Postgraduate Courses
ELEC
Electronic and Computer Engineering
- ELEC 5010Introduction to the Design & Implementation of Micro-Systems[3-0-1:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 501, ELEC 692VExclusion(s)MECH 5950DescriptionIntroduction to the concept of micro-systems. Dimensional scaling and its implications. Multi-physics modeling. Micro-fabrication techniques. Introduction to Coventor, a numerical simulation package for micro-systems. The design, implementation and testing of a micro-device.
- ELEC 5040Advanced Analog IC Analysis and Design[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 504Exclusion(s)EESM 5120BackgroundELEC 4420 and ELEC 4510DescriptionNoise analysis; Advanced op-amp design techniques; Analog VLSI building blocks: multipliers, oscillators, mixers, phase-locked loops, A/D and D/A converters; Passive filter design; Frequency scaling; Active filter design.
- ELEC 5050Advanced CMOS Devices[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 505Prerequisite(s)ELEC 3500DescriptionPrinciples and characteristics of semiconductor devices found in State-of-the-Art ICs. Emphasis is on deep-submicron MOS device design, characterization and modeling. Important issues such as short channel effects, high-field behavior, hot carrier effects, reliability and device scaling for present and future technology will be covered.
- ELEC 5070Microelectronics Fabrication Technology[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 507DescriptionProcess technologies in IC fabrication: epitaxial growth; chemical-vapor and physical-vapor deposition of films; thermal oxidation; diffusion; ion implantation; microlithography; wet/dry etching processes; process integration of MOS and bipolar technologies.
- ELEC 5080Integrated-Circuit Fabrication Laboratory[2-0-6:4]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 508Prerequisite(s)ELEC 5070DescriptionLaboratory course requiring hands-on work in fabricating MOS transistors. Process modules including photolithography, dry etching, wet etching, metal sputtering, oxidation, diffusion and low-pressure chemical-vapor deposition will be covered. Student will also learn to characterize the fabricated devices.
- ELEC 5090Advanced Photonics Technologies[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 509DescriptionA brief review of modern optics theories, Fourier optics based devices and systems, fundamentals of laser physics, optoelectronics, nonlinear optics and laser spectroscopy.
- ELEC 5110Nanoelectronic Materials for Energy Technologies[3-0-0:3]Co-list withENEG 5200Exclusion(s)ENEG 5200BackgroundELEC 3500DescriptionConventional and unconventional fabrication of nanostructures including electron beam lithography, nanoimprint, chemical synthesis, self-assembly, etc.; size dependent electronic and optoelectronic properties of nanomaterials; large-scale assembly and integration of nanomaterials for electronics; energy harvesting and storage devices using nanoelectronic materials.
- ELEC 5120Semiconductor Power and Energy Conversion Technologies[3-0-0:3]Co-list withENEG 5250Exclusion(s)ENEG 5250DescriptionAnalysis of power semiconductor device technologies in the context of electric power conversion and transmission; emphasis on the understanding of the critical roles of semiconductor device technologies in power and energy conversion. The mainstream silicon and emerging semiconductor power devices technologies; material properties, device structure design, advanced fabrication techniques, and device characteristics. Critical device-circuit interaction issues and basic power electronics circuits will be covered focusing on the role of these circuits in electric power conversion and transmission.
- ELEC 5140Advanced Computer Architecture[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910KBackgroundBackground knowledge in ELEC 2300 (Computer Organization) or COMP 2611 (Computer Organization)DescriptionThe course introduces the important building blocks in modern computing systems including superscalar processor pipeline, memory hierarchies, network design in the multicore‐processors. The design techniques, evaluation metrics and optimization techniques will be discussed in detail with the example of real computer systems. The students will gain not only theoretical knowledge through lectures, but also hands‐on experiences through projects.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Explain the processor design and the collaboration between software and hardware.
- 2.Evaluate and analyze the performance of a computer system.
- 3.Develop the simple improvement of a computer architecture design.
- 4.Optimize the performance of program running on the commercial computer systems.
- ELEC 5160Digital VLSI System Design and Design Automation[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 516Prerequisite(s)ELEC 4410Exclusion(s)EESM 5020BackgroundELEC 2200DescriptionStructured design styles; specification, synthesis and simulation using Hardware Descriptive Language (HDL); Structural chip design and system design; Circuit design of system building blocks: arithmetic unit, memory systems; clocking and performance issues in system design; Design-Automation tools and their applications.
- ELEC 5180RF/Microwave Circuit Design and Measurement[3-0-3:4]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 518BackgroundELEC 3100, ELEC 3400, ELEC 3600 and ELEC 4420DescriptionIntroduction to techniques for analyzing, engineering and testing of circuits for RF/microwave frequencies using CAD tools. The lab provides hands-on CAD/simulation, building and testing of low-noise amplifier, mixer, VCO, filter, IF AGC, detectors and other circuits discussed in lecture.
- ELEC 5190Solid State and Semiconductor Electronics[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 519BackgroundELEC 4510DescriptionCrystal Lattices; lattice vibration and thermal properties of crystals; free-electron theory; electrons in periodic lattices; carrier transport; metal semiconductor contacts and semiconductor surfaces; optical processes.
- ELEC 5210Advanced Topics in Nanoelectronics[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 521Exclusion(s)NANO 540 (prior to 2011-12)BackgroundELEC 4510DescriptionState-of-the-art development in the broad area of nanoelectronics including nanoscale electronic devices, quantum effect transistors, circuit design with nanoscale devices.
- ELEC 5230Novel Liquid Crystal Devices for Photonics and Displays[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910FPrerequisite(s)ELEC 4610BackgroundBasic OpticsDescriptionLiquid crystals: symmetry and basic physical properties. LC materials and their physical-chemical characterization. Electro-optical Effects in Liquid Crystal Materials: dependence on LC symmetry and parameters, LC cell configuration and driving conditions. Liquid crystal photoalignment and photopatterning technology. Liquid Crystal Photonics Devices. New applications of liquid crystals: biomedical devices, terahertz imaging, biosensors, liquid crystal lasers. New liquid crystal displays: 3D, projection, flexible displays, transflective displays, advances in LCD technology. New trends in liquid crystal addressing: modern TFT technologies.
- ELEC 5250Flat-Panel Displays[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 525Exclusion(s)EESM 5620DescriptionDiscussions on various flat-panel display technologies including plasma display panels, electroluminescence, field emission and liquid-crystal displays. Optics and electronics of display devices.
- ELEC 5280High Frequency Circuit Design[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 528BackgroundELEC 3100, ELEC 3400, ELEC 4180 and ELEC 4630DescriptionHigh frequency circuit design for wireless applications. S-parameters, front-end amp, VCO, PLL, power amplifier, and integration issues will be covered.
- ELEC 5300Stochastic Processes[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 530BackgroundELEC 2600DescriptionBorel/sigma fields. Sequences of random variables and convergence. Spectral factorization. Karhunen-Loeve Expansion. Stationarity, ergodicity and spectral estimation. Mean square estimation and Kalman filtering. Entropy. System identification.
- ELEC 5330Video-Signal Processing[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 533BackgroundELEC 4130DescriptionCharacteristics of video signals; compression techniques; differential pulse-code modulation; predictive coding; transform coding; motion-estimation techniques; vector quantization; subband coding; pyramid coding; entropy coding; coding standards; real-time video signal processing; system examples and applications.
- ELEC 5350Multimedia Networks[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 535, ELEC 692SPrerequisite(s)ELEC 4120DescriptionAdvances in high-speed networking technologies create new opportunities for video-on-demand (VoD), streaming of TV content (IPTV), and voice over IP (VoIP). The course aims to cover characteristics of multimedia traffic, look into network transport issues, define the network requirements for audio/video transport, and introduce optimization models for optimal network design. Other topics include IP QoS issues, content delivery networks (CDNs), P2P networks, and wireless LANs for the support of multimedia applications.
- ELEC 5360Principles of Digital Communications[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 536Exclusion(s)EESM 5536BackgroundProbability theoryDescriptionThe aim of this course is to provide an in-depth treatment of the theoretical basis, analysis, and design of digital communication systems. The first half of the course will focus on the theoretical foundations of a basic digital communication system, including source coding, modulating and channel coding, and introductory information theory. The second half will deal with advanced techniques including orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), multi-antenna communications, spread-spectrum communications, and cooperative communications.
- ELEC 5370Communication Networks[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 537BackgroundProbability theoryDescriptionThe first half of the course covers the fundamentals of queuing theory: Poisson processes, M/M/1 queues, state-dependent queues, M/G/1 queues and mean-value analysis. The second half of the course focuses on the applications of queuing theory to performance evaluation of computer networks and switching systems.
- ELEC 5450Random Matrix Theory and Applications[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910HBackgroundUG-level probability (e.g., ELEC 2600 in ECE) is expected. No prior knowledge of wireless communications or signal processing is requiredDescriptionThis course gives an introduction to random matrix theory (RMT), which has become a very important tool in communication systems, signal processing and a wealth of (high dimensional) statistical applications. Topics include: introduction to RMT models in engineering; eigenvalue distributions; Wishart and related distributions; finite-dimensional and large-dimensional techniques. Applications include wireless communications, array processing, robust covariance estimation, principal component analysis, signal detection, data analysis applications to financial and biomedical engineering.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Identify the underlying principles of random matrix theory and the distinction with respect to classical statistical theory.
- 2.Derive random matrix properties of practically-important random matrix models.
- 3.Apply random matrix theory to solve engineering problems.
- 4.Apply random matrix concepts to analyze and interpret high dimensional data sets.
- 5.Apply software tools to simulate and visualize random matrix properties and to numerically validate mathematical theories.
- ELEC 5460Advanced Stochastic Optimization for Wireless Systems[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 546Exclusion(s)EESM 5546BackgroundELEC 4110 or equivalentDescriptionStochastic Optimization plays a critical role in radio resource optimization of wireless networks, optimal control theory as well as financial engineering (portfolio optimization). This course will focus on the application of stochastic optimization theory to the design and optimization of next generation wireless systems such as 5G systems. Topics covered include review of information theory for wireless fading channels, MIMO spatial diversity and spatial multiplexing, multi-user communication theory, classifications and motivating examples of stochastic optimizations (robust optimizations, delay-optimal wireless resource control), stochastic learning, stochastic gradient, stochastic stability and markov decision process.
- ELEC 5470Convex Optimization[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 547, ELEC 692QBackgroundLinear algebra (also basic digital communications and basic signal processing)DescriptionConvex optimization theory with applications to communication systems and signal processing: convex sets/functions/problems; Lagrange duality and KKT conditions; saddle points and minimax problems; numerical algorithms; primal/dual decomposition methods. Applications: filter design; robust beamforming; power control in wireless systems; design of MIMO systems; GP duality in information theory; network utility maximization. For PG students in second year or above.
- ELEC 5480Coding and Information Theory[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 548BackgroundELEC 4150DescriptionProperties of information measures. Source coding theorem. Lossless data compression. Channel coding theorem. Block and convolutional codes. Trellis decoding. Concatenated codes. Iterative decoding. Rate-distortion theorem. Quantization and lossy data compression.
- ELEC 5510Switch Mode Power Converters[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 551BackgroundELEC 2100 AND ELEC 3400DescriptionDC-DC conversion: topologies, continuous and discontinuous conduction modes, steady state analysis, loop gain analysis and relevant mathematical tools, stability and compensation; AC-DC conversion: power factor correctors.
- ELEC 5520Power Management Integrated Circuit Design[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 552, ELEC 692OBackgroundELEC 4420 and ELEC 4430DescriptionIntegrated circuit techniques for power management components such as voltage references, linear voltage regulators, low dropout regulators, switch mode power converters and switched-capacitor power converters.
- ELEC 5530Mixed-Signal Integrated Bio-Sensory Circuit Design[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910C, ELEC 692WBackgroundELEC 4420DescriptionThe course aims to systematically introduce major issues of mixed-signal circuit designs and their applications in bio-medical and sensory systems. The first half course is dedicated to mixed-signal IC design. The course starts with 2 review classes on OPAMP design, filter design and circuit noise. Then, the course covers topics on pipelined ADC, Sigma-delta ADC, and SAR ADC. The second half course is dedicated to sensory and bio-medical IC design. The topics include bio-potential detection, implants, DNA detection, CCD, CMOS imaging, and CT/SPECT.
- ELEC 5540High Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910IExclusion(s)CSIT 6000C, EESM 5810, ELEC 6910N, SBMT 6010KDescriptionThis interdisciplinary class combines a technical survey of emerging technologies/innovation with practical high-tech entrepreneurship training. It surveys a few major areas of innovation that will change the future landscape of the high-tech industry, with notable guest lecturers describing business cases and providing an industrial perspective. The class also introduces practical entrepreneurship principles for business development. Students will learn important skills such as building teams and attracting talent, developing a product/technology roadmap, marketing and selling an idea, company structuring, managing rapid growth, venture fund raising, forming strategic partnerships, and developing and intellectual property strategy. Students will form multi-disciplinary teams to write real-world business plans. Each team will develop a business model and execution plan based on its members' interests.
- ELEC 5600Linear-System Theory[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 560BackgroundELEC 2100, MATH 2350 and MATH 2352DescriptionIntroduces modern system theory, with applications to control, signal processing and related topics. Basic system concepts, state-space and I/O representation, properties of linear systems, controllability, observability, minimality, transfer-function matrices, state and output feedback, stability, observers, optimal regulators.
- ELEC 5610Multivariable Control[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 561Prerequisite(s)ELEC 5600BackgroundELEC 3200DescriptionAnalysis and synthesis techniques for multi-input and multi-output control systems; stabilization theory; performance specification; system robustness; LQR problem; Kalman filtering; LQG problem; H-2 optimal control; H-infinity control.
- ELEC 5640Robot Manipulation[3-0-3:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 564DescriptionExtensive introduction to robot manipulation theory from a geometric viewpoint. Rigid-body kinematics; spatial and body representation of rigid-body velocities; coordinate transformations; forward kinematics of open-chain manipulators; solution of inverse kinematics; robot workspaces; nonlinear decoupling control and force control.
- ELEC 5650Introduction to Networked Sensing, Estimation and Control[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910E, ELEC 693EBackgroundELEC 2600 AND ELEC 3200DescriptionThe course gives an introduction to the analysis and design of sensing, estimation and control systems in a networked setting. It consists of three parts: the first part introduces necessary background knowledge in communication networks, sensor networks, linear state estimation, MAP and ML estimators, Kalman filtering, and modern control theory; the second part focuses on analysis of network effect to remote state estimation and control; the third part presents some advanced topics including distributed state estimation and resource allocation through scheduling.
- ELEC 5660Introduction to Aerial Robotics[3-0-3:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910PBackgroundLinear algebra; Probability; MATLAB programming skills; C++ programming skillsDescriptionThis course gives a comprehensive introduction to aerial robots. The goal of this course is to expose students to relevant mathematical foundations and algorithms, and train them to develop real-time software modules for aerial robotic systems. Topics to be covered include rigid-body dynamics, system modeling, control, trajectory planning, sensor fusion, and vision-based state estimation. Students will complete a series of projects which combine into an aerial robot that is capable of vision-based autonomous indoor navigation.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Recognize the history and development of aerial robotics.
- 2.Explain fundamentals in rigid body dynamics and aerial robot modeling.
- 3.Explain computer vision and state estimation techniques for aerial robots.
- 4.Implement trajectory planning and feedback control methods for aerial robots.
- 5.Implement real-time visual-inertial state estimators for aerial robots.
- 6.Analyze performance of algorithm implementations, and improve performance in an iterative manner.
- 7.Design and construct a complete autonomous aerial robot system under resource constraints.
- 8.Debug and fix real-time robotics system.
- ELEC 5810Introduction to Bioinformatics Algorithms[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 581, ELEC 692TExclusion(s)COMP 300GDescriptionThis is an introductory course on computational biology at the molecular level. It will cover basic biological knowledge, important biological questions, common data acquisition techniques, popular data analysis algorithms and their applications. The major content of this course is computation-oriented.
- ELEC 5820Fundamentals of BioMEMS and Biomedical Microdevices[3-0-0:3]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 6910D, ELEC 693BCo-list withBIEN 5820Exclusion(s)BIEN 5820DescriptionIntroduction to miniaturization & BioMEMS; Overview of microfabrication materials & techniques; microfluidic principles; miniaturized sensors & actuators for medicine and biology; micro total analysis system (µTAS) & lab-on-a-chip (LOC) for in-vitro diagnostics & drug discovery applications.
- ELEC 5900Modern Engineering Research Methodologies[2-0-0:1]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 590, ELEC692YExclusion(s)EESM 5770DescriptionThe course provides an overview of modern engineering research practices. It covers topics including research attitude, research process, finding research topics, literature search, report writing, presenting data, publications, research management, research ethics and developing a research career. Graded P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the scientific method for doing research.
- 2.Distinguish and categorize different types of research.
- 3.Evaluate the quality of research papers.
- 4.Develop a research proposal independently.
- 5.Write a critical review of a research paper.
- 6.Identify different components in a published paper.
- ELEC 6770Professional Development in Electronic and Computer Engineering[0-1-0:1]DescriptionThis one-credit course aims at providing research postgraduate students with basic training in teaching skills, research management, career development, and related professional skills. This course consists of a number of mini-workshops. Some department-specific workshops will be coordinated by Department of ECE. Graded PP, P or F.
- ELEC 6900Independent Study[1-3 credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 690DescriptionSelected topics in electronic and computer engineering studied under the supervision of a faculty member. Graded P or F.
- ELEC 6910-6940Special Topics[1-4 credit(s)]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 691-694DescriptionSelected topics of current interest. May be repeated for credit, if different topics are covered.
- ELEC 6950Departmental Seminar[1-0-0:0]Previous Course Code(s)ELEC 695DescriptionSeries of seminar topics presented by students, faculty and guest speakers. Graded P or F.
- ELEC 6990MPhil Thesis ResearchPrevious Course Code(s)ELEC 699DescriptionMaster's thesis research supervised by a faculty member. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.
- ELEC 7990Doctoral Thesis ResearchPrevious Course Code(s)ELEC 799DescriptionOriginal and independent doctoral thesis research. A successful defense of the thesis leads to the grade Pass. No course credit is assigned.