Help Picking Courses in 4th year. want to do PCB design.  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: boatman
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 11, 2019, 06:06:52 am
content: Hello All,I am picking courses for 4th year electrical engineering.I want to do PCB level design, and need help picking courses.Here is the link to the courses offered.I need 4 of each list.https://www.ryerson.ca/calendar/2018-2019/programs/feas/electrical/professional_table/Table ICOE 528 Object Oriented Eng Analysis and DesignCOE 718 Embedded Systems DesignCOE 768 Computer NetworksELE 707 Sensors and MeasurementsELE 714 System Testing and Design-for-TestabilityELE 719 Fundamentals of RoboticsELE 724 CMOS Mixed-Mode Circuits and SystemsELE 734 Low Power Digital Integrated CircuitsELE 745 Digital Communication SystemsELE 746 Power Systems AnalysisELE 747 Advanced Electric DrivesELE 754 Power ElectronicsELE 792 Digital Signal ProcessingELE 809 Digital Control System DesignELE 829 System Models and IdentificationELE 882 Intro to Digital Image ProcessingTable IICOE 608 Computer Organization and ArchitectureCOE 628 Operating SystemsCOE 838 Systems-on-Chip DesignCOE 865 Advanced Computer NetworksELE 709 Real-Time Computer Control SystemsELE 725 Basics of Multimedia SystemsELE 801 Electric VehiclesELE 804 Radio-Frequency Circuits and SystemsELE 806 Alternative Energy SystemsELE 815 Wireless CommunicationsELE 819 Control of Robotic ManipulatorsELE 846 Power Systems Protection and ControlELE 861 Microwave EngineeringELE 863 VLSI Circuits for Data CommunicationsELE 884 PhotonicsELE 885 Optical Communication SystemsELE 888 Intelligent Systems

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 08:16:34 pm
content: Embedded systems design had some PCB design content for me, but still very little and I suspect that was entirely the choice of the instructor. Maybe sensors and measurements, and CMOS mixed mode, but you'd have to look at the course outline. Probably better off choosing whatever topics interest you, and working on your own PCB project to learn more (which could be related to what you are doing in the course or not).

author: Kasper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 11:35:34 pm
content: Read the descriptions for the courses and talk to the profs. When I did that, the profs enthusiastically tried to sell me their courses and it made for good first impressions.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2019, 11:56:56 pm
content: You can easily do PCB design at home on your computer. Choose a small home project, design it, make it. Most of your time will be spent learning which buttons to press.At university you should choose courses that can't easily be done at home. Especially include those that teach the basic theory of the subjects that interest you. Avoid those that spend too much time learning how to drive software applications, since you probably won't use that at your first job, and the knowledge only has a half-life of three years or so.Speedread "Profession" by Isaac Asimov; it is available on the web.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2019, 06:56:41 am
content: QuotePCB level design isn't usually the topic of college courses. Too practical. You could DO PCB designs for homework and term or senior projects, the profs will probably sigh and claim you're learning the wrong skills, but YOU'LL still learn something...That said, and without detailed descriptions of the classses, the following look more in tune with your interests than others:ELE 714 System Testing and Design-for-Testability(Please! if it's not all "software")COE 718 Embedded Systems Design (chances of exposure to practical circuitry!)ELE 724 CMOS Mixed-Mode Circuits and Systems (ditto. Understanding the relationships between analog and digital circuitry, hopefully.)ELE 707 Sensors and Measurements (ditto (The number of people who think they can connect a 16-bit ADC to their Arduino and be all set for precision measurement without dealing with other factors is ... sad.))ELE 846 Power Systems Protection and Control (unless they're talking about generators a three-phase motors and such)COE 608 Computer Organization and Architecture (nothing to do with PCBs. But really important, IMO!)

author: OwO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2019, 07:42:18 am
content: These are the ones I would pick.ELE 724 CMOS Mixed-Mode Circuits and SystemsELE 745 Digital Communication SystemsELE 792 Digital Signal ProcessingCOE 838 Systems-on-Chip DesignELE 804 Radio-Frequency Circuits and SystemsELE 861 Microwave EngineeringELE 863 VLSI Circuits for Data Communications

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2019, 09:24:45 am
content: PCB level design ofwhat?If I were you, I'd try to pick a mix of subjects:- some which are specifically relevant to the kind of industry you think you might want to work in, and- some which cover issues and techniques which crop up in many different places, and which will give you transferrable skills.For example: I mostly design sensors for the automotive industry, and prior to that, I worked on a lot of high temperature, harsh environment communications products. Want something that can live in an engine bay? I'm your nerd.With that in mind, the modules I'd personally choose, which (based on the title alone, of course!) I think would be most relevant to my job today would be:ELE 707 Sensors and MeasurementsThis is what I do all day, every day, so duh.ELE 792 Digital Signal ProcessingLikely to involve a lot of maths, but the language, terminology and techniques introduced here crop up so often, and across so many areas, that failing to study DSP would leave a huge gaping hole in your knowledge. Seriously, do this one regardless of where you think you'll end up.ELE 745 Digital Communication SystemsLots of useful stuff here about bus types, fault tolerance, bandwidth, compression, SNR, buffering, timing... provided all this stuff is covered on the course, this is another one you really can't afford to miss out on.ELE 754 Power ElectronicsEverything has a power supply, and thermal management is a big deal which surprisingly few engineers seem to really understand.COE 608 Computer Organization and ArchitectureIf you end up writing firmware, you'll need this background just to understand the data sheet for a modern CPU.ELE 801 Electric VehiclesProbably the biggest commercial opportunity out there for your generation of engineers, IMHO.ELE 806 Alternative Energy SystemsEssential for anyone with a requirement for energy that doesn't come from coal or gas, ie. absolutely every single last one of us. If you're able to learn about the advantages and (crucially!) disadvantages of alternative energy sources, then you owe it to yourself (and everyone you might ever influence) to do so.ELE 815 Wireless CommunicationsVery few engineers actually design radio transceivers compared to the number who use them, but even if you don't become an RF guru, wireless comms is a growth area that's here to stay, and you'll end up using radio whatever you end up doing.

author: bugrobotics
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 01:10:25 am
content: I can't say what courses to take as the quality of a course always depended upon the professor.I'll echo what others have mentioned. If you want to learn PCB layout and design workflow then get busy doing just that. Design circuits or, if that's too advanced at the moment, copy circuits from any number of sources and design some PCBs. When your first roadblock occurs practice the keystone skill of searching for an answer on your own. Good luck!

author: RomDump
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 07:04:38 pm
content: Quote from: boatman on March 11, 2019, 06:06:52 amAh the Zeal of an undergraduate. Sorry to burst your bubble but Ryerson doesn't require PCB design for it's undergraduate courses the last time I checked. However, during your final year project, (Capstone), you may be able to do some PCB design but you will have to learn by yourself.Some local colleges (Humber and Seneca as examples) have PCB design courses but they tend to be tied to a particular vendor as well they are optional.See ELE 700 & ELE 800 at Ryerson.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 09:08:05 pm
content: Quote from: RomDump on March 23, 2019, 07:04:38 pmAnd with that we are back to the point made by Isaac Asimov in his short story "Profession". Those points are as valid now as they are when the story was written.The story is online athttps://www.abelard.org/asimov.phpThe OP really should speed read it.