Communications Engineering - 2019 entry
MODULE TITLE | Communications Engineering | CREDIT VALUE | 15 |
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MODULE CODE | ECM3166 | MODULE CONVENER | Dr Isaac Luxmoore |
DURATION: TERM | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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DURATION: WEEKS | 11 weeks | 0 | 0 |
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) | 17 |
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Communications lie at the heart of our modern-day society and because of this our communication systems need to deal with ever-increasing amounts of information, to operate at ever-increasing speeds and to use lower and lower powers. In this module you will learn how to modern communication systems, such as wired and wireless technologies and optical fibre systems, meet such demands and, importantly, how to design modern communication links from a systems level perspective.
Prerequisite module: ECM2117 or equivalent
The purpose of this module is to develop the subject-specific knowledge, understanding and skills, required to design and analyse modern-day communication systems. It develops the signal and system theory framework necessary to further your understanding of the operating and performance-limits of analog and digital communication systems. Furthermore, it applies such theory to real-world communications examples, including analog and digital radio, fibre-optic communications and wireless systems.
Finally, the module describes in detail the design and implementation of a range of modern-day digital communication systems, such as digital mobile communications links, computer communications, radio and TV broadcasting systems, optical fibre communications.
This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).
This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM2p, SM2m, SM4m, EA1p-EA4p, EA1m-EA4m, D2p, D2m, EP1p, EP1m, EP2p, EP2m, EP4p, EP4m, EP9p, EP11m, G1p, G1m
A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/subjects/engineering/accreditation/
The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/
On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1 describe the operation and design of sub-systems and circuits commonly used in analog and digital communications systems (e.g. modulators, demodulators, transmitters, receivers, equalisers, detectors);
2 develop and apply mathematical models to describe the behaviour of signals and linear systems in both the time and frequency domain, using Fourier techniques to move between the two;
3 explain and devise basic analog and digital radio systems;
4 describe and design basic wireless communication systems;
5 define the operation and performance characteristics of optical fibre communication channels.
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
6 demonstrate understanding of theoretical principles through application to complex problems that cannot be solved by memory;
7 utilise mathematical software (Matlab) to model various communication systems and sub-systems.
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:
8 monitor your progress through tutor-marked assignments (TMA) and self-assessment questions (SAQ);
9 assess the effectiveness of your learning strategies, including time management, and modify appropriately;
10 use a variety of information sources to understand and supplement lecture material.
Eleven teaching weeks covering the following topics:
- overview of a typical communications system -analog and digital communications;
- source coding - PCM, delta modulation;
- channel coding- Hamming codes, block codes, convolutional codes;
- line codes - NRZ, AMI, bi-phase, WAN and LAN line codes;
- linear time invariant systems; impulse response and frequency response;
- ideal and non-ideal communication channels - wire, radio and optical channels;
- baseband pulse and digital signalling - ISI, Nyquist signalling, PRML signalling;
- case study - the optical data storage channel;
- bandpass signalling - ASK, FSK, PSK, BPSK;
- noise - bandlimited white noise, PSD and PDF;
- the matched filter.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 50 | Guided Independent Study | 100 | Placement / Study Abroad | 0 |
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Category | Hours of study time | Description |
Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 22 | Lectures |
Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 11 | Tutorials |
Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 17 | Laboratory work |
Guided independent study | 100 | Guided independent study |
Form of Assessment | Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) | ILOs Assessed | Feedback Method |
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Not applicable | |||
Coursework | 20 | Written Exams | 60 | Practical Exams | 20 |
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Form of Assessment | % of Credit | Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) | ILOs Assessed | Feedback Method |
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Written exam – closed book | 60 | 2 hours - January Exam | All | None |
Coursework – TMA 1 | 10 | All | Written | |
Coursework – TMA 2 | 10 | All | Written | |
Practical – lab-based experiment on baseband pulse | 20 | All | Written | |
Original Form of Assessment | Form of Re-assessment | ILOs Re-assessed | Time Scale for Re-reassessment |
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All above | Written exam (100%) | All | Completed over summer with a deadline in August |
If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk
Reading list for this module:
Type | Author | Title | Edition | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
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Set | Lathi, B P | Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems | 4th | Oxford University Press | 2010 | 978-0-19-538493-2 |
Set | Couch L W | Digital and Analog Communication Systems | 8th | Person | 2013 | 978-0-273-77421-1 |
CREDIT VALUE | 15 | ECTS VALUE | 7.5 |
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PRE-REQUISITE MODULES | ECM2117 |
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CO-REQUISITE MODULES |
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) | 3 (NQF level 6) | AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING | No |
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ORIGIN DATE | Tuesday 10th July 2018 | LAST REVISION DATE | Tuesday 10th July 2018 |
KEY WORDS SEARCH | Communication systems; signals; networking; mobile telephony, wireless communications |
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Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.