Class Files - ECE 1

ECE 1 - Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (3 Units)
Spring 2009 (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)

Lecture: Tue, Thu 8:00 am - 8:50(+) am, EW 110
- AND -
Lab: Tue 12:30 pm - 3:20 pm, EE 287
- OR -
Lab: Wed 2:00 pm - 4:50 pm, EE 287

California State University, Fresno
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Instructor: Dr. Gregory Kriehn
Office: EE 258
Telephone: (27)8-8811
Email: gkriehn@csufresno.edu
Web: http://optics.csufresno.edu/
Office Hours: Tue, Thu 9:00 am – 11:00 am

2008 - 2009 Catalog Description: Orientation to the electrical and computer engineering fields. Introduction to circuits, components, and instrumentation; electronic prototyping, engineering design process, computer productivity tools, laboratory safety, and hands-on hardware and software projects; teamwork; written and oral communications. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
Prerequisites: None

Course Objectives: Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering has been designed to introduce you to the field of engineering as it relates to electrical and computer systems. The course is intended to provide you with a conceptual understanding about what engineers "do" for a living, to provide insight into the various specializations that comprise electrical and computer engineering, and to teach you about engineering analysis, design, problem solving tools, technical communication, and ethics. To accomplish these goals, the course has been broken down into 2 components: lecture-based material and hands-on laboratory work.

The overall objectives include teaching you about:

Engineering Discovery as it relates to Electrical and Computer Engineering
Engineering Problem Solving and Engineering Problem-Solving Tools
Technical Communications, including both Oral and Written Communication
Professional Societies and Ethical Responsibilities
Case Studies in Engineering
Design Projects and Project Presentations
Integrated Electrical and Computer Laboratory Experimentation using the Parallax Boe-Bot

Lecture Component: The lecture component is centered around the first 6 objectives, and will also introduce you to the College of Engineering, the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and its faculty, teach you about various computer aided design (CAD) tools as well as more general tools that are common to most, if not all, electrical and computer engineers. Most assignments will therefore incorporate the use of a computer, and projects will have both a written and oral component. As engineers often work in teams, you will also learn the value of working both independently and in groups throughout the semester. A group project will be assigned that will require you to work collaboratively by selecting, assembling, and testing a small electronic project kit, as well as by preparing a written and oral report/presentation.

Laboratory Component: The laboratory component is based upon the last objective and provides a unique hand-on experience to introduce you further to the fields of electrical and computer engineering. You will be programming and experimenting with a Parallax Boe-Bot, which is a robotic kit that uses a BASIC Stamp microprocessor, in addition to touch, light, and infrared sensors to independently navigate around in its environment. As you work with the Boe-Bot, you will learn about how the various aspects of electrical and computer engineering fit together by studying microcontrollers, programming techniques, basic circuits and components, sensors and detectors, robotics, and control systems. You will also have the opportunity to expand upon Boe-Bot's basic functionality at the end of the semester to perform a particular task, such as navigating through a maze, distance detection, stripe following, master-slave control, etc.

Course Material Requirements
Expected Student Work
Grading Policy
Course Policies
University Policies
Primary Learning Objectives
Laboratory Experiment & Lecture Schedule

Subject to Change

This syllabus and schedule are subject to change event of extenuating circumstances.

If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check on
announcements made while you were absent.