electronics & communication technologies

Electronic systems are at the heart of every aspect of modern life. They enable us to track the movement of objects from a satellite, to control cars, planes and trains to make maximum use of energy resources. At every step of the rapid development in these technologies, experts at the University of Westminster have had a part to play. With specialised laboratories and industry-funded research programmes, the University of Westminster is a natural first choice for those seeking to develop advanced level professional or research skills in the application of leading-edge technologies in new settings.

Communication Technologies Digital Signal Processing Systems VLSI Design

Course details Digital Signal Processing Systems 1 Mobile, Personal & Satellite Communications 1 VLSI System Design 1 1 Also available part-time See also Related courses in Computer Science, Mathematics and Multimedia.

Contact details Admissions and Marketing (ESE) Cavendish Campus University of Westminster 115 New Cavendish Street London W1W 6UW T +44 (0)20 7911 5883 -(all undergraduate courses) F +44 (0)20 7911 5079 E cav-admissions@wmin.ac.uk -(all postgraduate courses) E cav-short-courses@wmin.ac.uk -(for all short courses) E enquiries@cmsa.wmin.ac.uk -(enquiries about courses) W www.wmin.ac.uk/cavendish/ -(for information on the Cavendish Campus) W www.cmsa.wmin.ac.uk -(for more information on courses in this section) Open Day 14 May 2003 2-5 pm

Canturk Isci graduated from Bilkent University in 2000, with a First Class BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He was awarded the Millenium Scholarship jointly sponsored by the University of Westminster and the British Council for the MSc VLSI System Design. His studies at Westminster paved the way for him to be awarded a full scholarship by Princeton University as a graduate fellow in Computer Engineering. Pursuing his PhD studies he is now working on low-power processor architectures.

Open evenings

There are postgraduate information evenings during the year. Please contact the Cavendish Campus Admissions and Marketing Office for details, or visit the website.

You can get to the Department pages at http://www.cmsa.wmin.ac.uk

Focus for development

The Centre for Microelectronic Systems Applications was created as an unique showcase for computer-aided engineering with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry and a consortium of leading manufacturers. It provides the focus for research and advanced technology transfer within the Department of Electronic Systems in digital signal processing, VLSI system design and microwave circuit development and underpins the excellence of teaching in specialist Masters and updating courses.

In the national teaching assessment, the Department of Electronic Systems was awarded 21 out of a maximum of 24 points, with full marks given for the quality of teaching, facilities and support given to students. The emphasis throughout is on design tested and extended through real world projects. Our web site at www.cmsa.wmin.ac.uk shows the range of our activities.

Technological interfaces Postgraduate students in the Department of Electronic Systems are part of the Graduate Centre in the School of Computer Science, which has 30 students registered for MPhil and PhD degrees across all of its discipline areas and 250 Masters students. All benefit from the excellent facilities and live projects undertaken in a dynamic programme of applied research which explores the interfaces within emerging technologies from mobile communications to energy efficiency. Bursaries and grants are available for full-time research students in certain areas.

Senior Academic Staff Professor Izzet Kale Reader, Applied Digital Signal Processing and VLSI research group Dr Dik Morling Chair of the Department of Electronic Systems

Digital Signal Processing MSc, 1 year full-time or 2 year part-time Access through short courses; Diploma route available Campus: Cavendish Entry Requirements: see below To enquire about this course, please email enquiries@cmsa.wmin.ac.uk

Links MSc brochure Order a prospectus

This course is for engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians and other numerate scientists with a keen interest in electronic systems for processing signals. Special emphasis is placed on provision of access to industry-based participants experienced in fields allied to this emerging technology. New structured design methodologies, ranging from software for image handling to dedicated high-speed microelectronic systems on silicon for audio signal manipulation, are promoted through a flexible combination of intensive short courses and Individualised Learning Packages (ILPs). A core of three modules focuses on background theory, forming solid setting for the practical skills using computer-aided engineering techniques that permeate each module. Optional topics support further studies in DSP, the implementation of algorithms in custom microcircuits and applications in communication systems.

The course is specifically intended to respond to critical skill shortages being felt by European industry in this emerging sector of microelectronics, which is beginning to make a massive impact in areas such as domestic audio systems, personal communication networks and interactive video applications.

Course structure

Your primary contact instruction on this course will be in the six study modules. Each one-week module comprises lecture material, practical laboratory work and design exercises. An integral dovetailing distance learning element is the ILP linked to and expanding upon, each short course module- which can be persued in your own time. Associated major project work is an essential feature. This will almost certainly involve the use of modern productivity-enhancing DSP computer tools for analysis and simulation, often in support of design of a new application of DSP to communication or instrumentation. Projects will be carefully chosen to integrate your interests with the active research thrust in the Department of Electronic Systems or with relevant activity in your own workplace.

Entry requirements You should offer the following: an Honours degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or Mathematics; or an Honours degree in a technological topic, provided that good facility with electronic engineering, system analysis and digital systems has been gained; or exceptionally, if you have qualifications differing from the above, but can demonstrate a suitable command of mathematics for system analysis, digital systems design and electronics and have relevant work experience, you will be considered for enrolment on the full-time Diploma course. Initial stages of study are common for the Diploma and MSc programmes, and registration can be transferred upon satisfactory performance. Industrial short course modules may be undertaken without restriction on prior qualifications. Portable credit accumulation can be achieved through satisfactory performance on ILPs (including an ILP-specific oral examination) for those candidates demonstrating a reasonable expectation of successful attainment of the required proficiency. Industry-based participants satisfying ILP requirements on three modules will qualify for formal enrolment as as MSc candidate.

The course has been designed in response to the intense activity and industrial investment which has recently been taking place in Europe and other parts of the World in the areas of mobile, personal and satellite communications. A great deal of interest has been generated by the emergences of GSM, the pan-European digital cellular mobile telephone system and future personal communcation systems for mass usage. This rapid growth has resulted in a shortage of skills in this field.

The course is suitable for those engineering and science graduates interested in specialising in this flourishing area. It has been particularly tailored to suit engineers from industry, who are either already working in the field, or are likely to be involved in related projects in the furure.

Course structure

The course comprises six study modules, a project feasibility study and a main project. Each study module is a combination of an intensive five-day short course and an Individualised Learning Package (ILP). This ILP is linked to and expands upon the short course and allows you to explore your acquired knowledge further by means of distance learning. Each study module is assessed through the submission of a completed ILP portfolio of work and its defence in a viva-voce examination. Formal written examinations are not used in this course. There are three core modules which focus on the background theory and fundamental methods in digital communications as well as the the latest techniques in digital modulation, channel coding and multiple access systems. The emphasis is on digital mobile radio and its new applications such as Personal Communications Networks (PCNs) and mobile communications via satellite. Three more modules are selected which allow further study of communication topics or the enabling technologies of VLSI system design and Digital Signal Processing (DSP).

Core modules Signals and System Analysis Digital Radio Communications Terrestrial and Satellite Communication Systems

Options Choose three from: RF and Microwave Circuits and Sub-systems Satellite Navigation Systems Networks in Telecommunicatons Modules from MSc VLSI System Design Modules from MSc Digital Signal Processing

Projects will be carefully chosen to integrate your interests with the active research thrust in the Department of Electronic Systems or with relevant activity in your own workplace.

Increasingly, complete electronic systems are implemented in a single silicon chip. Designing such VLSI chips requires a new breed of silicon-qualified engineer. This course aims to provide you with the confidence and capability to successfully design VLSI integrated circuits. A rigorous design methodology, essential if custom chips are to be design right first time, is adopted throughout the course.

The design of complete integrated circuits is an integral part of your study programme so that you can experience at first hand the implementation of this methodology. This course shares a number of modules with the MSc in Mobile, Personal & Satellite Communications and the MSc in Digital Signal Processing.

The MSc has six study modules and a project. Each study module consists of an intensive one-week short course comprising lectures, design exercises and hands-on workshop practice. Coupled to each short course is an Individualised Learning Package (ILP) which broadens and deepens your understanding of the content of the study module and provides vital practical experience in the application of fundamental principles to the design of silicon systems. The IC Design Project ensures that you will experience the challenge of designing your own integrated circuit. Each study module is assessed through the submission of a completed ILP portfolio of work and its defence in a viva-voce examination.

Formal written examinations are not used in this course. The major project might allow the design of a special-purpose processor using hierarchical design tools or the design of a mixture of analogue and digital elements.

Core modules VLSI Design Techniques Circuit Design for VLSI IC Design Project

Options Choose three from: DSP and Communication Processor Design Linear and Mixed Signal Circuit Design Modules from MSc Mobile, Personal & Satellite Communications Modules from MSc Digital Signal Processing

The course is intended for engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians and other numerate scientists keenly interested in the design of integrated circuits.

Special emphasis is placed on provision of access for industry-based participants experienced in the fields related to the design of electronic systems. Projects will be carefully chosen to integrate your interest either with the active research thrust of the Department or with relevant activity in your workplace.

Research Opportunities

VLSI System Design The Centre specialises in research and development in the realisation of mathematical signal processing algorithms as real custom-designed integrated circuits. State of the art CAE design tools are used to hierarchically design and simulate digital and analogue circuits and systems. Current projects include: research into baseband and bandpass sigma-delta; data conversion techniques; design of sigma-delta A-D & D-A converters for audio and communications applications; structure and architecture of polyphase filters for ultra-high fidelity applications; finite word-length effects in multirate signal processing structures; the application of switched-capacitor and switched-current techniques to mixed analogue and digital system design; and ultra-low power VLSI circuits and systems that utilise conventional as well as self-timed approaches is another area that is being worked.

Microwave and Millimetre wave Systems Expertise at both device and system level on a variety of circuit substrates. Applications include ultra-wideband microwave filters and amplifiers and high performance pulse amplifiers for fibre-optic and mobile radio systems. Current projects include: design of low-noise wideband amplifiers; linearisation of microwave power amplifiers; development of components for cellular radio basestations; narrowband filters for millimetre-wave applications; ultra-wideband amplifier design using PHEMT and HBT technologies; and research into multimedia millimetre-wave distribution systems. For further information on Electronic Systems, contact Dr Izzet Kale, tel +44 (0)20 7911 5157, .