School of Engineering

Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering

DSP Programming and Applications ESP411

Lecturer: Dr. J.H. van Wyk

Last Revision: 1 February 2019

© Copyright reserved
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ORGANISATIONAL COMPONENT

1. GENERAL PREMISE AND EDUCATIONAL APPROACH .................................................. 1

2. ARTICULATION WITH ECSA OUTCOMES ......................................................................... 1

3. LECTURERS, VENUES AND CONSULTING HOURS .......................................................... 2

4. STUDY MATERIALS AND PURCHASES............................................................................... 2

5. LEARNING ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................... 3

6. RULES OF ASSESSMENT ......................................................................................................... 6

7. GENERAL..................................................................................................................................... 8

STUDY COMPONENT

1. MODULE OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES...................................................... 9

2. MODULE STRUCTURE .......................................................................................................... 10

3. GUIDELINES FOR USING THE STUDY THEME DESCRIPTIONS ................................ 11

4. STUDY THEME DESCRIPTIONS ......................................................................................... 12

5. PRACTICALS ............................................................................................................................ 16

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 ORGANISATIONAL COMPONENT

This guide serves as Part 2 of the study guide for this module and provides content that is specific to
the learning content of the module. Part 1 of the study guide is available from the EECE Undergraduate
ClickUP page and provides rules and policies that are generally applicable to all undergraduate
modules presented by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.

1. GENERAL PREMISE AND EDUCATIONAL APPROACH

The general objective with this module is to emphasise understanding rather than memorising, in
order to stimulate creative thinking and the development of innovative skills amongst students in the
field of Digital Signal Processor (DSP) programming and applications. A problem-driven approach to
learning is followed. Student-centred and co-operative learning and teaching methods are applied
during lectures, tutorial classes and practical sessions, in order to optimally develop the above skills,
as well as to stimulate the development of communication skills, interpersonal skills and group
dynamics.

You are expected to participate in discussions during lectures and tutorial classes. As your fellow
students are dependent on the inputs you make, your participation is crucial. Since the number of
contact hours for this module is limited, you are also expected to dedicate adequate time to self-study,
the practical assignments and the completion of tutorials.

In recent years, digital signal processing has continued to have an increasing impact in many key areas
of technology, including telecommunication, digital television, media, biomedicine, digital audio and
instrumentation. It is now at the core of many new and emerging digital products and applications in
the information society, e.g. digital cellular phones and digital cameras. As such, the need for
electronic, computer and communication engineers to be competent in digital signal processing is
constantly growing. In this module, skills are developed which will enable the learner to effectively
analyse, design and implement common DSP algorithms and approaches. An additional skill that will
also be sharpened during this module is the effective utilisation of simulation software tools such as
Octave/Python/Matlab and C/C++ as well as programming tools related to the provided DSP module.

2. ARTICULATION WITH ECSA OUTCOMES

The programs presented by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering have
been designed to meet the eleven ECSA outcomes that qualify the competencies required by
professional engineers. While most modules contain at least a small component of a number of ECSA
outcomes, only the main outcomes that are addressed in a module are indicated for the specific
module.

This module is presented at exit level for ELO 2, and developmental level for ELOs 3 and 8.

Refer to the General EECE Study Guide (Part 1) for a complete overview of the association of ECSA
outcomes with the modules in each degree program.

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3. LECTURERS, VENUES AND CONSULTING HOURS
Name Room number and building Telephone numbers and E-mail
address

Lecturer Dr JH van Wyk Eng3 Room 7-55 (012) 420-2028

jhvanwyk@up.ac.za
Assistant lecturers Frans-Paul Pieterse fpieterse99@gmail.com
Kealeboga Mokise u13241142@tuks.co.za
Secretary Mrs G Pritchard Eng3 Room 7-19 (012) 420-2775
gawa.pritchard@up.ac.za

3.1. Practical times and venues

Times: Tuesdays 10:30 - 13:30

Venue: EEC Lab A, Eng3 6.21-1

3.2. Consulting hours

Hours for consultation of the lecturer and teaching assistant will be announced at the beginning of the
semester, and will also be displayed on their office doors. Students may consult lecturers, tutors and
teaching assistants ONLY during the consulting hours as indicated, or by appointment. This policy
also holds before tests and exams. In other words, the lecturer and teaching assistant is only available
during their normal consulting hours on the day before a test or examination. This policy aims to
encourage students to plan their work and to work continuously.

4. STUDY MATERIALS AND PURCHASES

4.1. Prescribed textbooks
 E.C. Ifeachor, B.W. Jervis, Digital Signal Processing: A Practical Approach, Second Edition, Prentice-
Hall International, 2002.

4.2. Other prescribed material

Datasheets and reference material of the STM32F429 DISC0 / DISC1, as well as additional materials as
made available on the module website.

4.3. Recommended material

 J.G. Proakis, D.G. Manolakis, Digital Signal Processing: Principles, Algorithms and Applications,
Prentice-Hall International, 2007

 R.G. Lyons, Understanding Digital Signal Processing, Prentice-Hall International, 2004

 G.E. Carlson, Signals and Linear System Analysis, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998

 R.E. Ziemer, W.H. Tranter, D.R. Fannin, Signals and Systems: Continuous and Discrete, Collier-
Macmillan, 1993

 A.V. Oppenheim, R.W. Schafer, Discrete-time Signal Processing, Prentice-Hall International, 1989

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 S. W. Smith, The Scientist and Engineer's Guide to Digital Signal Processing, Newnes, 1997,
Available at: http://www.DSPguide.com

There are a lot of relevant materials on the Internet and books in the library. Students will be expected
to make use of these sources to complete their tasks.

4.4. Components
Each student will receive a STM32F429 Discovery Board of which the cost has been recovered from
his/her class fees as well as other common circuit components needed to complete practicals.

Students may be expected to purchase a number of components as specifically needed by them.

Students who do not acquire the necessary components will not be able to complete the practical
assignments. Students should acquire components as soon as possible, as suppliers may run out of
stock.

5. LEARNING ACTIVITIES
5.1. Contact time and learning hours

Lectures, tutorials and practicals (contact time)

Contact Preparation Total time Number Total time
time per per week per week of per semester
week (periods) (hours) weeks (hours)
(periods)
Lectures* 3 3 5 12 60
Tutorials 1 3 3.3 12 40
Practicals 1 2 2.5 12 30
Assignments and assessment (non-contact time)
Assessment Preparation Total time
time time per semester
(hours) (hours) (hours)
Assignment(s) 0 3 3
Class Tests* 2.5 2.5 5
Semester test 1.5 7.5 9
1
Semester test 1.5 7.5 9
2
Examination 3 15 18
Module hours 169
Module credits 17
Note 1: The time allocation in this table represents nominal hours, i.e. some
students might require less and others more time to attain the pass requirements.
* Note 2: As class tests are written during lecture or tutorial periods, the times
allocated for class tests are included in the total lecture or tutorial time.

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5.2. Lectures
Lectures are presented in a style of co-operative and student-centred learning. Lecture content and
structure will be based on the prescribed and recommended study material. Note, however, that
various problems and examples that are not in the textbook will be discussed during lectures.
Attendance of lectures is compulsory and register of attendance may be taken. Student can be
deregistered from this module if they do not need minimum class attendance criteria. Important
announcements with respect to laboratory sessions, assignments, tutorials and discussions of test
content will be made during lecture times. Students need to take note that only selected components
of content, assessments and arrangements delivered in face-to-face lectures will be made available
online, e.g. announcements regarding tests, assignments, memoranda (optional), lecture notes
(optional), etc. Lecturers are not obliged to publish all content delivered during lectures online as a
hybrid teaching and learning strategy will be followed where a significant component of the teaching
and learning activities is face-to-face.

Please note that lectures that cover the practical component of the module are considered as part of
the practical component of the course and attendance of these lectures is thus compulsory.

5.3. Hybrid teaching and learning approach

In this module a number of hybrid approaches to teaching and learning will be followed.The use of
each in the module will be discussed and explained during lecture periods. Hybrid tools that will be
used include:

 Extensive use of ClickUP to archive learning materials

 Video tutorials on selected topics

This list may be expanded during the semester if additional suitable hybrid teaching and learning tools
are discovered.

5.4. Tutorial classes

Certain lecturing periods will be used for mandatory tutorial classes. It will be expected of you to
individually complete a number of tutorials, consisting of problems from the prescribed textbook,
which will then be discussed during these tutorial classes. The required tutorial problems will be
announced on the ESP411 website. Note also that you are required to attend all tutorial classes.
Failure to do so will result in examination refusal.

5.5. Laboratory work

The course is practically oriented and, therefore, students will be expected to devote substantial time
and effort to master the provided development board, complete the required practicals and
demonstrate correct operation for each practical. Practical related questions can also be included in
semester tests and exams.
Due to the nature of the work the following arrangements are applicable:

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 Each practical will have a one hour pre-practical lecture 3-4 weeks before the scheduled demo.
All other scheduled practical sessions can be used as open sessions, where students can work on
their own towards the relevant practical.

 Practical guides for Practicals 1, 2, and 3 will be published on the module website.

 Practical 3 is specifically aimed at solving a unique real-life problem which may proof difficult to
solve if incorrect engineering judgement / poor software routines etc. are implemented. Students
are evaluated according to the engineering process that they followed and engineering
judgement executed.

 Working in groups, with a maximum of three members, three practical assignments must be
completed and demonstrated during the semester. Practical 3 design and reporting should be
completed on an individual basis in order to test individual mastering of the relevant skills.
Demonstration will be in group format, where the group decides which student’s design to
demonstrate.

 A pre-report describing theoretical design, simulation, software routines, experimental setup,

and preliminary software code (to name a few) will be required for some practicals. A pre-report
is always a good starting point, since it contains all “theoretical” aspects of a project (thus testing
the project using design methods and computer simulations, before the actual hardware is built
– which may be expensive).

 A full report describing your theoretical design, simulations, experimental setup, software
routines, measured results, discussion, conclusion, program code etc., will be required for each
practical assignment. The pre-report can be used as the starting point for the full-report (adding
measured results, discussion, conclusion etc.)

 The final mark for each practical assignment will consist of a mark for the report (pre-report
and/or full), demonstration and lab book.

 All assignments should be submitted electronically via the ClickUP interface.

 Keeping a laboratory notebook ("lab book") as described in the practical guide is compulsory. The
lab book will be assessed as part of the mark for each practical.

You may make use of your textbook and other resources on the web or in the library, excluding a
consultant. If you make use of program sections on the web or other sources, you must provide a
complete reference to each source. If there is suspicion that any part(s) of the work has been copied
from another student’s work or from another source, a mark of zero will be awarded. Please refer to
the plagiarism warning Part 1 of the guide. According to the University's regulations the lecturer is
obliged to charge guilty students with dishonesty that may lead to suspension. You will be required
to sign the following declaration on the front page of your assignments:

I, name and surname, hereby declare that the work herewith is completely my own and that no
parts have been copied in anyway from current or previous students or other sources.

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The practical sessions are compulsory: failure to attend and satisfactorily complete any practical
session (and specifically Practical 3) will deny you permission to write the final examination. No
redemonstrations will be allowed, so make sure that you are well prepared for every
demonstration. This also means that you have to allow enough time (use your time effectively) in
order to be ready for demonstration.
Please consult the EECE Undergraduate ClickUP website for general procedures regarding the practical
sessions, such as the laboratory rules and after-hours access to the labs.

Practical fall-back strategy for single students

Practicals in this module are demonstrated in groups (but students should still do designs, as well as
master the programming skills related to the STM32F429, on their own). In case all of a student's
group members deregister and he/she is unable to join another group, the following will apply:

 The fall-back strategy will exclude the first practical as all students should be able to find a
group to join or will be placed in groups at the start of the semester.

 Students need to inform the lecturer / assistant lecturer as soon as it becomes known that a
practical group is disintegrating. Single students will be moved to alternative groups a.s.a.p.

 Since Practical 3 needs to be designed on an individual basis, students will have to

demonstrate on their own.

The fall-back strategy does not apply to students who choose to work individually at the start of the
semester (if the option is allowed).

6. RULES OF ASSESSMENT
Also see the examination regulations in the Year Books of the Faculty of Engineering, Built
Environment and Information Technology (Part 1: Engineering).

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6.1. Requirements, subminima and calculation of marks
Primary Requirements
Calculation of final mark
Calculation of semester (year)
mark
Specific requirements
Sub minimum requirements
Requirements for promotion
• The examination schedule per module is compiled in
accordance with the Examination Regulations of the Faculty, as
well as the General Examination regulations of the University.
• Minimum examination mark: In order to pass a module a
student must obtain an examination mark of at least 40% and
a final mark of at least 50%.
• Admission to examination: In order to be admitted to
the final examination in a module, a semester/year mark of at
least 40% is required, with the exception of first year modules
on the first semester level, where a semester mark of at least
30% is required. In addition, all other examination admission
requirements must be complied with, as applicable to the
specific module.
Semester mark: 50%
Examination mark: 50%
Semester test 1: 40% (I)
Semester test 2: 40% (I)
Practical 1: 5% (G)
Practical 2: 5% (G)
Practical 3: 5% Design/Report (I)
5% Demo (G)
Satisfactory completion of all practical and semester projects
and tasks as per Departmental rules.
All practicals must be completed and an average of at least
50% must be obtained for them.
Failure to comply with any of the above will result in
examination refusal.
As per primary requirements above.
A student need to obtain a subminimum of 50% in the exam in
order to pass this module. ECSA ELO2 will be exclusively
evaluated in the exam (100% of the exam).
No promotion allowed
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6.2.Assessment details

Semester tests

Two tests of 90 minutes each will be written during the scheduled test weeks of the School of
Engineering. The will be fill-in papers. Dates, times and venues will be announced as soon as the
timetables become available.

Examinations

The duration of the examination is 3 hours and will be a fill-in paper.

Study material in tests and exams

Semester Tests will be CLOSED book with a standard formula sheet.

Examination will be OPEN book, but may not contain any written notes, memos, tutorials etc.

7. GENERAL
Refer to the general Part 1 of the study guide for procedures, policies and rules about absence from
formal evaluation opportunities and practical sessions, grievance procedures, academic dishonesty
and plagiarism.

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 STUDY COMPONENT

1. MODULE OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

1.1. General objectives
The primary objective of this course is the analysis, design and implementation of digital signal
processing algorithm and procedures for real world applications.

Digital signal processing algorithms and procedures that are focussed on in this module include: The
discrete Fourier transform (DFT), fast Fourier transform (FFT), cyclic convolution and correlation,
overlap-and-add, as well as overlap-and-store procedures. Attention will also be given to the analysis
and design of finite impulse response (FIR), infinite impulse response (IIR) and adaptive digital filters.
These algorithms and procedures will be implemented, both in software simulation and on selected
DSP platforms.

A secondary objective of the course is the development of system simulation skills. Although there
will be strong focus on the mastering of Octave/Python/Matlab as tools in the analyses and simulation
of digital signal processing systems, the student will also be exposed to other software tools such as
C/C++ and specific platform’s IDEs.

In order to achieve the objectives, attendance of, and meaningful participation during lectures,
practical sessions and tutorial classes are essential. Furthermore, students are advised to embark on
a well-structured and systematic study program, in which the module material is studied in a probing,
scientific and innovative manner, rather than by simple and passive memorizing. On average, about
6 hours own study time per week should be devoted to the module.

1.2. Critical learning outcomes

The critical learning outcomes for the module are qualified through the ECSA outcome requirements
as discussed in the General EECE Study guide. The following skills are developed at the indicated level
and a student must demonstrate competence in each to be able to pass the module.

ECSA ELO 2: (exit level):

Application of scientific and engineering knowledge
The student must demonstrate competence
• to apply knowledge of mathematics, basic science and engineering sciences from first principles
to solve real-world digital signal processing problems. It may include design and
implementation of the DSP system architecture, as well as the design and analysis of anti-alias,
FIR and IIR digital filters.

ECSA ELO 3: (developmental level)

Engineering Design and Synthesis
The student must demonstrate competence
 in designing and analysing FIR, IIR and adaptive digital filters;
 to implement digital filters in simulation software and on selected DSP hardware.

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ECSA ELO 5: (developmental level)
Engineering methods, skills and tools, including information technology
The student must demonstrate competence
 to efficiently use DSP programming software to program the hardware;
 to be able to do fault finding in programs using emulators and stepped execution.

1.3. Cognitive level of assessment

%* * Estimate of the % of the total assessment,

including all forms of assessment applied in this module,
1. Knowledge 5
devoted to the various levels of cognitive thinking skills
2. Comprehension 5 and of “other skills”.

3. Application 25

4. Analysis 25
** Assessment of “other skills”:
5. Synthesis 10  Practical skills
 Technical communication
6. Evaluation 10  Team working skills
 Time management
7. Other skills** 20

2. MODULE STRUCTURE

Study Themes and Study Units Mode of Instruction Notional Contact

Hours Sessions
Administration Class discussion 1 1
a. Discuss course content and teaching
approach
b. Assignment of practical groups
1. Basic Principles of Digital Signal Processing Lectures and class 12 5
1.1 Introduction discussions, tutorial
1.2 Analogue Interfaces for DSPs classes, tutorials,
self-study
2. Discrete Transforms Lectures and class 21 9
2.1 Fourier Series discussions, tutorial
2.2 Discrete Fourier Transform classes, tutorials,
2.3 Fast Fourier Transform self-study
2.4 The z-Transform
3. Correlation and Convolution Lectures and class 10 4
3.1 Correlation discussions, tutorial

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 3.2 Convolution classes, tutorials,
3.3 DSP Implementation self-study
4. Digital Filters Lectures and class 34 14
4.1 Digital Filter Design Framework discussions, tutorial
4.2 FIR Filter Design classes, tutorials,
4.3 IIR Filter Design self-study
4.4 Adaptive Digital Filters
5. DSP Hardware Lectures and class 20 6
5.1 General Purpose DSP Hardware discussions, tutorial
5.2 Special Purpose DSP Hardware classes, tutorials,
5.3 Effects of Finite Word Lengths self-study
5.4 Applications and Design Studies
Revision Lectures and class 7 3
discussions, self-
study
Practical Assignments Practical sessions, 55 18
Practical 1 simulations,
Practical 2 demonstrations,
Practical 3 reports
160 60

3. STUDY THEME DESCRIPTIONS

The information given in the next sections of this study manual under the various study theme
headings is intended to assist students in their learning in order to acquire the required skills and
achieve the learning outcomes effectively. The following specific informational items are included
under each of the study theme headings:

3.1. Guidelines for using study theme descriptions

1.1.1 Learning outcomes of the study theme

The given learning outcomes for each study theme are essential to achieve the critical learning
outcomes as set out in Section 1.4.

1.1.2 Study units

The title of the study unit and references to appropriate study material are given here. The study of
the referenced study material is regarded as the minimum required to achieve the learning outcomes
satisfactorily.

1.1.3 Self-study activities

Here information is given about exercises and problems related to the study material which should be
attempted and which is in accordance with the criteria of assessment of the study theme.

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1.1.4 Assignments for assessment

Here information is given about assignments to be submitted for marking and assessment.

1.1.5 Criteria of assessment

Refer to the section on cognitive level of assessment in the General EECE Study Guide.
The list of criteria of assessment for a study theme and its accompanying envisaged learning outcomes
should contain statements applicable to all six levels of thinking. Accordingly, students will be
evaluated in terms of a mix of all six levels of thinking skills. On the first-year level, a larger proportion
of questions will be based on the lower levels (levels 1 to 3), whilst final-year examinations will contain
a larger proportion of questions based on the higher-level thinking skills (levels 4 to 6).

3.2 STUDY THEME DESCRIPTIONS

STUDY THEME 1 - Basic Principles of Digital Signal Processing

a) Learning outcomes
At the end of this study theme, the student will:
 have knowledge on the benefits of digital signal processing,
 have an understanding of the basic DSP operations on which much of DSP is founded,
 be able to list a wide range of application areas for DSP,
 have knowledge and understanding of the issues and problems involved in the design of analogue
input/output interfaces for DSP systems.

b) Study units
1. Introduction: Ifeachor, Chapter 1
2. Analogue Interfaces for DSPs: Ifeachor, Chapter 2
(See the ESP411 website for more detail)

c) Self-study activities
All examples in the applicable study material.
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

d) Criteria of assessment
At the end of this study theme, a student will be able to:

 understand the benefits of digital signal processing,

 list and identify key DSP operations, such as convolution, correlation, digital filtering, discrete
transforms and modulation,
 list real-world audio, telecommunication and biomedical DSP applications,
 describe and apply the analog-to-digital conversion process,
 apply sampling to low-pass and bandpass signals,
 describe and apply uniform and non-uniform quantization and encoding,
 illustrate and apply oversampling in A/D conversion,
 describe and apply the digital-to-analog conversion process,
 design anti-aliasing filters,

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 illustrate and apply oversampling in D/A conversion,
 describe the constraints of real-time signal processing with analog input/output signals.

STUDY THEME 2 - Discrete Transforms

a) Learning outcomes
At the end of this study theme, the student will:
 be able to explain, calculate and interpret the DFT and FFT of discrete time signals,
 be able to apply the z-transform to discrete time signals and systems,
 be able to implement discrete transforms in software.

b) Study units
1. Fourier Series: Ifeachor, Chapter 3
2. Discrete Fourier Transform: Ifeachor, Chapter 3
3. Fast Fourier Transform: Ifeachor, Chapter 3
4. The z-Transform: Ifeachor, Chapter 4
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

c) Self-study activities
All examples in the applicable study material.
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

d) Criteria of assessment
At the end of this study theme, a student will be able to:

 calculate and interpret the Fourier series and transform of continuous and discrete time signals,
 calculate and interpret the DFT and inverse DFT of discrete time signals,
 derive, understand and apply the properties of the DFT,
 determine the computational complexity of the DFT,
 calculate and interpret the FFT and inverse FFT of discrete time signals,
 implement the FFT using decimation-in-time and decimation-in-frequency methods,
 describe several other discrete transforms such as the discrete cosine transform, Walsh transform,
Hadamard transform and wavelet transforms,
 describe and apply the z-transform to discrete time signals and systems,
 calculate the inverse z-transform using the power series, partial fraction and residue methods,
 describe and apply the properties of the z-transform,
 understand and list several applications of the z-transform in signal processing.

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STUDY THEME 3 - Correlation and Convolution
a) Learning outcomes
At the end of this study theme, the student will:
 understand the nature of the correlation process, including cross- and autocorrelation,
 have knowledge of the attenuating effects of correlation on the noise content of signals,
 be able to describe the utilization of the FFT in the fast correlation process,
 be able to calculate and interpret the convolution process,
 be able to apply circular, linear, fast linear and sectioning convolution methods,
 understand and be able to apply deconvolution,
 understand the relationship between convolution and correlation.

b) Study units
1. Correlation: Ifeachor, Chapter 5
2. Convolution: Ifeachor, Chapter 5
3. DSP Implementation: Ifeachor, Chapter 5
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

c) Self-study activities
All examples in the applicable study material.
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

d) Criteria of assessment
At the end of this study theme, a student will be able to:

 calculate and interpret cross- and autocorrelation functions, as well as fast correlation,
 list applications of correlation,
 derive, understand and apply the properties of convolution,
 apply the circular, linear and sectioning convolution methods,
 employ the convolution process in the identification of linear systems,
 determine and interpret the deconvolution process,
 understand and apply the overlap-and-add and overlap-and-save methods during convolution,
 understand the relationship between convolution and correlation,
 implement correlation and convolution in software.

STUDY THEME 4 - Digital Filters

a) Learning outcomes
At the end of this study theme, the student will:
 be able to use a common framework for the design of digital filters,
 be able to interpret important digital filter specifications,
 have knowledge of the different option available to the digital filter designer during the design
process,
 be able to design and evaluate FIR, IIR and adaptive digital filters,
 be able to implement FIR, IIR and adaptive digital filters in software.

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 understand and be able to calculate the influence of finite word lengths on the performance
digital filters.

b) Study units
1. Digital Filter Design Framework: Ifeachor, Chapter 6
2. FIR Filter Design: Ifeachor, Chapter 7
3. IIR Filter Design: Ifeachor, Chapter 8
4. Adaptive Digital Filters: Ifeachor, Chapter 10
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

c) Self-study activities
All examples in the applicable study material.
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

d) Criteria of assessment
At the end of this study theme, a student will be able to:

 distinguish between FIR and IIR digital filters,

 apply the following steps in the filter design process: Set the filter specifications, calculate the
filter coefficients, select a suitable filter structure, analysis of finite wordlength effects, implement
the filter,
 state the key characteristic features of FIR and IIR filters,
 interpret FIR and IIR digital filter specifications,
 design FIR filters by calculating their filter coefficients,
 calculate IIR filter coefficients using pole-zero placement, impulse invariant, matched z-transform,
mapping s-plane poles and zeros, and bilinear z-transform methods,
 understand the window, optimal and frequency sampling methods for FIR filter realization,
 implement transversal and linear FIR filter realization structures,
 understand the effects of finite wordlengths in FIR and IIR digital filters,
 apply several FIR and IIR digital filter implementation techniques,
 understand the concept of adaptive filters,
 describe Wiener filters,
 understand the basic LMS and RLS algorithms.

STUDY THEME 5 - DSP Hardware

a) Learning outcomes
At the end of this study theme, the student will:
 understand the key features of general- and special-purpose DSPs,
 be able to evaluate the impact of digital signal processing algorithms on the hardware and
software architectures of DSPs,
 understand how important digital signal processing algorithms are implemented on selected
DSPs,
 understand and identify the nature of the errors that arise in practical DSP systems due to
quantization and the use of finite wordlength arithmetic,

15
 be able to apply techniques to combat errors caused by quantization and finite wordlengths,
 have knowledge of some low-cost DSPs currently available,
 be able to describe a number of real-world DSP applications.

b) Study units
1. General Purpose DSP Hardware: Ifeachor, Chapter 12
2. Special Purpose DSP Hardware: Ifeachor, Chapter 12
3. Effects of Finite Word Lengths: Ifeachor, Chapter 13
4. Applications and Design Studies: Ifeachor, Chapter 14
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

c) Self-study activities
All examples in the applicable study material.
(See the ESP411 web site for more detail)

d) Criteria of assessment
At the end of this study theme, a student will be able to:

 describe computer architectures for signal processing, including Harvard architectures, pipelining,
multiplier-accumulator hardware, special instructions and extended parallelism,
 describe general-purpose fixed-point and floating point DSPs,
 select digital signal processors,
 implement digital signal processing algorithms, such as FIR filters, IIR filters, FFTs and adaptive
filters on general-purpose DSPs,
 describe special-purpose digital filter and FFT DSPs,
 understand the difference between fixed-point and floating point DSP arithmetic,
 understand the effect of A/D quantization noise on signal quality,
 describe and calculate the effects of finite wordlengths and product roundoff errors in IIR filters,
 describe and calculate the effects of finite wordlengths in the FFT algorithm,
 list and describe several DSP evaluation boards manufactured by Motorola and Texas Instruments,
 list and describe several DSP applications.

4. PRACTICALS
Three practical assignments must be completed and demonstrated as explained earlier in this
document. The practical guides will be published on the module website and form part of the study
guide for this module.

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