invariance, impulse response and convolution, oscillations and damping, the Laplace transform and transfer functions, frequency response and bode plots, lumped versus distributed parameter transfer functions, poles, zeros, and resonance;
  • Electrical network models – one-port elements, impedance functions, two-port elements, dependent sources, matrix representations of two-ports, driving point impedances and network functions, ladder and lattice networks, passive versus active networks, multi-stage modelling and design, and multi-port generalisations;
  • Analysis and design of networks involving ideal and non-ideal operational amplifiers.

  These topics will be complemented by exposure to software tools for electronic circuit simulation and further development of laboratory skills.

  Handbook entry for ELEN30009
• Signals and Systems

  AIMS

  The aim of this subject is twofold: firstly, to develop an understanding of the fundamental tools and concepts used in the analysis of signals and the analysis and design of linear time-invariant systems path in continuous–time and discrete- time; secondly, to develop an understanding of their application in a broad range of areas, including electrical networks, telecommunications, signal-processing and automatic control.

  The subject formally introduces the fundamental mathematical techniques that underpin the analysis and design of electrical networks, telecommunication systems, signal-processing systems and automatic control systems. Such systems lie at the heart of the electrical engineering technologies that underpin modern society. This subject is one of four that define the Electrical System Major in the Bachelor of Science and it is a core requirement in the Master of Engineering (Electrical). It provides the foundation for various subsequent subjects, including ELEN90057 Communication Systems, ELEN90058 Signal Processing and ELEN90055 Control Systems.

  INDICATIVE CONTENT
  

  Topics include:

  
  Signals – continuously and discretely indexed signals, important signal types, frequency-domain analysis (Fourier, Laplace and Z transforms), nonlinear transformations and harmonics, sampling;

  Systems – viewing differential / difference equations as systems that process signals, the notions of input, output and internal signals, block diagrams (series, parallel and feedback connections), properties of input-output models (causality, delay, stability, gain, shift-invariance, linearity), transient and steady state behaviour;

  Linear time-invariant systems – continuous and discrete impulse response; convolution operation, transfer functions and frequency response, time-domain interpretation of stable and unstable poles and zeros, state-space models (construction from high-order ODEs, canonical forms, state transformations and stability), and the discretisation of models for systems of continuously indexed signals.

  
  This material is complemented by exposure to the use of MATLAB for computation and simulation and examples from diverse areas including electrical engineering, biology, population dynamics and economics.

  Handbook entry for ELEN30012