INFO240 - Signal Analysis and Processing
Short Description
The aim of this unit is enable students to learn about the technology and theory of signal processing and analysis. The focus is on one-dimensional digital signals such as digitised sound and speech signals but the unit lays the foundation for understanding two-dimensional signal processing for signals such as images and video.
The first semester concentrates on the software and hardware technologies required for signal processing. The first half of first semester covers programming techniques using the C programming language and the second half of first semester covers the computer hardware technologies involved, in particular, input/output devices and the hardware/software interface. The second semester is on the theory of signal processing and analysis using time and frequency domain representations. An extensive laboratory program is an important part of the unit in gaining practical experience and understanding theory.
Assumed Knowledge
- Students need to have programming knowledge - variables, constants, programming statements, structured code, control statements, compilers, programming environments and the ability to understands and write program of moderate complexity.
- A basic understanding of electronic systems, digital logic circuits, be able to read simple circuit diagrams and block diagrams and understand the concepts of voltage and current.
- Mathematical knowledge - basic functions (sine, cos, exponential, log), integrals, be able to work with series and have a basic understanding complex numbers (including exponential form of a complex number).
Learning Outcomes
C programming
Develop a general ability to program in C.
Learn specific program techniques to process numeric information and code mathematical formula.
Understand how to code large programs using multiple source files.
Learn how to construct fairly complex line-based user interfaces.
Learn how to do I/O programming down to the bit-level.
Learn how to convert program specifications into code.
Learn how and gain practical experience the Borland C++ program development environment operates.
Hardware
Understand how the different hardware elements of a computer operate.
Learn how computer bus systems operate.
Learn how computer I/O operates at the hardware level.
Learn how serial communication systems operate.
Understand how computer memory systems operate.
Learn how to quantitatively analyse and assess computer system performance.
Signal analysis
Learn how to represent signals in continuous and discrete time.
Understand the mathematical process of convolution.
Learn theory of linear systems.
Learn about problems of sampling signals such aliasing.
Learn how Fourier series, Fourier transform, discrete Fourier transform are used to obtain a spectral representation of a signal.
Learn how windowing in the time domain works and its benefits.
Study Engineering at Macquarie
Electronics
Degree programs in the areas of Electronics Engineering and Communication Systems are related areas of study concerned with technology that influences nearly every aspect of modern society. Electronics deals with the science and engineering of everyday items ranging from home appliances, entertainment systems, and telecommunications to city utilities, control systems for traffic, and transport. Communication Systems deals with the technology of conveying information between people using computers and/or electronic equipment such as radio or phones. Both these areas of study play an important role in business and manufacturing, and are about building and using systems for productive and leisure activities.