400-Level Courses


ECSE 404 Control Systems

Modelling of engineering systems. State variables. State and transfer function descriptions. Observability and controllability. Stability, Realizations. Performance limitations. Open-loop, feedforward, closed-loop configurations. Performance specifications. The Nyquist criterion; stability margins, unstructured uncertainty and robust stability. Classical design. Systems with delay. Pole placement, linear quadratic design. Observers, controllers based on separation.


ECSE 411 Communications Systems 1

Communication system models; AM and FM modulation, performance of AM and FM systems in noise; sampling, PCM and DPCM techniques; FDM and TDM multiplexing systems; baseband digital transmission over bandlimitted channels, digital modulation and dectection techniques; illustrative examples of subscriber loop telephone systems, cable TV systems and broadcasting systems.


ECSE 412 Discrete Time Signal Processing

Discrete-time signals and systems; Fourier and Z-transform analysis techniques, the discrete Fourier transform; elements of FIR and IIR filter design, filter structures; FFT techniques for high speed convolution; quantization effects.


ECSE 413 Communications Systems 2

Introduction to radio communications; satellite communication systems; the cellular concept; fading channel models, digital modulation techniques over fading channels, diversity systems, spread spectrum techniques; fixed assignment multiple access (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA), duplexing methods (FDD, TDD); illustrative examples of terrestrial mobile systems, fixed wireless systems, LEOs, etc.; overview of standardization activities.


ECSE 414 Intro. to Telecom. Networks

Introduction to the physical and software architecture of modern networks; transport configurations, multiplexing, the digital hierarchy; wired and wireless access systems; circuit and packet switching systems, signaling, addressing and routing; protocol stacks; local area networking; introduction to network engineering; examples drawn from ATM, ISDN, IP, Frame Relay, Ethernet.


ECSE 420 Parallel Computing

Overview of parallel computing architectures and topologies. Programming models for parallel computing: data flow, shared memory, message passing, systolic, and data parallel. Theory of parallel programming and analysis of fundamental algorithms on different architectures. Architecture dependent/independent parllel programming languages: Unity, Id, Linda, C*, C-Paris, CM-Fortran, and MPL.


ECSE 421 Embedded Systems

Definition, structure and properties of embedded systems. Real-time programming: interrupts, latency, context, re-entrancy, thread and process models. Microcontroller and DSP architectures, I/O systems, timing and event management. Real-time kernels and services. Techniques for development, debugging and verification. Techniques for limited resource environments. Networking for distributed systems.


ECSE 422 Fault Tolerant Computing

Introduction to fault-tolerent systems. Fault-tolerance techniques through hardware, software, information and time redundancy. Failure classification, failure semantics, failure masking. Exception handling: detection, recovery, masking and propagation, termination vs. resumption. Reliable stroage, reliable communication. Process groups, synchronous and asynchronous group membership and broadcast services. Automatic redundancy management. Case studies.


ECSE 423 Fundamentals of Photonics

Review of electromagnetic waves; propagation of light (free-space, optical fibers, and wavequides); dispersion; optical sources (fundamentals, LEDs, semiconductor lasers); optical detectors. Throughout the course, photonic systems applications will be addressed.


ECSE 424 Human-Computer Interaction

The course highlights human-computer interaction strategies from an engineering perspective. Topics include user interfaces, novel paradigms in human-computer interaction, affordances, ecological interface design, ubiquitous computing and computer-supported cooperative work. Attention will be paid to issues of safety, usability, and performance.


ECSE 425 Computer Organization and Architecture

Trends in technology. CISC vs. RISC architectures.Pipelining. Instruction level parallelism. Data and Control Hazards. Static prediction. Exceptions. Dependencies. Loop level paralleism. Dynamic scheduling, branch predicition. Branch target buffers. Superscalar and N-issue machines. VLIW. ILP techniques. Cache analysis and design. Interleaved and virtual memory. TLB translations and caches.


ECSE 426 Microprocessor Systems

Introduction to current microprocessors, their architecture, programming, interfacing and operating systems. The course includes lectures, use of crossassemblers, and simulators as well as laboratory experiments on actual microprocessor hardware.

(This course may be counted as a technical complementary or a lab complementary.) Limited Enrolment (50).


ECSE 427 Operating Systems

Operating system services, file system organization, disk and cpu scheduling, virtual memory management, concurrent processing and distributed systems, protection and security. Aspects of the DOS and UNIX operating systems and the C programming language. Programs that communicate between workstations across a network.


ECSE 428 Software Engineering Practice

Software engineering practice in industry, related to the design and commissioning of large software systems. Ethical, social, economic, safety and legal issues. Metrics, project management, costing, marketing, control, standards, CASE tools and bugs. The course involves a large team project.


ECSE 429 Software Validation

Correct and complete implementation of software requirements. Verification and validation lifecycle. Requirements analysis, model based analysis and design analysis. Unit and system testing, performance, risk management, software reuse. Ubiquitous computing.


ECSE 430 Photonic Devices and Systems

Modulation of optical signals; optical amplifiers; devices for optical signal processing (e.g. filters, routers, and cross-connect switches); link system engineering; concepts of WDM and TDM; issues in high-performance lightwave transmission systems.


ECSE 431 Introduction to VLSI CAD

The computer-aided design of digital circuits. Hardware description languages, automatic synthesis, design for testability, technology mapping, simulation, timing analysis, generation of test vectors and fault coverage analysis. CAE tools supporting this design methodology are presented in the laboratory. The course includes a design project based on the gate array technology. This course may be counted as a technical complementary or a lab complementary. (Limited enrolment - 30. Departmental permission required.)


ECSE 432 Physical Basis of Transistor Devices

Quantitative analysis of diodes and transistors. Semiconductor fundamentals, equilibrium and non-equilibrium carrier transport, and Fermi levels. PN junction diodes, the ideal diode, and diode switching. Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT), physics of the ideal BJT, the Ebers-Moll model. Field effect transistors, metal-oxide semiconductor structures, static and dynamic behaviour, small-signal models.


ECSE 435 Mixed-Signal Test Techniques

Purpose and economics of mixed-signal test. DC measurements. Accuracy and repeatability. DSP-based theory and its application to parametric testing of analog filters, DASs and ADC. Timing and PLL measurements. Design for Testability. Laboratory experiments will be performed using a Teradyne A567 mixed-signal production tester.


ECSE 451 EM Transmission and Radiation

Microwave transmission through waveguides: impedance matching, microwave devices, filters and resonators; microwave transmission through free space; near and far field behaviour of electromagnetic radiators, simple antennas, antenna arrays, practical antenna parameters; the physics of the radio communication channel: reflection, diffraction and scattering and their macroscopic impact (multipath, fading).


ECSE 460 Appareillage électrique (Electrical Power Equipment)

(Taught in French.)

Éléments d'un réseau de transport. Lignes: modélisation et paramètres. Transformateurs: circuits équivalents, pertes, enclenchement, protection. Disjoncteurs: fonctionnement et dimensionnement. Équipements de compensation: condensateurs, branchement serie et shunt, inductances. Coordination d'isolement.


ECSE 461 Electric Machinery

Electric and magnetic circuits. Notions of electromechanical energy conversion applied to electrical machines. Basic electrical machines - transformers, direct-current motors, synchronous motors and generators, three phase and single phase induction machines. Elements of modern electronically controlled electric drive systems.


ECSE 462 Electromechanical Energy Conversion

Lumped parameter concepts of electromechanics. Energy, co-energy in the derivation of torques and forces. Examples of electric machines: - dc, synchronous and induction types. Steady-state, transient and stability analysis. Power electronic controllers.


ECSE 464 Power Systems Analysis 1

Basic principles of planning and operating interconnected power systems with emphasis on Canadian conditions. Mathematical models for system. Steady-state analysis of power systems, load flow formulation and solution algorithms. Operating strategies, economic dispatch, voltage reactive power regulation, frequency and tie-line power control.


ECSE 465 Power Electronic Systems

Introduction to power electronics: definition, applications and classification of converters. Review of analytical techniques. Overview of power semiconductor switches. Line communicated rectifiers and inverters. Switch mode power converters and modulation techniques. Choppers, inverters and rectifiers. Resonant mode converters. Application to power systems and energy conversion.


ECSE 468 Electricité industrielle (Industrial Power Systems)

(Taught in French.)

Structure des réseaux électriques industriels. Niveau de tension. Installations électriques, codes et normes. Court-circuits, protection et coordination. Mise à la terre. Qualité de l'onde. Facteur de puissance, tarification et gestion de l'énergie électrique.


ECSE 483 Multidisciplinary Project 1

The first part of a 6-credit team project requiring collaboration with non-electrical/computer engineers.

Prerequistes: ECSE 206 and at least 42 Departmental credits from Electrical and Computer Eng. and Computer Science.

Restriction: Open only to later year students who can find a professor within the Department prepared to supervise a 2-semester, multidisciplinary project.


ECSE 484 Multidisciplinary Project 2

The second part of a 6-credit team project requiring collaboration with non-electrical/computer engineers.


ECSE 485 IC Fabrication Laboratory

Essential processes for silicon semiconductor device fabrication: etching, diffusion, photolithography. Fabrication of large area PN junctions, selective area PN junctions and MOSFETs. Design and fabrication of simple MOS circuits. Electrical characterization of devices and circuits. Limited Enrolment (8).


ECSE 486 Power Laboratory

Techniques of electric power, efficiency, torque, speed measurements. Starting, running and control of electric machines: dc, synchronous, induction types. Power electronic controllers. Each group of students has access to a compact experiment bench containing a set of micro-machines and all the necessary equipment. Limited Enrolment (14).


ECSE 487 Computer Architecture Laboratory

Basic software tools used in the design, synthesis and analysis of computer and communication systems such as data-paths, switching circuits, and arithmetic and logic circuits. Behavioral and structural modeling of hardware designs in the IEEE standard hardware description language VHDL. Synthesis and implemention of hardware designs using Programmable Logic Devices. Limited enrollment (50).


ECSE 488 High Frequency Laboratory

High frequency measurement techniques. Vector network analyzer and spectrum analyzer. Resistors, capacitors and inductors at high frequencies. High-level signal handling of a high-frequency bandpass amplifier. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) and spectrum coordination. Cavity resonators. Standing waves in waveguides. Reciprocity of microwave networks. Scattering parameters of a microstrip network. Limited Enrolment (20).


ECSE 489 Telecommunication Network Laboratory

Experiments involving the configuration and operation of telecommunication network technologies, and the modelling of telecommunication networks. Configuration of transport facility (SONET), bandwidth management with permanent virtual connections (ATM), implementation of a routing plan in a packet switched network (IP), configuration of end-to-end service (telephony over IP).


ECSE 490 Digital Signal Processing Laboratory

Experiments involving the digital processing of signals using computer-aided design tools for design, processing and visualization and real-time processing using DSP chips. Filter structures and design, multi-rate signal processing, filter banks, fast transforms, adaptive filtering, signal coding and quantization. Limited Enrolment (30). (Departmental approval required.)


ECSE 491 Communication Systems Laboratory

Experimental studies and simulation of analog and digital transmission techniques. Performance of AM and FM systems. FSK and PSK modulation techniques and spectra. Sampling of analog signals, PCM and TDM techniques. Limited Enrolment (30). Password card required.


ECSE 492 Optical Communications Laboratory

Hands-on experience of the physical layer of optical communications systems. Experiments involving optical fiber link characterization, laser measurements, beam divergence, coupling efficiency. Use of lasers, optical spectrum analyser, data generator, beam profiler, photodetectors, optical filters. Experiments are supported with simulation and analysis software.


ECSE 493 Control and Robotics Laboratory

Experimental studies for the design of control systems, with particular emphasis on motion control as applicable to robotics. Fundamentals of sensors and actuators. Linear compensator specification and design in the time and the frequency domain. Pole placement. Effect of model uncertainty on performance. Limited Enrolment (16). Password card required.


ECSE 494 Electrical Engineering Design Project

A laboratory design project undertaken with close supervision by a staff member. The project consists of defining an engineering problem and seeking the solution through experimental investigation. Results are reported in a seminar at the end of term and in a technical paper. Limited Enrolment (50).


ECSE 498 Honours Thesis 1

A research project undertaken with close supervision by a staff member. The work consists of defining and engineering problem, reviewing the associated literature, and seeking the solution through experimental investigation. A literature review and a written thesis proposal are required along with a seminar presentation at end of term.


ECSE 499 Honours Thesis 2

A research project undertaken with close supervision by a staff member. A continuation of 304-498. The work consists of carrying out the research plan developed in ECSE 498 along with a seminar presentation at end of term.