Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Colorado Univ., Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Abstract :
A turnkey software system for the introductory electrical engineering curriculum is described from a user´s perspective. The system, Circuit Master, provides a structured, interactive, menu-driven environment that allows students to explore basic concepts in circuit and signal theory, without requiring a background in computer programming. The system´s interactive user interface and unique visual presentation format simultaneously display relationships between circuit components, pole-zero patterns, Bode plots, initial conditions, input/output signal waveforms, and input/output signal spectra, for periodic and aperiodic signals. It features simultaneous display of information for two sets of circuit components, thereby allowing physical relationships, parametric changes and sensitivity issues to be examined in a fast, interactive environment
Keywords :
circuit theory; computer aided instruction; electrical engineering computing; interactive systems; signal processing; software packages; user interfaces; Bode plots; Circuit Master; aperiodic signals; circuit component relationships; circuit theory; initial conditions; input/output signal spectra; input/output signal waveforms; interactive user interface; introductory electrical engineering curriculum; menu-driven environment; parametric changes; periodic signals; physical relationships; pole-zero patterns; sensitivity; signal theory; simultaneous display; students; turnkey software system; visual presentation format; Computer displays; Design methodology; Differential equations; Educational institutions; Electrical engineering; Engineering education; Laboratories; Linear circuits; Poles and zeros; Software systems;
