ECE Programs, Options and StreamsChi-ying Tsui

UG Student Affairs DirectorECE Dept., HKUST

Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SARwww.ece.ust.hk/~eetsui

June 24, 2013

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For the most accurate information regarding UG study at ECE, you should visit the departmental website:

http://www.ee.ust.hk/undergrad/undergrad.html

or consult the Academic Calendar:

http://publish.ust.hk/univ/cal1011/

This presentation is a summary along with some personal advice for ECE students to sail through the curriculum with less hassle, hopefully.

ECE Official Information

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Two programs:BENG in Electronic Engineering (ELEC)BENG in EE (Information and Communication Engineering, EEIC)

Two options:BENG in EE – Honor Research Option (ELEC-HR)BENG in EE – Entrepreneurship Option (ELEC-EP)

One joint program:BENG in Computer Engineering (CPEG)

Dual Degree program:Dual Degree in EE and Business Administration (EEGBM)

ECE Programs and Options

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Different streams:

Microelectronic Devices and Technology (μE)Integrated Circuit Design (IC)Photonics and OpticsSystem and Automation (Auto)Biomedical Electronics (BioE)Communication and Computer Networking (COMM)Signal and Information (Signal)Ecotronics

ELEC students do not need to follow any track to graduate, but identifying a track of study could make him/her an expert in the field.

ECE Streams

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Programs:ELEC is a general ECE program, and you may choose to specialize in certain streams.EEIC is a program specialized in communications and signal processing, designed to train engineers in developing technologies and systems that drive the information age.

Options:ELEC-HR: engage outstanding students on UG research ELEC-EP: for ELEC students that are more business-oriented

Streams:Streams (tracks) are major fields of study in ECE. Students could tailor their interests according to the streams that help them planning for career and/or further study.By taking a significant number of courses in a stream, the student should be equipped with expert knowledge in that stream.

Why Programs, Options and Streams?

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ELEC – Honor Research OptionParticulars:

• Recognize students with superb academic performance• Rigorous and advanced training in ECE• Join by invitation (2 consecutive semesters with CGA > A-)• More demanding math requirements• Need to focus in one of the streams:

• information and communication• signal processing and multimedia• microelectronics and integrated circuits• control and systems• biomedical engineering• optics and optical communications

• Guaranteed research internship and scholarship• UG research thesis (FYT)• Encourage exchange experience

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ELEC – Entrepreneurship Option

Particulars:

• Tailored for students that are more business-oriented• Train on genuine knowledge in marketing, project management, technical

sales, etc.• Join by application• Need to take ELEC 4710 (Engineering Business Development) and

ECON (Engineering Economics and Finance), plus 12 credits of GEE(SB&M)

• FYP related to entrepreneurship• Encourage exchange experience

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StreamsELEC

Microelectronic Devices & Technology

Integrated Circuit Design

Photonic & Optics System & Automation

Biomedical Electronics

Communication & Computer Networks

Signal & Information

Core courses ELEC1100 (1F): Introduction to Electro-Robot DesignELEC2200 (1F): Digital Circuits and SystemsELEC2400 (1S): Electronic Circuits IELEC2300 (1S): Computer Organization

ELEC1200 (1F): A System View of Communications: from Signals to PacketsELEC2100 (2F): Signals and SystemsELEC3300 (2S): Introduction to Embedded Systems

Essential courses(Should be taken as early as possible)

ELEC3400 (2F) Introduction to IC and SystemsELEC4510 (2F)Semiconductor Materials and DevicesELEC3500 (3F)Microelectronic Devices and TechnologyELEC4520 (2S/3S)IC Fabrication Technology

ELEC3400 (2F) Introduction to IC and SystemsELEC4410 (2F/3F)CMOS VLSI DesignELEC4420 (2S)Analogue Integrated Circuits Design and AnalysisELEC3500 (3F)Microelectronic Devices and Technology

ELEC4510 (2F) Semiconductor Materials and DevicesELEC3600 (2F) ElectromagnetismELEC4610 (2S/3S)Engineering OpticsELEC4620 (2S/3S)Photonics and Optical Communications

ELEC3100 (2S)Signal Processing and CommunicationELEC3200 (2S)System Modeling, Analysis and ControlELEC4210 (3F)Digital Control Systems

ELEC4130 (2S/3S)Digital Image ProcessingELEC4810 (2F/3F)Introduction to Biosensors and BioinstrumentationELEC4820 (2S/3S)Medical Imaging

ELEC2600 (2F)Probability and Random Processes in EngineeringELEC3100 (2S)Signal Processing and CommunicationELEC4110(3F)Digital CommunicationsELEC4120 (3F)Computer Communication Networks

ELEC2600 (2F)Probability and Random Processes in EngineeringELEC3110 (2S)Digital Signal ProcessingELEC4130 (2S/3S)Digital Image ProcessingELEC4140 (3F)Speech and Image Compression

Recommended courses

ELEC3600 (2F/3F)ElectromagnetismELEC4410 (2F/3F) CMOS VLSI DesignELEC4440 (2S/3S)ASIC Design with Field Programmable Gate Arrays

ELEC3600 (2F/3F)ElectromagnetismELEC4630 (3S)Microwave EngineeringELEC4440 (2S/3S)ASIC Design with Field Programmable Gate ArraysELEC4430 (2S/3S)Integrated Power ElectronicsELEC4310 (2S/3S)Embedded System Design

ELEC4410 (2F/3F)CMOS VLSI DesignELEC4440 (2S/3S)ASIC Design with Field Programmable Gate ArraysELEC4620 (2S/3S)Photonics and Optical Communications

ELEC3110 (2S)Digital Signal ProcessingELEC374 (3F)Introduction to RoboticsELEC300RRobotics Projects

ELEC3110 (2S/3S)Digital Signal ProcessingELEC3600 (2F/3F)ElectromagnetismELEC4610 (2S/3S)Engineering Optics

ELEC3110 (2S)Digital Signal ProcessingELEC4140 (3F)Speech and Image CompressionELEC4150 (3S)Information Theory and Error-Correcting CodesELEC4180 (3F)Wireless Communication Engineering

ELEC3100 (2S)Signal Processing and CommunicationELEC4110(3F)Digital CommunicationsELEC4150 (3S)Information Theory and Error-Correcting CodeELEC4160 (2S/3S)Introduction to Digital Speech RecognitionELEC4170 (3F)Digital Media and Multimedia Applications

Some streams that we do not have: electricity generation and transmission, electrical machines, for example.

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ELEC 2400Basic Elec

ELEC 2400Elec Circuits 1

ELEC 3400Elec Circuits 2

ELEC 4420Analog IC

ELEC 4710Eng Bus Dev

ELEC 4510Semi Mat Dev

ELEC 3500IC Dev

ELEC 4520IC Fab Tech

MATH 2351ODE

ELEC 3600EM

ELEC 4630μ-wave Eng

ELEC 4430Power Elec

ELEC 4620Op Fib Comm

ELEC 4810Biosensor

ELEC 2100Sig & Sys

ELEC 3100Comm Sys

ELEC 4110Digital Comm

ELEC 4130Dig Image P

ELEC 4140Sp Image Cmp

ELEC 4150Info Th & EEC

ELEC 4180W Comm Eng

ELEC 4170Multimedia App

ELEC 4210Dig Ctrl Sys

ELEC 3200Auto Cont Sys

COMP 1022Programming

ELEC 4120Comp Com Net

ELEC 4160Dig Sp Process

AL Math ELEC 2200Digital Circuits

ELEC 2300Comp Organ

ELEC 3300μ-Processor

ELEC 4410VLSI Design

ELEC 4310Embedded Sys

ELEC 4440ASIC & FPGA

ELEC 4610Eng Optics

ELEC 374Robotics

MATH 2111Linear Algebra

MATH 2011Multi-Var Cal

ECE Courses Dependence

MATH 2351ODE

AL Math

ELEC 2600Prob & Rnd Pr

ELEC 3110DSP

ELEC 4820Med Imaging

AL Phys ELEC 1100Robot Design

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Domain Knowledge:

Semiconductor materialsEnergy bands and charge carriersRecombination, diffusion, low level injectionDevices: pn junctions (diodes), bipolar transistors, FET transistorsIC fabrication techniques: oxidation, diffusion, ion implantation, deposition,

photolithography, etching, cleaningIC fabrication processes: bipolar processes, CMOS processesYield and reliabilityRelated areas: integrated circuits, ASIC using FPGA

μE Stream

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Domain Knowledge:

Microelectronic devicesDiodes and transistor modeling (circuit level)Digital logic, VLSI systems and architecturesAnalog IC circuits: amplifiers, comparators, referencesAnalog IC techniques: large and small signals, s- and t-domain

considerations, filtering, feedbackCircuits and systems: ASIC design using FPGA, embedded systemsAnalog IC fields: through FYP, one will engage in design of RFIC,

analog/mixed signal IC, power IC, etc.CAD techniques: design, simulation, layout, design-rule check (DRC),

layout-vs-schematics (LVS), post-simulationCAD tools: Spice, Cadence, VHDL

IC and embedded system Stream

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Domain Knowledge:

Electromagnetism – understanding electric and magnetic fields at frequencies spanning from DC, RF, microwave to light and beyond!

Optics – the science of light

geometrical optics, wave optics, propagation of light, interference, diffraction, polarization, etc.

Photonics – the technology using “photons”, and also “electrons”

optical fiber communications (the Internet!), liquid-crystal displays, light- emitting diodes (semiconductor/organic!) for displays and lighting, laser diodes for CD/DVD/Internet, solar cells, biophotonics (optics for biomedical diagnostics, laser surgery, etc.)

** Because many photonic devices are based on semiconductors, it is crucial to have a firm knowledge on semiconductor devices for photonics!

Photonics Stream

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Domain Knowledge:

Signals and systems: LTI (linear time invariant) systems, various continuous and discrete time transforms

Communication systems, noise, probability, stochastic processes, modulations

Digital communications: signal representation, optimal detection, matched filtering, band-limited channels, mobile and wireless channels

Wireless communications: path loss, shadowing, multi-path fading, cell planning, capacity improvement

Computer networks, network architecture, switching techniques, internet, network programming, layer architecture

CAD tools: Matlab

Communication Stream

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Domain Knowledge:

Signal formats: sound, image, video, speechMeasurement of signals and noise: DC, AC, power, signal-to-noise ratioSignal representations: time-domain and frequency-domainSignal transforms and implementation Fourier transform (continuous time and discrete time)Discrete cosine transform (for video signal transformation) Filtering techniques: time-domain and frequency-domain System response: time-domain and frequency-domainTransient and steady states responsesCompression techniques and error-control codesPerformance analytical tools: probabilities and random processesCAD techniques: design, simulationCAD tools: MATLAB, Mathematica

Signal & Information

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Domain Knowledge:

integration of engineering and the physical biomedical engineering medical imaging, heart pacemakers, Health sensing technologyartificial limbs, ultrasound, MRI and CAT scans neural engineering (the study of the human brain and cognitive devices for

sensing and making decisions in the brain.Bio-implants

BioMedical Electronics

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Domain Knowledge:

Electronics related to the environment and sustainable energy development

Renewable energy generation: photovoltaic materials and devices Solid state lighting: both GaN based and OLED based lighting systems Smart energy usage: power management and smart power for electronic devicesGreen building, green data center and green base-station

Ecotronics

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How to choose?Every stream of study will have its attractiveness and limitation.

As >98% of ECE students are fully employed (or gone for further study) after graduation, career considerations should not be a big issue in pursuing a particular stream.

Choose according to your own interest, such that you enjoy the subjects and be able to perform well.

Plan your study while aware of course dependency. Make sure you take pre-requisites on time and be able to take downstream courses.

Identifying your stream of study is closely related to choosing your FYP.

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ECE Department has set up several channels to help students in academic affairs:

ELEC 2910, 3910and FYP supervisors: Make sure all students have a mentor for each year of their study. Make use of these chances to ask questions and discuss academic and other issues (comment on courses, instructors, career planning, further study, university life, etc.)

Academic Advice

Yr -3 : Focus on your interested areas

Master & PhD in EE

MBA

Senior Manager

CTO/ CEO

Engineer

Senior Engineer

Professor

R&D Engineer

Start your own

company

Engineering as a professional degree in HKUSTCareer Path

Electronic Engineering

Yr -2 : Professional trainingYr -1 : Fundamental training

Exchange Program

Internship Program

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IC and Embedded System Stream in More Details

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Importance of Integrated Circuits (IC)

ICs (Integrated Circuits) are the tiny devices that drive our daily life.They found applications in

• Computers and workstations• Telecommunication and networking systems: transistor radios, mobile

phones, GPS, Octopus, ATM• Embedded systems: fuel injection control, anti-lock braking control of

automobiles• Entertainment gadgets: DVD players, GameBoy, Play Station, iPod• Medical electronics: pacemakers• Aerospace electronics: Space Shuttle• RFID (radio frequency identification systems): inventory control, security

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Economic Importance of ICs

The VLSI (IC) technology is an enabling technology:

• Basically all electronic products, especially portable devices, use ICs for their diversified functions, light weight and low production cost.

The VLSI (IC) technology is a strategic technology:

• It assumes a huge market value:Billions of processors sold every yearGlobal IC business: yearly revenue > USD 100B

• The IC industry is a high-valued added industry and is the key economic driving force in developed economies.

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Why to be an IC Design Engineer?

• IC design engineers are in high demand all over the world

• Many types of ICs have to be designed. Hundreds of thousands of IC designers will be needed in China

• Technology changes continually: 1G (analog) phones, 2G (digital) phones, 3G, B3G, GSM, CDMA, and WCDMA => jobs in abundant demand

• It takes years to train an IC design engineer

– different types of knowledge are needed

– need to know electronics, hardware, software, CAD tools

• Attractive salary compared to other types of engineers

• IC knowledge is a global knowledge: you can find jobs anywhere in the world

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Microelectronic devices

Diodes and transistor modeling (circuit level)

Digital logic, VLSI systems and architectures

Analog IC circuits: amplifiers, comparators, references

Analog IC techniques: large and small signals, s- and t-domain considerations, filtering, feedback

Circuits and systems: ASIC design using FPGA, embedded systems

Analog IC fields: through FYP, one will engage in design of RFIC, analog/mixed signal IC, ADCs and DACs, power IC, etc.

CAD techniques: design, simulation, layout, design-rule check (DRC), layout-vs-schematics (LVS), post-simulation

CAD tools: Spice, Cadence, VHDL

Domain Knowledge

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What is (Analog) IC Design?

Analog IC Design:Application Identification (RFIC, power management, etc.)System ConsiderationProcess Determination (0.18μm CMOS)Functional Blocks DesignHand AnalysisSchematic Simulation (Hspice) and DebuggingArtwork Layout (using Cadence, L-Edit)DRC (Design Rule Check)LVS (Layout vs Schematics)Post-Layout SimulationGenerate GDS (Graphic Data System) fileTape-out for FabricationPrototype Testing (bare die or mounted on PCB)Prototype Debugging

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Some IC Designed at HKUST

LNA

Mixer

Anti-Aliasing Filter

SO ΣΔ

Modulator

SO Lowpass Filter

SO Bandpass Filter

VCO

Charge PumpLoop Filter

Dividers

Pre-scalars

PFD Clo

ck

Gen

.

3.4 mm

1V 10mW 2.4GHz CMOS Bluetooth Receiver

PMOS

NMO S

BU

FFE R PID

ControllerER

R

Am

P

P W M V

C O

Cou

nter

Ti m e C on tr ol

Testin g C

ircui t

Buck Converter with Digital Controller

CMOS Imager with reconfigurable pixel level SRAM-counter and PWM-based ADC

Sub-1V Bandgap Reference Ultra-Low Voltage Power Management and Charge-Based Computation Methodology

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IC CoursesCore Courses:ELEC 202 Electronic Circuits IIELEC 301 CMOS VLSI DesignELEC 304 Analogue IC Design and Analysis

Supporting and Related Courses:ELEC 102 Electronic Circuits IELEC 151 Digital Circuits and SystemsELEC 152 Computer OrganizationELEC 221 Semiconductor Materials and DevicesELEC 254 Microprocessor ExperimentsELEC 302 Embedded System DesignELEC 303 ASIC Design with Field Programmable Gate ArraysELEC 321 Integrated Circuit DevicesELEC 322 Integrated Circuit Fabrication TechnologyELEC 344 Microwave EngineeringELEC 351 Introduction to Power Electronics

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IC Design Embedded Systems and Related JobsIC Design Engineer: Core engineer in an IC design house. Work out

transistor level design. MPhil graduates with good IC design experience preferred. Last one to be laid off.

Physical Design Engineer: Work out artwork/layout of schematics. In Hong Kong, BEng(ECE) graduates may be hired as entry level engineer to the IC industry. In the US, even economics graduates with a 2- month training could find employment.

Embedded System Engineer: Hardware and firmware development for different embedded system using embedded processor

Testing Engineer: In consultancy with IC design engineer, design testing procedure and write testing routine for wafer level testing.

Application Engineer: In cooperating with marketing managers, decide specifications of IC to be designed, and in consultancy with IC design engineer, work out demonstration kits for customers.

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Job OpportunitiesAppoTechASTRIChung Nam ElectronicsDragonchipFujitsu Microelectronics Pacific AsiaHinlogic Device CorporationMinilogicMotorola Semiconductor (Freescale)National Semiconductor Hong KongON SemiconductorPericom Semiconductor (HK)Pericom Technology Inc.Sintek SemiconductorSolomon MicrotechSolomon SystechSupertex Inc.Valence Semiconductor Design

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Photonics and μE Streamsin More Details

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Domain Knowledge:

Electromagnetism – understanding electric and magnetic fields at frequencies spanning from DC, RF, microwave to light and beyond!

Optics – the science of light

geometrical optics, wave optics, propagation of light, interference, diffraction, polarization, etc.

Photonics – the technology using “photons”, and also “electrons”

optical fiber communications (the Internet!), liquid-crystal displays, light- emitting diodes (semiconductor/organic!) for displays and lighting, laser diodes for CD/DVD/Internet, solar cells, biophotonics (optics for biomedical diagnostics, laser surgery, etc.)

** Because many photonic devices are based on semiconductors, it is crucial to have a firm knowledge on semiconductor devices for photonics!

Photonics Stream

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Photonics Courses

Core Courses:ELEC 221 Semiconductor Materials and DevicesELEC 241 Electromagnetism ELEC 308 Engineering OpticsELEC 300S Special Topics: Advanced PhotonicsELEC 342 Optoelectronics and Optical Fiber Communications

A few PG coursesELEC 522 Applications of nanotechnologies to photonicsELEC 525 Flat-Panel Displays

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μE Courses

Core Courses:ELEC221 Semiconductor Materials and DevicesELEC321 Integrated Circuit DevicesELEC322 IC Fabrication Technology

Supporting and Related Courses:ELEC202 Electronic Circuits II

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Job Opportunities

Solomon Systech LtdClover Display LtdChung NamIntech LCD Group LtdElec & Eltek Display Technology LtdHimax Technologies Inc., TaiwanSEMI, ShanghaiGuangdong Sinodisplay Technology Co. LtdTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.SMIC

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Systems and Automation Streamin More Details

What’s System and Automation?• Scientific American, 1952

– Entire issue devoted to Automatic Control– “Control of all things that are self-regulating or capable of self-regulation”– Main principle: feedback– “Control will liberate man from the routine tasks of mere survival”

A/DComputer

Controller

Actuators SensorsSystem

noise noiseexternal disturbances

Process

Output

D/A

Operator input

J. Watt: flyball governor (1788)

J. M. Gray: first automatic steam ship (Great Eastern) (1866)

Modern automatic control systems

Molecular and chemical processes

Information Systems

Mechanical and Aero Systems

Electrical and Electronic Systems

Robotics and Autonomy

Biological Systems

• DARPA, 2003-2007: Grand Challenge– Goal: implement systems capable of

exhibiting highly flexible or ``intelligent'' responses to changing circumstances

Robocon• Robocon

– Second runner-up and best design in Robocon 2007

– Champion and Second runner-up in Robocon 2008

Fiery Dragon - Champion of Robocon 2008 Hong Kong

Hermes - Second Runner-Up of Robocon 2008 Hong Kong

• Few essential courses besides the university and ECE required core courses– ELEC125: Introduction to Electro-Robotics Design– ELEC271: Automatic Control Systems– ELEC377: Digital Control Systems– ENGG395: Robocon

Essential Courses

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Communication Streamin More Details

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Domain Knowledge:

Computer Network – Internet technology, Wide-area network, Home-network

Cloud Computing – sharing resource over the network

Wireless technology – Mobile phone network, smart phone, ad-hoc network, Wireless LAN, Personal wireless network, wireless sensor network, body network

Optimization Algorithm – A lot of time, when we design a communication system, it is all about how to reduce the cost, optimize the resource usage and provide the maximum service to the user. Can formulate as an mathematical optimization problem.

Communication Stream

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Communication Related Jobs

Network Design Engineer: Designing network for big companies, and infra- structure, data center

System Engineer: Designing, operating and maintaining network infrastructure for individual company

Wireless System Engineer: Designing next generation wireless systems, developing individual components for the system modules

Testing Engineer: Testing and maintenance of the network

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Job OpportunitiesASTRIHuaweiZTEPCCWHutchisonSmartoneGovernmentNokiaSony-EricssonMotorolaChina MobileChina UnicomVodafonGoldman Sachs

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Domain Knowledge:

Multimedia related– Video compression, 3D video, enhanced audio, gesture control

Health and Medical– medical image, finger print recognition, face recognition, health signal processing

Speech related– Speech recognition, Natural Language understanding

Signal & Information Stream

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Signal & Information Related Jobs

Design Engineer: Designing different algorithms to process different types of applications.

Embedded System Engineer: Designing embedded system (e.g. phone, game controller) for multimedia and signal processing applications

Web application Engineer: Signal processing applications on the web and across Internet platform

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Job OpportunitiesASTRIPerception DigitalMicrosoftHuaweiAppleNokiaAdobeSony-EricssonMotorolaSony entertainment

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Domain Knowledge:

Medical Image – image processing, recognition, health signal detection, processing,

AI in Medical - disease diagnostic and inference, cancer detection

Medical Implant – Electrical stimulator, pacemaker, artificial sensor, prosthesis

Artificial Limb, joint

Neural-engineering – brain machine interface, control

BioMedical Electronics Stream

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BioMedical Electronics Related Jobs

Design/Algorithm/Image processing Engineer: Designing different algorithms to implement different medical imaging applications.

Hardware and System Engineer: Designing components, e.g. implants and also large medical electronic system (e.g. MRI CAT scan)

System and Software Engineer: Tele-medicine systems, Remote health monitoring

Clinical Engineer: Help in daily clinical activities

Rehab Engineer: design artificial body parts for patients, tissue engineering that work on replacing/repairing body tissue like spinal cords or skin

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Job OpportunitiesMINDRAYASTRIPHILIPSGeneral ElectricsOlympusHitachi

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Domain Knowledge:

LED lighting – LED device, driver design, lighting system design

Sustainable Energy – Efficient battery system, solar power system, photovoltaic cells, electronics for wind and other energy harvesting devices

Smart Grid – Integration of different energy sources, power converters – AC- DC, DC-DC, DC-AC converters

Green building/data center/base-station – energy efficient system design

Electric car/transportation

Ecotronics Stream

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Ecotronics Related Jobs

Semi-conductor/device Engineer : Designing new devices and new processes for energy efficient lighting, new energy source.

Hardware and System Engineer: Designing components, and large electronic system for sustainable energy

System and Software Engineer: smart algorithms for integration of different energy sources, increasing the energy efficiency of the applictions

Battery Engineer: Battery system design for electrical vehicle

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Job OpportunitiesDOWSGeneral ElectricBYDSolomon Systech LtdGold PeakADITI….