ECE 221 Electric Circuits
moodle.cecs.pdx.edu
Dr. James McNames
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Lecture Overview This Time
• Logistics
– Discuss syllabus
– Class overview & logistics • Content
– Prefixes
– Definitions: Current, Voltage, Power, & Energy – Passive sign convention
– Circuit elements – Ideal Sources
Miscellaneous
• We do have laboratory meetings during the first week • Parts kits available in the bookstore
• Recitation sections begin next week
ECE 221 and ECE 201
• These are listed as two separate classes, but you receive the SAME GRADE for both
• ECE 221 is 3 units and ECE 201 is 1 unit, for a total of 4 units • Class ends at 11:20 am (or so), not at 11:50 am as listed in the
class schedule
• The grading breakdown is listed in the syllabus (covered later)
Archived Lectures • Classes will be taped this term
• Will be posted on the web
• But slides available on the web in advance • Uses Window’s media player (and others?) • Typically posted within 24 hours of lecture • Can use in the CECS labs with head phones • Very popular, especially with working students
People Who Can Help • Teaching assistants
– Xiao Li, Swetha Mettala Gilla, Vamsi Parasa, and ?
– Office hours, contact information, and recitation sections to be
posted on course web site
• My office hours
– M 11:30-12:30, T 8:00-9:00 – FAB 160-12
• Private tutor (for pay)
– Memo, 503-477-3915, [email protected]
My Background • Ph.D. 1999
• Teaching in PSU ECE dept. ten years • Have taught this course many times
• Research area: Biomedical signal processing • See http://bsp.pdx.edu
Textbook
Electric Circuits, 8th ed., by Nilsson & Riedel
• One of the mostly widely used across the US (and world?) • Verbose
• Many examples
• Good homework problems
• Leading alternative: Alexander & Sadiku’s Fundamentals of
Electric Circuits, 3rd ed.
• Reasonably error-free, but please email me if you find any errors
http://moodle.cecs.pdx.edu
• Sign up for an account today • ECE 221 (Main)
– Syllabus
– Lecture notes
– Errata (text & solutions) – Exam topics
– Previous course web pages (old exams) • ECE 221 PSU
– General discussion forum – Enroll here
– Homework assignments & solutions – Exam solutions
– Grades
Lecture Notes • Lecture slides created fall 2000
• Posted on the class web site
• I will be updating them throughout the term
• Updates will not be drastic, so old notes should suffice in most
cases
• Watch for updates as late as 9:30 am the day of the lecture • Workspace is provided for examples that will be filled in during
lecture
• Bring your calculators to help work out examples in class
Homework & Online Lectures
• Homework solutions will be posted shortly after assigned • Previous students have used the solutions as a learning tool • Lectures will also be posted online
Homework Assignment 1 • Read Chapters 1 & 2
• Problems
– Ch. 1: 3, 7, 10, 11, 15, 28, 30
• Assignment posted on the class web site • Solutions already posted
• Due on Monday, Oct. 5
• In class or electronic file upload (scans, <5 MB)
Scientific Calculators • Strongly encouraged
• Recommended features
– Manipulate complex numbers
– Solve simultaneous linear equations – Programmable
– Graphing (not critical)
• Favorites: TI 89, TI 92 Plus, TI Voyage 200
• In particular, check out the “EE*Pro” application
• Can use during exams for ECE 221, but uncertain for ECE 222
and ECE 223
• Bring to lectures
• Must learn to use on your own
General Comments on Class • Challenging
• Fast pace
• Relatively high rate of attrition • Many new abstract concepts
• Lays the foundation for many ECE classes to follow • Many critical concepts
• Mastery of these essential to succeed in EE or CPE programs
Suggestions for Good Performance • Attend TA’s recitation sections
• Work through the practice problems
• More examples available in Schaum’s Electric Circuits • Ask questions
• Review lectures online • Stay caught up
• Pay careful attention to exam topics
• Work through previous exams under time constraints before you
look at solutions
• General rule: If you can solve the homework problems AND exam
problems from previous terms, you’ll do well on the exams
