Master of Engineering (MEng)

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Industrial Experience

*This course is now closed for applications for 2025 entry.

  • Duration: 5 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: H601 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Industrial experience
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course unit details:
Signals and Systems

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN20131
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit will cover the following:

Induction and overview (2 lectures): Introduction to the course, motivation for why we need to study signals and systems. Demonstration of Matlab and Simulink as computer software tools for analysing signals and systems.

Mathematical fundamentals (2 lectures): Revision of complex numbers, ordinary differntial equations and other mathematics required for studying signals and systems.

Concepts (4 lectures): Definitions of systems, signals and mathematical models of them. Focus on continuous-time and discrete-time signals and linear time-invariant systems.

Convolution (4 lectures): The system impulse response and is use to represent a system. Description of an input signal as a continuum of impulses. Showing how these can be combined to give the convolution operation which calculates the system output. Convolution for both discrete-time and sontinuous-time signals and systems.

Fourier series and transforms (4 lectures): Concept of basis functions. Fourier series representation of signals. Fourier transform representation of signals in the frequency domain. Fourier transform properties.

Laplace transforms (3 lectures): Laplace transform for representing signals and systems. Similarities and differences between the Fourier transform and the Laplace transform.

Transfer functions of continuous-time systems (2 lectures): Transfer functions in both Laplace and Fourier domains. System frequency response and Bode diagram from the Fourier transfer function. Physical realizability, stability, and poles/zeros from the transfer function.

Transfer functions of discrete-time systems (2 lectures): The Laplace transform of discrete impulses sequences leading to the z transform. Properties of the z transform. Transfer functions for discrete-time systems working in z domain.

Tutorials (1 lecture): Feedback and working of the lab work. Additional tutorial questions are embedded in the lecture notes.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Circuit Analysis EEEN10121 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Mathematics 1E1 for EEE MATH19681 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Mathematics 1E2 MATH19682 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
C Programming EEEN10242 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in the current academic year and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates. The course unit aims to: Introduce the mathematical tools for analysing signals and systems in the time and frequency domains, and provide a basis for applying these techniques in control and communications engineering.

Learning outcomes

ILO1: Analyse and develop simple mathematical models for representing signals and systems.

ILO2: Convert time domain models into frequency, Laplace and Z domain models of signals and linear time-invariant systems (continues and discrete) and vice versa.

ILO3: Analyse and calculate system impulse responses and system responses for given inputs of linear time-invariant systems using convolution (time domain), system transfer function (frequency, Laplace and Z domains)

ILO4: Define and explain the signal and system properties and relationship between continuous-time and discrete-time signals and systems

ILO5: Apply basic Matlab and Simulink tools for analysis and simulation of continuous and discrete-time systems.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 20%
Written exam 80%

Coursework:

Two laboratory sessions, working on computer based simulations in Matlab and Simulink. Each forms 5% of the unit assessment. Laboratory duration: 6 hours in total (3 per session.)

Coursework carried out in own time, working on computer based simulations in Matlab and Simulink. Forms 10% of the unit assessment.

Feedback methods

.

Recommended reading

Signals and systems using MATLAB: Chaparro, Luis F., Academic Press an imprint of Elsevier, 2019.

MATLAB and Simulink crash course for engineers: Hossain, Eklas., Springer, 2022. ISBN: 9783030897628

Beginning MATLAB and Simulink : From Novice to Professional: Eshkabilov, Sulaymon, APress, 2019. ISBN: 9781484250617

Beginning MATLAB and Simulink : from beginner to pro: Eshkabilov, Sulaymon, Apress, 2022. ISBN: 9781484287484

Mastering Simulink: Dabney, James., Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. ISBN: 0131424777

Signals & systems: Oppenheim, Alan V., Prentice-Hall of India, 2004. ISBN: 8120312465

Signals & systems: Oppenheim, Alan V., Prentice-Hall International, 1997. ISBN: 0136511759

Signals, systems & inference: Oppenheim, Alan V., Pearson Education Limited, 2017. ISBN: 9781292156200

Signals and systems: Haykin, S. S. (Simon Saher), Wiley, 2003. ISBN: 0471164747

Analog signals and systems: Kudeki, Erhan, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. ISBN: 9780131293267

Fundamentals of signals and systems : a building block approach: Cha, Philip D., Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780521849661

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 23
Practical classes & workshops 6
Tutorials 1
Independent study hours
Independent study 70

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Joaquin Carrasco Gomez Unit coordinator

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