Fundamentals of Communications

Basic level knowledge: mathematical analysis, signals and electrical circuits, programming.

Motivation and presentation of topics in lectures, including small practical examples.
Detailed application exercises, with real application, in lectures and laboratory classes.
A component of practical assessment through the implementation of laboratory work including preparation and report,

The general objective of this course is to provide students with basis theoretical and practical knowledge to enable them to understand and apply the basic concepts associated with communication components and systems:
– To understand the representation of information by analog and digital electrical signals;
– To understand the representation of signals in time domain and the general interpretation in the frequency domain;
– To know the most relevant characteristics of physical transmission media including their limitations;
– To know the basic signal transmission techniques used for baseband and modulation transmission of analog and digital signals in physical media;
– To understand and analyze simple communication systems;
– To understand the effects of noise and interference in communication systems;
– To understand and implement examples of baseband electrical interfaces;
– To know the motivations and principles of networks;
– To diagnose faults and use communications equipment and analog and digital interfaces in industrial environments.
– To implement and test simple communications solutions in automation, robotics, energy and telecommunications applications.

1. Representation of information signals:
Elements of a communication system; Classification and representation of signals in time; Periodic signals and the sinusoidal signal; Average, power and energy.
2. Basics of signals in frequency:
Practical example of representation of periodic signals as a sum of sinusoidal signals; Interpretation of the frequency representation of a rectangular pulse and a  train of rectangular pulses; Basic DSB modulation and applications.
3. Linear systems and filters:
Basics of time versus frequency response; Applications with filter transfer functions and bandwidth of simple filters (RC,CR,RL,LR); Attenuation, delay and linear distortion.
4. Characteristics and applications of physical media and modulation:
Symmetrical pairs, coaxial cables and optical fibers; Radio transmission basics and antennas; Power budget without and with thermal noise; Basics of interference by electrical coupling, magnetic coupling and common impedance; Basic principles and applications of DSB, AM, FM, PCM, ASK, FSK, PSK and QAM modulation.
5. Basics of interfaces and networks:
The RS232, I2C, RS485 and USB  interfaces – physical characteristics and applications using embedded systems; Connection  between the presented concepts and communication networks: industrial networks, Internet and IoT.

• - Avaliação Distribuída - Trabalhos Práticos - 30.0%
• - Exame Final - 60.0%
• - Mini - Testes - 10.0%

NAO

Recommended:

– Carlson, B. A. (2002). Communication Systems: An introduction to Signals and Noise in Electrical Communication: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-011127-8.
  (selected chapters and sections as basis for the lecture slides)
– Forouzan, B.A. (2007)- Data Communications and Networking. McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13 978-0-07-296775-3.
  (selected chapters and sections as basis for the lecture slides)
– Lopes, F. (2016-2022). Lecture slides supporting the Communications Fundamentals curricular unit (last update 2022).
– Lopes, F. (2016-2022). Compilation of exercise and laboratory papers supporting the Communications Fundamentals curricular unit (last update 2022).
– Datasheets and manufacturer application notes of components e systems.
– Online manuals and examples: Matlab, Octave, LTSpice.
– Online application resources with Arduino, ESP32 and STM32.