E C E N 5 8 3 3 Low Power Embedded Design Techniques

University of Colorado at Boulder, CO

Fall 2019
The objective of this course is to convey the physical design techniques to develop a battery
or energy harvested powered radio networked device for consumer, industrial, and high
reliability applications. Through this projected oriented course, students will explore the
engineering trade offs and make decisions on energy sources, power supplies, radio
networks, micro controllers, and sensors. Over the course of the semester, students will go
through design concept, design architecture, board layout design, PCB manufacturing, PCB
assembly, test, debug, and verification. Combination of this Low Power Embedded Design
Techniques with the Internet of Things Embedded Firmware course will result in a strong
foundation in both hardware and software design of low power RF based devices.
3 credits

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

 Make engineering trade offs in selecting a micro controller or SoC to meet end
application requirements
 Utilize the principles of a battery or super capacitor to power their product
 Minimize energy consumption through hardware design concepts
 Maximize energy out of a battery utilizing capacitors
 Select the radio protocol that best addresses the application and ecosystem
 Design an embedded power circuit and battery charger
 Implement an inverted F 2.4 GHz antenna
 Develop a schematic and PCB layout using the industry tool, Altium Designer
 Layout a PCB to minimize energy usages and EMI noise
 Meet reliability goals by selecting the correct components
 Develop test and verification plans that address product functionality, regulatory, and
quality requirements
 Utilize different board bring up strategies
 Take a product idea through specification, architecture, design, PCB
design/manufacture, assembly, bring up, and verification
 Recognize and utilize the professional skills to become a high performing engineer

Logistics
 PLEASE NOTE: All content on the page subject to and probably will change until 27
August 2019
 Lectures: MWF 2:00-2:50pm, RM: ECEE 283
 Office hours: TBD
 Instructor's Contact Information:
 Timothy Scherr (timothy.scherr@Colorado.EDU )
 Randall Spalding (Randall.Spalding@colorado.edu )
 TA Contact Information:
 Available in course syllabus

Prerequisite(s)
 Knowledge of assembly and C programming, digital logic design, and embedded
computer architecture.
 Students should have had at least one course in each of these subjects.
 Students should also have experience using a microcontroller Integrated
Development Environment (IDE) and its associated tools including its debugger and register
views.

Recommended Prerequisite(s)
 ECEN 5813 Principles of Embedded Software
 ECEN 5823 Internet of Things Embedded Firmware

Course Expectations
 Lectures, Assignments, Course Project, Readings, and Quizzes will require on
average 10-14 hours per week of work
 For oncampus students, class attendance is expected. For distant learners, videos
will be available.

Course Description and Topics covered

 This course will cover the design requirements and considerations for developing low
power RF devices such as Internet of Things control and sensor nodes. To complete the
project, power supply simulation, board layout, and project management techniques will be
taught. At the end of the course, each student will have completed a complete battery
powered RF device from design concept to completed board.
 Timeline managment
 Microcontroller selection
 RF radio selection
 Battery selection
 Embedded Power supply design and simulation
 Printed circuit board inverted F antenna design
 Proper passive selection to match reliability of end application
 Maximizing power out of low current battery technologies
 Load power management
 Printed circuit board layout
 Printed circuit board assembly
 Board bring up
 Test and verification
 Introduction to application development
 Professional skills to become a high performing engineer

Readings
Course materials include textbooks, papers, lecture slides, project guides, and other online
materials.
 Required reading:
 “The Unwritten Laws of Engineering,” by James G. Skakoon and original by
W.J. King ISBN: 9780791801628
 Recommended reading:
 “Bluetooth Low Energy,” by Robin Heydon, ISBN: 9780132888363
 Course website
 Course lecture slides posted weekly on D2L
 Course labs and project material posted weekly on D2L
 Other online materials
 Atmel's microcontrollers
 Atmel's BTLC1000 Bluetoot Low Energy SoC
 Cypress PSoC4 Bluetooth Low Energy SoC
 Nordic Semiconductor nRF52832 Bluetooth Low Energy + NFC SoC
 Silicon Labs' EFM32 microcontrollers
 Silicon Labs' Blue Gecko Bluetooth Low Energy SoC
 Linear Technology LTspice
 Texas Instruments TINA-TI spice
 Altium Designer - Schematic Entry and PCB Layout

GRADING
The course grade will be based on in-class participation, homework assignments, quizzes,
course project, and a final exams. The grade proportions are as follows:
 Homework Assignments and Class Participation 20%
 Course projects 50%
 Quizzes 15%
 Mid-Term Exam 10%
 Final Exam 5%