The University of Southampton
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Electronics and Computer Science

OPTO6012 Project

Module Overview

The topics of research projects will cover different concepts in photonic materials and in design, fabrication and testing of device-oriented applications in photonic technology.

Each student will work under a supervision of a senior research/academic staff member. A project will start with a meeting between a student and a supervisor, where technical goals, a workplan and the schedule of work will be agreed. This plan will be written up by a student, checked by his/her supervisor and then submitted for approval to the Project Course coordinator.

Weekly meetings will then take place throughout the project duration with a supervisor or, if a supervisor is unavailable, a delegated deputy. The Project coordinator will need to be notified about such arrangements and know the names of those temporary deputies. Following the research part of the project, a report will be written up by a student that will cover both the results achieved as well as covering in-depth their relevant physics and engineering background.

The students should aim to complete all research and data analysis by the end of August to allow sufficient time for writing up reports. The deadline for submitting the reports is the end of September. In case of late submission, the standard, University approved penalties will apply, except for well justified cases. Any such extensions have to be requested in advance and in writing to the Project Module coordinators.

A part of the project is the “industrial showcase” which involves interaction with the relevant industry (photonic technologies) giving a flavour of the business aspect of the technology to the students. The students learn how to conduct a SWOT analysis to evaluate the performance of a business and are asked to write a short essay. The industrial showcase takes place during the Easter holiday and includes a full week of interacting with local industry. The assignment should be completed within 15 days after showcase week.

The aims of this module are:

develop advanced practical skills and enhance in-depth understanding of relevant background knowledge and in a chosen specialist subject embed the correct approach and methodology for independent work carried out in a research-led environment, and in particular within the cleanrooms and optical labs of the ORC  Train in technical and hands-on research skills to gain technical insight into concepts covered during taught courses to prepare for a career in research and development. Finally, introduces the students to the business aspect of research.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • A1 Important scientific and technological principles relevant to a chosen topic of a project
  • A2 use and applications of specialist tools, equipment and techniques used to design, fabricate, test or characterise the materials or devices developed in a project.
  • A3. The basic principles of operation of the components used, both in terms of the scientific as well as the technical background
  • A4 Current state of the art, including the research advances as well as in device or fabrication capabilities, relevant to a scope of a project.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • B1 have confidence and practice in gaining new knowledge and understanding through critical reading of research resources such as scientific papers or books
  • B2 discuss their results, review methods used, draw conclusions and plan future work
  • B3 apply the newly acquired knowledge to solving specialist design or characterisation problems
  • B4 Demonstrate the ability to assess and discuss the research part of the project to evaluate the viability of potential new devices and therefore learning to encompass the principle of concept to device.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • D1 Experienced in a range of practical and experimental lab-based skills
  • D2 Present specialist technical information in written and verbal forms
  • D3 Able to work independently on a significant research project
  • D4 Able to defend the results and the report in front of senior scientists who will explore both the fundamental and practical understanding as well as abilities.

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • C1 Operate and control specialist tools and processes with the cleanroom environment
  • C2 Fabricate photonic devices with due care paid to health and safety and current operating procedures relevant to a cleanroom environment
  • C3 Write a project dissertation that will provide a coherent, logical and accurate description of the work carried out and capturing the most important achievements of the project.

Syllabus

The topic or topics covered will be agreed by negotiation between a student and a supervisor who is allocated to support each project.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Project supervision20
Demonstration or Examples SessionIntroduction to the Project, and lab induction10

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Dissertation (final)-55%
Report (mid term)-18%
Presentation-18%
Assignment-9%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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OPTO6007 An Introduction to Silicon Photonics

Module Overview

The aim of the course is to provide introductory knowledge and basic understanding of the field of Silicon Photonics. The course will present an introduction to guided waves, optical modes, and propagation characteristics of photonic circuits, using Silicon Technology by way of example. 

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Gain knowledge on guided waves
  • Understand the motivations for silicon photonics including the technology drivers, and examples of implementation of Silicon photonic circuits
  • Understand characterisation techniques that can be applied to silicon photonic materials
  • Understand the operation of building blocks of an optical circuit at a preliminary level, including waveguides and key photonic devices such as couplers, bends, interferometers, ring resonators, modulators, integrated light sources and detectors.
  • Understand the issues surrounding integration of photonic devices as well as electronic‐photonic integration
  • Learn about fabrication of Silicon Photonic devices, and associated fabrication techniques.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Follow, understand and appreciate current research in Silicon Photonics.
  • Undertake advanced study in the field of Silicon Photonics

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Efficiently solve scientific problems.
  • Think analytically.
  • Study effectively.

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Understand the significant differences between short reach and long haul optical communications.
  • Design Silicon Photonics devices and circuits, and identify the appropriate fabrication and characterisation techniques.

Syllabus

  • What is Silicon Photonics? Why is it required? What are the key technological metrics? Applications

  • Fundamentals of guided waves.

  • Modes of planar waveguides, propagation constants, effective index, mode profiles.

  • Modes of 2‐dimensional waveguides, basic waveguides structures, complex refractive index.

  • Coupling to waveguides: grating couplers; butt coupling, mode transformers, inverted tapers.

  • Waveguides loss mechanisms: absorption, scattering, the plasma dispersion effect and the effect of free carriers, the thermo‐optic effect.

  • Device preparation and characterisation: facets, anti‐reflection coatings, waveguide loss measurements. The cut‐back method, the Fabry‐Perot method, scattered light measurement.

  • Waveguide based devices: the Mach Zehnder interferometer, the ring resonator, waveguide‐waveguide couplers, waveguide bends, modulators, variable optical attenuators, multiplexers.

  • Polarisation issues: polarisation independence, polarisation dependent loss, polarisation diversity schemes.

  • Integration issues: advantages and disadvantages of integration, photonic device integration, photonic‐electronic integration, power and power density issues on‐chip.

  • Advanced waveguides structures; Photonic crystals, slot waveguides, mid infrared waveguides.

  • A fabrication example of a Mach‐Zehnder interferometer: process flow for fabrication, photolithography, etching, doping, deposition. 

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureLectures and classroom discussion28
TutorialProblems workshops6
Specialist LabLaboratory observations2

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Two work sheets-25%
Exam2 hours75%

Referral Method: By examination, with the original coursework mark being carried forward

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OPTO6011 Optical Fibre Sensors

Module Overview

Optical fibre sensor technology is playing an increasing role in modern-day life with a range of applications emerging in areas spanning civil engineering, defence and the life sciences. This module focuses on a key area of ORC expertise that has developed in parallel with the other application specific areas of optical communications and fibre laser technologies. 

This module is compulsory for students on the MSc Optical Fibre Technologies. The module builds on the base-concepts of optical fibre technologies (OPTO6008 and OPTO6009) taught in Semester 1, and will teach the key concepts of distributed and point sensing systems. A substantial part of the module will focus on existing and emerging applications, and on the markets of optical fibre sensor technology. The skills and knowledge acquired during this module will be essential for students wishing to take a final project focusing specifically on optical fibre sensor technologies in Semester 3. 

The aim of the course is to provide in-depth description of the two main strands of optical fibre sensor technology together with their key application areas to provide students with a solid foundation and understanding of the field. Following an introduction and overview of the field of optical sensors, and the main sensing principles and parameters of interest, the key operating principles, and key properties of point and distributed sensing technologies will be taught. Being a strongly application focused field of optical fibre technology, several examples of applications will be presented, with specific reference to real-world examples, to give students a better overview and understanding of where optical fibre sensors currently are being used, and where the technology potentially could find application in the future. 

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Appreciate the physics behind, and key properties of, optical fibre sensors.
  • Appreciate various types of optical fibre sensors and their individual properties.
  • Have basic knowledge about components used in sensing systems.
  • Appreciate methods of characterisation of optical fibre sensors and optical fibre sensor based systems

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Understand how specific fibre parameters are applicable to optical sensing.
  • Be able to assess the suitability of different types of optical fibre sensors for particular applications.
  • Predict the operational properties and understand the limitations of optical fibre sensors based on the knowledge of their design parameters and materials used to form them.
  • Understand the core concepts of optical fibre sensing applied to a specific field, and understand which parameters should be measured to fully analyse the nature of the object being tested.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use a variety of information sources (lectures, web, journals) to understand & solve problems (in this case for optical fibre sensors).
  • Use feedback from problem classes to prepare for answering examination questions.

Syllabus

  • Governing standards for sensing systems.
  • Optical sensing principles (temperature, strain, stress, pressure, refractive index, etc.).
  • Fibre types and materials for optical fibre sensing (silica based, polymer based, etc.).
  • Point sensors (Fibre Bragg gratings, long period gratings, and microfibres/nanowires).
  • Design, fabrication and characterisation of point sensors.
  • Distributed sensors (Brillouin scattering based, Raman scattering based, Rayleigh scattering based).
  • Design, fabrication and characterisation of distributed sensors.
  • Fibre gyroscopes.
  • Fibre based gas and chemical sensors.
  • Optical fibre sensors for extreme and harsh environments (high temperature and strain, shock, high radiation).
  • Principles and application of optical fibre sensors in medicine and life sciences. Principles and application of optical sensors in oil and gas exploration.
  • Principles and application of optical sensors in civil engineering, e.g. structural monitoring and aircraft navigation.
  • Emerging markets and economic outlook. 

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Teaching methods include

The course consists of 2 lectures per week plus a bi-weekly workshop/surgery. Printed lecture notes and self-study packs will be provided for parts of the course.

Learning activities include

Attending lectures, problems classes, laboratory demonstrations, and exam preparation. 

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture26
Tutorial10

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Assignments and problem sheets, Fortnightly, and typically 2 pages-20%
Exam2.5 hours hours80%

Referral Method: By examination

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OPTO6008 Optical Fibre Technology I

Module Overview

Knowledge of basic principles of fibre optics will make up a significant part of the necessary skill base for students on the Optical Fibre Technologies MSc. In-depth knowledge of optical fibres as the light guiding medium is vital for understanding most other areas of optical fibre technology (telecommunications, sensors), and as support for the final project work. This module will describe four core areas – the key concepts of light propagation in optical fibre waveguides, various types of optical fibres and how they work, the key concepts of optical fibre fabrication and characterisation, together with the most common fibre components, thus making a foundational introduction for the rest of the modules in the MSc programme. 

This module is introductory, and its material is intended to introduce the field of fibre optics to relative newcomers. The skills and knowledge acquired during this course will form the foundation for much of the material taught in the Semester 2 courses, and for the final projects in Semester 3 of the MSc programme.

The aim of the module is to provide an introduction to passive optical fibre technology. Fundamentals of propagation of light through optical fibres would be introduced first. The operating principles and key properties of a variety of optical fibres will be covered followed by technologies relating to fibre fabrication and fibre characterisation. Finally, fibre components and their conceptual operation will be introduced and two key application areas of optical fibre technology – telecommunications and optical sensors - will be briefly introduced. 

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Appreciate the physics of propagation of light in optical fibres.
  • Appreciate various types of optical fibres and their key properties.
  • Appreciate basic operational principles and parameters of components made from optical fibres and fibre components used in optical fibre based systems.
  • Appreciate a range of methods of fabrication and characterisation of optical fibres and optical fibre-based components.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Understand how key fibre parameters influence the fibre waveguiding properties.
  • Be able to assess the suitability of different optical fibres for particular applications.
  • Make quantitative calculations of the properties of optical fibres based on the knowledge of their parameters and materials used.
  • Understand the concept of guided modes in dielectric fibres.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use a variety of information sources (lectures, web, journals) to understand & solve problems (in this case for optical fibre technologies)
  • Use feedback from problem classes to prepare for answering examination questions

Syllabus

Part 1: Light propagation through optical fibres

Overview of optical fibre technologies.
Maxwell’s equations, the wave equation, and dispersion relations applied to fibre geometries.
Optical fields in solid-core optical fibres (guided modes, single and multi-mode guidance). Signal guiding in ‘holey’ fibres.

Part 2: Fibre types

Silica fibre basics (germanosilicate, phosphosilicate and aluminosilicate) – single-mode and multimode.
Specialty silica fibres (polarisation-maintaining, highly-nonlinear, polarising, ...). Non-silica fibre basics (soft-glasses (tellurite, chalcogenide, fluoride), bismuth-oxide, polymers, etc.).

Photonic bandgap fibres (solid core, hollow-core).

Part 3: Fibre fabrication and characterisation

Fabrication technology of silica-based fibres.
Fabrication technology of non-silica-based fibres.
Methods for characterising fibres.
Fibre reliability (governing standards, standards for testing, maximum power handling capability, fibre fuse, etc.).

Characterisation of fibre glass material.

Part 4: Fibre components and Introduction to applications

Fibre components (couplers, isolators, circulators, thin film filters, Bragg gratings, long- period gratings, poled fibres, etc.).
Introduction to optical fibre telecommunications.
Introduction to optical fibre sensors. 

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Teaching methods include

The course consists of 2 lectures per week plus a bi-weekly workshop/surgery. Printed lecture notes and self-study packs will be provided for parts of the course.

Learning activities include

Attending lectures, problems classes, and exam preparation 

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture26
Tutorial10

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Fortnightly, and typically 2 pages-20%
-%
Exam2.5 hours hours80%

Referral Method: By examination

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OPTO6010 Advanced Fibre Telecommunication

Module Overview

Communications is arguably the most widespread application of fibre optics, and naturally forms an essential part of an MSc Programme specialising on fibre technologies. This module will cover topics ranging from the more general (aimed at students with a background that is different to engineering) to more specialised issues relating to modern communication systems. The module starts with an introduction to the history of optical communications and the evolution of optical communication systems. It covers aspects of optical networking, and looks in detail in the modulation and multiplexing techniques used in modern systems. Key optical components for communications are presented and their main characteristics are analysed, allowing the students to appreciate what features can make a difference in the performance. An introduction to wave propagation in optical fibres is presented next, with emphasis on the effects of fibre characteristics on fast data signals. The final part of the main body of the module covers topics that are relevant either to modern communication systems or that emerge from recent research in the field. It includes optical nonlinearities and their implications both in transmission and signal processing, as well as electronic signal processing and its ever-increasing role in optical communications.

Furthermore, the module includes provision for four lectures on passive optical networks to be given by an invited lecturer. These lectures cover specialised networking topics of interest to next generation low-cost telecommunication system technologies. 

This module builds directly on the fundamental fibre technology modules (OPTO6008 and OPTO6009) taught in Semester 1, and together the three modules provides in-depth knowledge of the core concepts of advanced telecommunication systems and the state-of-the-art of telecommunication systems technologies.
This module series could also be of interest to students studying towards an MSc in Wireless Communications.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Understand the evolution of optical communication systems to their current form.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution

Referral Method: By examination

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OPTO6009 Optical Fibre Technology II

Module Overview

Active optical fibres, including lasers and amplifiers, form a central part of optical fibre technologies today. This module will cover this important area of optical fibre technology covering the fundamental aspects of active fibre technologies including optical fibre amplifiers and the basics of fibre lasers. 

This module will give a clear understanding of the operating principles of fibre lasers and amplifiers both in the linear and nonlinear regimes. It will make use of the initial description of passive fibres given in OPTO6008, and combine this with understanding of the basic properties of laser materials to give a firm grounding in active and nonlinear fibre optics. The skills and knowledge acquired during this course will form the foundation for much of the material taught in the Semester 2 courses, and for the final projects in Semester 3 of the MSc programme. 

The aim of this module is to introduce the principles of operation and design of fibre amplifiers and the most common types of fibre lasers. Students will learn the basics of the interaction of light (photons) with matter in the context of absorption and the generation of light via spontaneous and stimulated emission. They will also learn the key concepts of how these transitions relate to the operation of optical fibre lasers and amplifiers. The nonlinear interactions induced by propagating optical beams in an optical fibre will be outlined together with an introduction to the relevant background theory. A detailed overview on various types of linear and nonlinear amplifiers, including their transient dynamics, will also be taught. 

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Understand the fundamentals of optical fibre lasers and amplifiers.
  • Comprehend the spectroscopic properties of rare earth ions in a variety of host materials defining the choice of pump wavelengths and gain bandwidths.
  • Understand the transient dynamics of fibre lasers and the generation of short optical pulses.
  • Comprehend the nonlinear effects in optical fibres and their applications in variety of fields including optical communications.
  • Perform quantitative calculations on the properties of fibre lasers and amplifiers (e.g. threshold power, gain, noise figure and a range of output parameters related with their performance).

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Conceptualise the phenomenon of optical gain and how to tailor and control it in optical fibres.
  • Be able to assess the suitability of different types of optical fibre amplifiers for particular wavelength regions and applications.
  • Predict specific properties of optical fibre amplifiers, and continuous wave (CW) and pulsed fibre lasers based on the knowledge of their design parameters and the materials and components used to form them.
  • Understand the concepts of linear and non-linear optical amplification in optical fibres.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Use a variety of information sources (lectures, web, journals) to understand & solve problems relevant to both CW and pulsed fibre lasers and amplifiers.
  • Use feedback from problem classes to prepare for answering examination questions.

Syllabus

  • Transition cross sections.

    •  Blackbody radiation.

    •  Absorption, spontaneous emission and stimulated emission.

  •  Rare-earth spectroscopy.

    •  4f-4f transition of lanthanides.

    •  Absorption and emission cross sections of rare-earth ions.

      Host dependent transition cross sections.

    •  Linewidth broadening and transition lineshapes.

  •  Rate equations for optical amplification.

    •  Energy levels of rare-earth ions.

    •  Three-level system.

    •  Four-level system.

  •  Optical fibre lasers and amplifiers.

    •  Transient dynamics.

    •  CW lasers.

    •  Pulsed lasers.

  •  Nonlinear interactions in fibres.

    •  Self-phase modulation.

    •  Modulation instability.

    •  Stimulated Raman scattering.

    •  Stimulated Brillouin scattering.

  •  Nonlinear amplifiers.

    • Raman amplifier.
    • Brillouin amplifier
    • Introduction to Parametric amplifiers. 

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Teaching methods include

Lectures, tutorials and laboratory visits.

Learning activities include

Lectures, coursework assignments, laboratory visits, and exam preparation 

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture36

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Assignments and problem sheets-20%
Exam2.5 hours hours80%

Referral Method: By examination

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Aims & Objectives

Aims

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution

Referral Method:

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ELEC6215 Integrated RF Transceiver Design

Module Overview

 Aims:

Cellular telephone and local wireless data communications applications have fuelled an explosive demand for highly integrated radio transceiver functions.  The architectures used and the design techniques used depart significantly from the classical matched impedance building block approach, and the whole radio system as well as the target technology must be considered in the design choices.  This course aims to bring together the radio system and transistor level designers’ views in the problem of low cost high performance radio design.

This module aims to bring together the system, circuit and technology issues to be faced when realising a complete wireless transceiver function in silicon for mass market use.

 

Popular architectures will be compared, (egsuperhetvs direct conversion) in terms of the IC implementation issues and the specifications of the building blocks required.  Digitising receiver architectures for Software Defined Radio will be introduced. The question of which technology (principally BICMOS vs CMOS) is most suited will be discussed.  The course will then consider the transistor level design of typical cells in an integrated rather than matched environment.  This will include LNA, Up and Down Mixers, IF and filtering, A/D interfaces, VCOs and PLLs

 

 

Pre-Requisite Knowledge:
•  Bipolar and MOS transistor construction and physics
•  Basic transistor linear circuits
•  DC and AC network analysis skills
•  Elementary analogue IC design
•  Elementary knowledge of matching and S-parameter methods
•  Basic knowledge of filter theory
•  Basic knowledge of classical radio systems
•  Basic knowledge of modulation schemes
•  Basic knowledge of system level noise analysis
•  Familiarity with circuit simulation CAD skills (SPICE)

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Understanding of radio architectures suitable for high levels of integration and how system level specifications affect these choices
  • Appreciation of issues relating to mass market IC technology as used in highly integrated radios
  • Understanding of specifications for circuit functions in highly integrated radio
  • Understanding of common circuit level functions essential to integrated radio architectures

Syllabus

  • General requirements for highly integrated radios
  • Signal selection methods and receiver architectures - direct conversion vs superhet for full integration
  • Practical problems with direct conversion
  • Transmitter requirements, direct upconversion problems
  • System level linearity issues, harmonics, intermodulation, blocking, cascaded system performance, dynamic range
  • Transistor level issues for bipolar low noise amplifiers - bipolar models, ft vs bias, cascode, noise, equivalent models, linearity
  • CMOS technology for RF - scaling, modelling for RF, ft in CMOS, device layout, noise, matching and inductive degeneration
  • Mixer fundamentals, basic requirements and specs, active and passive mixers
  • Quadrature image rejection mixing, practical phase shifting techniques
  • Zero and Low IF baseband filtering, tolerances and tuning, complex band pass and band stop filters, implementations
  • Digitised IF for SDR, system advantages, out of band requirements, sigma delta conversion
  • Local oscillators, requirements, phase noise, integration of inductors, calibration and tuning
  • PLLs and synthesisers - basics, impact of phase noise, settling time and BW, fractional N systems, implementations for full integration, phase/frequency detection

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
Lecture32
Tutorial4

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
System study-25%
Exam2 hours75%

Referral Method: By examination

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COMP3200 Part III Individual Project

Module Overview

The individual project gives students the opportunity to gain both detailed knowledge and practical experience in a more focussed area than generally possible elsewhere in their degree programme. Most projects are in the nature of a challenging engineering exercise in which there is scope for flair and originality. Typically, the result of the project will be some demonstrable software and/or hardware together with the supporting final report.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • The subject area of your project in depth
  • The broader subject area of your project, including previous work and alternative approaches
  • The limitations of your project, and how they might be addressed in future work
  • The relationship between your project and your degree specialism (for students on specialist variant programmes only)
  • The legal, social, ethical, professional and commercial issues that are involved in your project

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Identify a suitably challenging topic for your project, with guidance
  • Identify a topic for your project that is relevant to your degree specialism, with guidance (for students on specialist variant programmes only)
  • Solve problems encountered during the course of your project
  • Study independently in order to gain specialist knowledge in the area chosen for your project

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Work independently to manage a project to completion, by carrying out reading and other research, design, planning, implementation and testing
  • Present and explain technical work, both verbally and in written form
  • Apply appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices to your work

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Analyse a problem and design a solution to that problem
  • Implement your design
  • Test your solution and evaluate its effectiveness

Syllabus

The topics covered on a student's project will depend on their programme of study and choice of project.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureProject briefings, covering: project allocation, academic integrity, information skills, careers, project management, risk management, costing, design for manufacture, evaluation, ethics, and project report writing.12
Project supervisionWeekly supervision meetings with project supervisor12

Assessment

Assessment methods

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Progress Report-10%
Final Report-80%
Viva-10%

Referral Method: By re-write of the project report and re-viva (the original progress report mark will be carried forward)

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ELEC6235 SOC Design Project

Module Overview

This project is a group based design project where the cohort is divided into teams and each team is required to complete a specific design task based around FPGAs or Embedded Processors. The aim of this course is to provide a mechanism for the System on Chip students to be able to move beyond computer simulation into the lab and actually make circuits for practical applications.

The project teams will also have to give several presentations and a final report with both group and individual elements.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • Complete an FPGA based practical project to a specification
  • Achieve a set of design goals

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

  • Develop Team and Time management skills
  • Complete a group report with integrated individual elements

Syllabus

1. FPGA design

2. Embedded Processor Implementation

3. Sensor Integration

4. System design and testing

5. Presentation and management

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

ActivityDescriptionHours
LectureThere will be 1 hour lecture scheduled per week, mainly for administrative and progress updates12
Specialist LabScheduled labs and self study labs are required for the SOC/FPGA design project96
SeminarThere will be three 2 hour progress seminars during the semester6

Assessment

Assessment methods

Laboratory sessions are scheduled in the labs on level 2 of the Zepler building
Length of each session: 3 hours
Number of sessions completed by each student: 12
Max number of students per session: unlimited
Demonstrator:student ratio: 1:12
Preferred teaching weeks: 1 to 12

MethodHoursPercentage contribution
Project proposal-20%
Project prototype and initial evaluation-30%
Final presentation and demonstration -40%
Project report-10%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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