Education

ECE-4833/5833

VLSI Digital System Design

Undergraduate/Graduate · Offered Every Year · Project-oriented

This course introduces Very-Large-Scale Integrated (VLSI) systems design methods; complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology is emphasized. VLSI Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools and CMOS layout rules and techniques. This course covers not only the layout and the design of digital logic in VLSI/CMOS technology, but also the beyond-CMOS technology roadmap based on emerging materials and architecture. Project-oriented. For more details about the concepts covered by this course, see the syllabus in the link below. (The details and timing of the syllabus may change each semester; however, the concepts will remain the same)

Topics CMOS Technology · VLSI CAD Tools · Layout Design · Digital Logic Design · Beyond-CMOS Technology · Emerging Materials · System Architecture

Prerequisites Digital Logic Design, Electronics Fundamentals

ECE-4433/5433

Measurement and Automation

Undergraduate/Graduate · Offered Every Semester · Laboratory-intensive

This course provides an introduction to two main methods of controlling, measuring, and carrying out tasks in complex manufacturing and industrial applications. You will review the fundamentals of data acquisition and control, and you will do a series of design projects in data acquisition, logging, and real-time analysis, including but not limited to machine vision and image processing, as well as vibration, motion, and real-time control. The controlling software will be covered in this course, including LabVIEW software and CLICK PLC software.

Topics Data Acquisition & Control · LabVIEW Programming · PLC Programming · Machine Vision · Image Processing · Vibration Analysis · Motion Control · Real-time Control · Signal Conditioning · Ladder Logic Diagrams · Industrial Automation

Prerequisites ECE 3793 or instructor permission or systems course in another major. Prerequisites by topic: Laplace Transform, Differential Equations (eigenvalues, eigenvectors), Numerical Methods, Basic Systems theory (filters, sampling, transforms), Logic Gates, Basic knowledge of Signal and Systems

ECE-5973-004

AI System & Hardware Acceleration

Graduate · Offered Every Year · Project-oriented

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to machine learning systems, integrating theoretical foundations with practical engineering principles. It adopts a systems-level perspective, equipping engineers with the skills needed to design and implement efficient, real-world AI solutions. The course also delves into the cutting-edge domain of neuromorphic computing, which mimics the neural architecture of the human brain to enable high-performance, low-power computational systems. Students will collaboratively engage in learning through lectures, discussions, and presentations, gaining hands-on experience through experimental projects and hardware implementations.

Topics Data Engineering & Model Optimization · Inference Acceleration · Security & Privacy in ML Systems · Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) · Hardware Models of Neurons & Synapses · Neuromorphic System Optimization · TinyML Hardware Implementation · FPGA-based SNN Designs · Hardware-aware Training · Energy-efficient Computing

Prerequisites ECE 5833: VLSI Digital System Design

ECE-4973-44 / ECE-5973-44

Modern Optics and Quantum Optics

Undergraduate/Graduate · Offered Every Year · Theory with measurement-driven laboratory modules

Optical and quantum optical technologies are rapidly transforming the landscape of modern engineering, powering breakthroughs in sensing, imaging, computing, and communication. This course charts a new direction designed specifically for engineering students to bridge the gap between theory and applied optics. The course integrates theory with measurement-driven laboratory modules, empowering students to build, align, and test key optical setups and analyze system-level behavior. This course offers a new vision and direction for engineering students, equipping them with essential skills at the intersection of photonics, quantum technologies, and modern system design.

Topics Fundamentals of Wave Optics · Interference and Diffraction · Fourier Optics & Spatial Frequency Analysis · Classical Optical Systems Design · Michelson Interferometers · Quantum Optical Concepts · Quantum Photonic Devices · Optical Alignment & Metrology · System Calibration · Spectroscopy Applications · Biomedical Imaging · Coherent Communication Systems

Prerequisites Basic background in electromagnetic waves