Departmental Computer Facilities. A network of SUN
workstations running UNIX is available in the undergraduate
instructional labs. More specialized instructional labs associated with
the courses in digital signal processing, electromagnetic fields and
radiation, microwaves, and microelectronics are provided with a large
number of PC-Pentium computers and laser printers. The department has
high speed networking capability. In addition, terminals provide access
to the School of Engineering Sun Ultra 10 computer systems hosting
state-of-the-art CAD/CAM software packages. Sophisticated engineering
packages are available such as Mentor Graphics, Cadence, EESOF, SPICE,
Matlab, Maple V, SPW, and a variety of graphics packages.
Communication Systems Laboratory. This
laboratory contains equipment for the study of analog, pulse, and
digital modulation methods. Facilities include multimeters, wideband
signal generators, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers. Experiments
involve a range of topics requiring communication circuit and system
design, using breadboarded components through the sophisticated
subsystem module interconnection. In addition, computer simulation
methods are used to verify system performance. A graphics-based
communication systems simulator software package is available.
System performance is investigated for amplitude, phase, and frequency
modulation techniques, including pulse position, width, and amplitude
data transmission schemes, binary and M-ary digital modulation and
receiver structures, and spectral occupancy versus power constraints.
Computer Architecture Laboratory. This
laboratory consists of experimental stations that provide students with
opportunities to gain experience with the internal workings of a
microcomputer, learn assembly programming for a standard commercial
microprocessor, and learn how to interface input/output memory, serial
I/O, and parallel I/O chips to a standard microprocessor.
Digital Logic Design Laboratory. This
laboratory provides practical experience with the design and hardware
implementation of digital circuits for sophomore students. The
laboratory is based on a CAD tool from Viewlogic to simulate and debug
a circuit that is then implemented in hardware using SSI and MSI ICs.
The experiments cover all the relevant topics about combinational and
sequential logic with circuits of increasing complexity.
Digital Signal Processing Laboratory. This
laboratory is available for undergraduate instruction and special
projects. Microprocessor-based workstations provide flexibility in the
design and analysis of various real-time digital filtering operations.
Experiments in speech and audio signal processing demonstrate digital
methods used in processing analog signals. Other facilities include a
digital image- processing laboratory and a variety of special-purpose
signal processors.
Electronics Laboratory. This
laboratory contains equipment for the study of solid-state devices and
circuits. Experiments involve studies of biasing and low-frequency
operations of discrete solid-state devices, frequency response, and the
effect of feedback on single- and multistage BJT and MOSFET amplifiers.
Further studies include OP-AMP parameters, frequency response, and
OP-AMP linear and nonlinear circuits and systems. The laboratory is
well-equipped for a range of student projects in electronic circuit
designs.
Microelectronics Research Laboratory (MERL). MERL
provides students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the
integrated circuit fabrication and semiconductor device processing
techniques in a modern, clean-room environment. Students become
familiar with the photolithography, oxidation and diffusion processes,
ion implantation, metallization, plasma etching, silicon
micromachining, interconnects, and fabrication of different devices. In
addition, a well-equipped simulation laboratory is used for the
modeling of circuits, devices, and processes related to the
experimental and theoretical aspects of semiconductor technology.
Solid-State Electronics Laboratory. In
addition to the facilities provided by the microelectronics research
laboratory (MERL), facilities exist for the study of microwave devices,
high-current switching devices, electro-optical modulation,
heterojunction lasers, and electrical characterization of materials, as
well as their use in communications, different solar cells, and related
devices.
Virtual Reality Laboratory. This
laboratory provides facilities for students to gain hands-on experience
with several Virtual Reality (VR) specific interfaces, such as stereo
glasses, 3-D trackers, force feedback joysticks, and sensing gloves. It
also has facilities to train students in the intricacies of 3-D
graphics and real-time simulation programming.
VLSI Design
Laboratory. This laboratory consists of Sun and HP engineering
workstations, a color plotter, automatic test equipment for VLSI chip
testing, and a laser printer. Students are able to design integrated
circuits and in some cases may be able to have them fabricated and
tested. The laboratory has the Generator Development Tool industrial
chip design software that supports silicon compilation mixed-level
circuit simulation (including SPICE), automatic chip layout generation
from circuit schematics, and the VHDL hardware description language.
In addition to the above-mentioned laboratories, students interested in
special projects in computer engineering may take advantage of the many
well-equipped faculty-supervised research laboratories, available in
such specialties as robotics, computer graphics, computer database
design, speech processing, image processing, machine vision, and
software engineering.
Wireless Information Network Laboratory (WINLAB).
WINLAB is an industry-university collaborative research center that
provides facilities for undergraduate and graduate research in the area
of wireless communications and networking. Experimental resources at
WINLAB include an RF/Modem Lab, Mobile Networking Lab, and Wireless
System-on-chip lab, covering a range of hardware and software
design/prototyping. Current lab equipment includes radio propagation
measurement tools, a DSP/FPGA software radio setup, and an
open-architecture adhoc wireless network testbed. The center supports
undergraduate research on topics such as radio propagation studies,
modern signal processing, wireless local area networks, and mobile
computing applications.
