Digital representation and processing of information today is almost universal, but on both the input and output ends of a digital system the information often exists as an analogue quantity. Examples might be the light, shade and colour of a picture, or an audio signal from a microphone. We will discuss simple logic gates, the fundamental building blocks, and introduce the design methods that enable construction of increasingly complex digital systems. One of these is, of course, the general purpose processor which increasingly blurs the distinction between the hardware and software implementations of a signal processing operation.
Learning outcomes
After completing this module, students will be expected to be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of number systems, and conversion methods between number bases.
2. Manipulate numerical quantities in two's complement binary.
3. Design and construct simple combinational logic circuits based on standard gates.
4. Use higher-level logic elements such as counters, registers and multiplexers.
5. Understand the architecture and operation of a basic processor element.
6. Make use of a microprocessor development system.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of sampling and quantisation of analogue signals to create digital representations.
8. Understand the human factors affecting digital signal representation parameter selection.
9. Relate the time and frequency domain representations of a signal.
10. Perform simple time and frequency signal manipulations of audio and video signals.
Syllabus
Discrete digital system design
Top-down design methodology
Combinatorial logic design using manipulation of boolean equations and Karnaugh maps
Construction and use of block level combinational logic devices such as decoders, multiplexers and adders architectures
Practical implementation issues such as fan-out, propagation delay and logic families
Sequential logic components including bistables and their use in counters and registers
Sequential logic design using finite state machines.
Analogue-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analogue convertor design and use.
Introduction to processor architecture
Block level description of a simple generic processor and simple embedded system
Construction of simple processor from block level combinational/sequential components
Operation of processor during example programme execution
Comparison between practical processor architectures
Digital data representation
Number Systems: integers, fractions, two's complement, floating point
Binary arithmetic
Data representation: 'text' and 'binary' datafiles
Parallel and serial data representation/transmission
Serial data transmission using RS232 as easily accessible/observable example.
Properties of analogue signals: bandwidth, dynamic range
Conversion to digital: sampling (Nyquist's theorem) and quantization
A/D and D/A conversion techniques
Basic signal manipulations (including: addition of signals, rescaling amplitude, delay)
Frequency domain descriptions: signal spectra
Qualitative demonstrations of Fourier spectra using DFT
Applications of digital signal processing
Influence of human factors in audio and video system parameter selection
- Contrast sensitivity
- Visual frequency responses in space and time domains
- Representation of colour
Digital audio and video signal manipulation (filters)
- Discrete convolution, equivalence of implementation in hardware and software
Compression of digital audio and video signals
Learning outcomes
After completing this module, students will be expected to be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of number systems, and conversion methods between number bases.
2. Manipulate numerical quantities in two's complement binary.
3. Design and construct simple combinational logic circuits based on standard gates.
4. Use higher-level logic elements such as counters, registers and multiplexers.
5. Understand the architecture and operation of a basic processor element.
6. Make use of a microprocessor development system.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of sampling and quantisation of analogue signals to create digital representations.
8. Understand the human factors affecting digital signal representation parameter selection.
9. Relate the time and frequency domain representations of a signal.
10. Perform simple time and frequency signal manipulations of audio and video signals.
Syllabus
Discrete digital system design
Top-down design methodology
Combinatorial logic design using manipulation of boolean equations and Karnaugh maps
Construction and use of block level combinational logic devices such as decoders, multiplexers and adders architectures
Practical implementation issues such as fan-out, propagation delay and logic families
Sequential logic components including bistables and their use in counters and registers
Sequential logic design using finite state machines.
Analogue-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analogue convertor design and use.
Introduction to processor architecture
Block level description of a simple generic processor and simple embedded system
Construction of simple processor from block level combinational/sequential components
Operation of processor during example programme execution
Comparison between practical processor architectures
Digital data representation
Number Systems: integers, fractions, two's complement, floating point
Binary arithmetic
Data representation: 'text' and 'binary' datafiles
Parallel and serial data representation/transmission
Serial data transmission using RS232 as easily accessible/observable example.
Properties of analogue signals: bandwidth, dynamic range
Conversion to digital: sampling (Nyquist's theorem) and quantization
A/D and D/A conversion techniques
Basic signal manipulations (including: addition of signals, rescaling amplitude, delay)
Frequency domain descriptions: signal spectra
Qualitative demonstrations of Fourier spectra using DFT
Applications of digital signal processing
Influence of human factors in audio and video system parameter selection
- Contrast sensitivity
- Visual frequency responses in space and time domains
- Representation of colour
Digital audio and video signal manipulation (filters)
- Discrete convolution, equivalence of implementation in hardware and software
Compression of digital audio and video signals