Transcript ESP_Summer_2001 - Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)

Department of
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What is Electrical and Computer
Engineering?
Charles Kime, Professor Emeritus,
ECE
Overview
• A Lifetime of Change: What is Electrical
and Computer Engineering?
• Electrical Engineering (EE), Computer
Sciences (CS), or Computer Engineering?
• Education and Careers
• Specialized Areas of Study
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
A Lifetime of Change
• What we didn’t have when I was born
(1940)?
– Transistors, integrated circuits,
microprocessors
– Computers, personal computers
– Televisions, VCRs, CDs, Nintendo
– Satellite communications
– Internet, email, world wide web
– Cellular Phones
– Jet Airliners
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
A Lifetime of Change II
• What we did have when I was a college
student (1961)?
– Transistors, integrated circuits (barely)
– Television
– Mainframe Computers (tubes, core
memory)
– Jet Airliners
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Where did all this stuff come
from?
• engineering (Webster’s dictionary): The
application of scientific knowledge to the
solution of practical problems, as in
designing structures and apparatus.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering
• Computer – A combination of software and
hardware capable performing useful tasks.
– The Obvious:
PCs/Workstations/Servers/Mainframes
– The Not So Obvious: Embedded Computers –
Computers within other things! Examples?
• Computer Engineering = Engineering of
Computers
• Problem-solving with the goal of creating
software, hardware or combinations of
hardware and software to perform useful
tasks.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
• Electrical – Use of electricity to performing
useful tasks.
• Electrical Engineering = Engineering of All
Things Electrical
• Problem-solving based on mathematics and
science with the goal of creating new
electrical and electronic hardware and
systems to perform useful tasks.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
EE, Comp Sci, or CMPE?
• Relationships:
Computer Computer Electrical
Sciences
Engineering Engineering
• Software ++++++++++++++++++ Hardware
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Comp Sci versus EE, CMPE at UW
• Computer Sciences
– Focus on Software
– More Scholarly Breadth
– Less Technical Content
and Technical ProblemSolving
– Somewhat less
demanding overall
undergrad program
• Electrical Engineering,
Computer Engineering
– Focus on Hardware or
Hardware and Software
– More Technical Content
and Technical ProblemSolving
– Less Scholarly Breadth
– Somewhat more
demanding overall
undergrad program
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
EE versus CMPE
at UW
• Electrical Engineering
– Primary focus on
hardware, but some
areas have significant
software component
– Stronger emphasis on
device physics, analog
systems, and energy
– Involves more
physically oriented
courses
• Computer Engineering
– Focused on a balanced
mix of hardware and
software
– Stronger emphasis on
software, digital systems,
and computers
– Involves more digitallyoriented courses in
hardware, software or
both
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
How do I decide between EE, CMPE or
Comp Sci?
• What area am I interested in specializing in, an EE
area, a CMPE area, or a CS area?
– Databases? Control Systems? Computer Network
Design?
• What topics do I do well in and enjoy?
– Programming? Calculus? Physics?
• What overall degree environment fits me better
– Engineering? Letters & Sciences?
• Which degree program is most marketable?
– All!
• Do I have geographic preferences for jobs?
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
What if I make the wrong
decision?
• Transfer between the EE and CMPE programs is
usually not difficult
• In the transfer process, you may lose some credits
toward your degree, but not too many
• Due to more limited capacity admission standards
for CMPE at UW are higher
• Transfer to and from CS at UW more complex
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Desirable Traits
• Interested in mathematics, physics, and
science
• Scientific curiosity and the desire to
understand how things work
• Desire to learn continuously
• Good communication skills
• Good team player
• Persistent, but flexible
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Education
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree ( 4 years) in EE
or CMPE
• For more in-depth knowledge: Master of Science
(M.S.) degree (1.5 to 2 additional years)—not
necessary for first job
• For research and college teaching: Doctor of
Philosophy degree (3 to 5 additional years)
• Opportunities exist to spend summers (intern) or
half-year (co-op) in industry during programs
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Roles of Electrical and Computer
Engineers
• Analyze, design, develop, market and operate
electrical/electronic/computer systems
• Work with energy and information
• Invent new technologies and improve existing
technologies
• Many graduates take positions in companies like
Intel, IBM, Motorola, GM, and Qualcomm
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Job Function
• Design
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Integrated Circuits
Boards
Software
Systems
• Manufacture and Support
– Production Facility Automation
– Production Control and Supervision
– Information Technology
• Market and Sell
– Product Marketing
– Product Sales
– Field Applications
• Consulting, Research and Teaching
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
A Day in the Life of an
Integrated Circuit Designer
• 7:30 AM Arrive at cubicle and log in to workstation.
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Finish a design for a controller using a hardware description language
(HDL).
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Attend an hour long meeting to discuss changes in the interface of the
designer’s part of the chip to other parts with the design team.
• Go for a run and then to lunch.
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Write a set of test inputs to verify the HDL version of the controller.
• Read and answer e-mail.
• Meet with another team member to discuss a design problem.
• Begin controller simulation using the test inputs.
• 6:30 PM Log out and go home.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Current Starting Salaries
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B.S. degree — $50,500 per year
M.S. degree — $60,000 per year
Ph.D. degree — $80,000 or more per year
Signing bonuses and stock options in some
areas
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Advancement Opportunities
• Advancement in industrial jobs is based on
performance
• Excellent opportunities to advance
• Many engineers end up in management roles
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Future Demand
• Technological, global society demands more
and more engineers
• Computer engineering: 250,000 openings in
US 1996-2006
• Electrical engineering: 197,000 openings in
US 1996-2006
• 250 companies visited Engineering Career
Services in 1999-2000 looking for new
electrical/computer engineers
• Whoa! So what happened this year?
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
+’s and -’s of EE and CMPE Careers
• Pluses
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Opportunity to create
Excitement of producing a useful, working product
Excellent pay
Ability to be entrepreneur or independently employed
Generally respected and (to some) awesome
• Minuses
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Hours worked often long
Work sometimes tedious
Job security varies
Career can peak early
Stress level can be high
Viewed as a nerd
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE
• Biomedical Engineering
– pacemaker, intensive care unit monitor, hearing
aid, speech recognition, MRI
– (contrast with separate degree program in
BME)
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE
• Communications & Signal Processing
– radio, television, radar, telephone, satellite
transmission
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE
• Control Systems
– robotics, feedback control of engines,
refrigerators, ovens, aircraft, trains, production
lines
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)
• Electric Machines & Power Electronics
– electric motors, motor controls, hybrid electric
cars
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)
• Electronic Devices, Microelectronics &
Integrated Circuits
– fabrication of integrated circuits, sensors,
microelectromechanical systems (MEMs)
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)
• Electromagnetic Fields & Wave
Propagating Systems
– antennas, global navigation, fiber optical
communication, satellite communication,
microwave oven
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)
• Photonics
– lasers, fiber optics, optical communication
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)
• Plasmas & Controlled Fusion
– nuclear fusion energy, machine tool
hardening, integrated circuit manufacturing
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - EE (cont.)
• Power Systems
– electric generators, power transmission
lines, transmission system control
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - CMPE
• VLSI Systems Design
– microprocessors, digital signal processing
chips, cellular telephone chips, computers,
computer peripherals
• Embedded Systems
– digital cameras, digital games, digital
instruments, automobile electronics,
aircraft electronics, product line automation
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Undergraduate Areas - CMPE
(cont.)
• Networks and Communication
– routers, bridges, switches, base stations,
cellular telephones, internet network
services
• Electronic Design Automation
– simulation software, synthesis software,
circuit analysis software, integrated circuit
layout software
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Summary
• Electrical and computer engineering
provide excellent opportunities for a
rewarding career
• Job functions and areas of study are diverse
• Careers in these areas share many pluses
and minuses (characteristic of engineering
in general)
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering