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525.416 - Communication Systems Engineering Course Homepage

Instructor Information

Richard Lee

Email: r.b.lee@cox.net
Work Phone: (703) 961-5357

Course Information

Course Description

In this course, students receive an introduction to the principles of communication systems engineering. Students examine analog and digital communication including linear (AM, DSB, SSB) and exponential (PM, FM) modulation, sampling, noise and filtering effects, quantization effects, detection error probabilities, and coherent and noncoherent communication techniques.

Prerequisites

A working knowledge of Fourier transforms, linear systems, and probability theory.

Course Goal

The course objective is to cover the principles of analog and digital communication systems involving different modulation and coding schemes in the background of noise and interference.  This course provides broad knowledge of how these systems work from a system engineering view point and an ability to apply to real-world problems.

Course Objectives

    • Introduce the communication channel and apply both deterministic and statistical Fourier concepts to transmission propagation, power spectral density and modulation/coding characteristics. 
    • Develop and compare the functional blocks of coding/modulation and demodulation/decoding for analog and digital communication systems.

     

    • Analyze the analog-to-digital conversion process with emphasis on Nyquist Sampling Criteria, line coding, pulse shaping and optimum detection functions.
    • Develop and compare the performance of binary, M-ary and spread spectrum digital communications in the presence of noise and interference.  Design of linear systematic block coding and its error detection/correction capability is also discussed.

When This Course is Typically Offered

Thye course is offered every semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) at Montgomery County Center (MCC).

Syllabus

Topics Covered

  • Fourier spectral and time signal analysis
  • channel transmission and propagation effects
  • linear modulation (AM, DSB-SC and SSB)
  • non-linear modulation (PM, FM): PLL analysis
  • analog-to-digital(sampling, quantization, encoding
  • digital formatting (coding, shaping, detection)
  • digital modulation (ASK, PSK, FSK)
  • probability, random variables, random process
  • analog and digital filters (FIR, IIR) comparison
  • analog receiver error performance in noise
  • digital receiver error performance in noise
  • fading channels, superhetrodyne receiver
  • M-ary versus binary digital communications
  • practical communication applications

Student Assessment Criteria

Homework 10%
Midterm 40%
Final 50%

Understand the lecture material well and do all the homeworks.  The solutions to homeworks will be handed out the following week.  If you have any questions about the course material and homework, please ask me.

Computer and Technical Requirements

N/A

Participation Expectations

Homework will be assigned every week and its solution is provided next week for a feedback.  Midterm and final exam will be take-home.

I will go over the probability and random process theory briefly for review.

Textbooks

Textbook information for this course is available online through the MBS Direct Virtual Bookstore.

Course Notes

There are no notes for this course.

Final Words from the Instructor

This course provides the student with the fundamental skills to analyze and solve analog and digital communication problems on a system level.  The material learned in the course will be the basic infromation needed for courses in advanced communication, telecommunication and signal processing. 

Term Specific Course Website

http://www.epp.jhu.edu

(Last Modified: 07-22-2008 at 11:07:57 AM)