27 Posts with tag: courses

Plenty of room

Dr. Richard Feynman, Nobel laureate, gave a seminal lecture entitled "There is plenty of room at the bottom" on December 29th 1959 at CalTech. It is an oft-quoted article, widely thought to have sparked the nanotechnology revolution and the race to miniaturize everything.

For your assignment for Wednesday, I would like you to read the article and try and identify technologies that he envisioned in the above talk, which have come to fruition, or are on the horizon. Please use ...

Tags: ABE 446 , courses , nanotechnology

TSM 435 Lesson Plans

Over the next two weeks, I will be traveling. In my absence I have prepared a lesson plan for when I'm away. Following is a summary of the schedule

Monday Oct 1 - Introduction to Eagle CAD.

It is your responsibility to 1) Download and install Eagle CAD. It works on every operating system. The student version is free to download and is more than sufficient for the purpose of this class. Please watch the following five videos. The best ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

DNA Nanotechnology discussion

For the coming Wednesday, please read this article on DNA nanotechnology. Please keep the following questions in mind when reading the article, as we will discuss them in class. Please bring your talking points to class on a sheet of paper - I will collect and assess them.

1. What is the big picture? What is the grand problem the article is claiming to address?
2. Who cares about the problem and why is it important to tackle right now?
3. What is the ...

Tags: ABE 446 , courses , publications

ABE446 on iTunesU

ABE 446 is now on iTunes University. Try this direct link first and see if it works. If it doesn't, to go the Illinois iTunes login page, and use your Active Directory password to log in.

Feedback and comments on user experiences welcome!

Tags: ABE 446 , courses , nanotechnology

ABE446 Calendar

Topics and contact hours

Lectures (Hours)

1. Introduction to condensed matter and biological nanotechnology (1)
2. Synthetic Nanostructures (Carbon structures, Quantum dots, Polymers) (4)
3. Nanomanufacturing (Micro/nano machining, self-assembly) (3)
4. Molecular biology overview (1)
5. Biologic nanostructures (DNA, Protein and Lipid based) (4)
6. Targeting and triggering systems in nature (2)
7. Biological sensors (1)
8. Nanoparticles in imaging (1)
9. Nanotechnology and the immune system (2)
10. Nanotechnology in pharmacokinetics and vaccine design (3)
11. Techniques in biological nanotechnology (Genetic engineering, molecular cloning and molecular display technologies) (3 ...

Tags: ABE 446 , courses , nanotechnology

Zero hour materials

Additional course materials

Course objectives

• Distinguish between and understand the relationship between condensed matter nanotechnology and biological nanotechnology
• Learn how living processes from molecular biology can be utilized in engineered systems
• Be able to design and analyze a process or system that utilized biological macromolecules as functional components
• Discuss and critique various existing and hypothetical bio-nano processes and systems

Recommended Texts (Optional)

• Niemeyer C. 2004. Nanobiotechnology: Concepts, Applications and Perspectives. John Wiley & Sons.
• Bhushan B. 2004. Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology ...

Tags: ABE 446 , courses , nanotechnology

Stochastic kinetics solution

This post is related to the problem posed in the stochastic kinetics lecture. Attached here (link missing) is the solution to the problem (the .R code). To run the code, you will need this reaction.csv input file. The file is a text description of the reaction as a graph. The format is very simple: nodes are the reaction states, and are described by the line e.g. "node, Pyruvate" or "node, Pyruvate_PDC". State transitions are described by "edge, Pyruvate ...

Tags: BIOE504 posts , courses , programming

Lab 5: The Fun Lab

Objective

Build the circuit as shown in the figure (You drew this circuit in Eagle CAD Lab 3). Make it work and try to figure out how it works. For your lab report, write a description on how the circuit works in your own words. Use a VCC of 5-10 volts. Use the BC337 in place of 2N2222A. Watch out for capacitor polarity if you are using an electrolytic.

Tags: courses , tsm435

Lab 5: Transistor circuits

Objectives

1. To learn how to connect different transistors as switching and amplifier circuits
2. To measure voltage drops across the transistor circuits and to ensure Kirchoff's laws still apply

Parts List

...

Figures

Procedure

...

Observations

1. Plot a graph of Vout vs Vin for the amplifier circuit
2. Maximum allowable collector current for both circuits are:
3. Minimum resistance necessary to ensure diode safety for the applied voltage is:
4: Obtain the specifications sheet for the transistor and note down max ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Lab 1: Resistors

Instructions for lab writeup: All lab reports are to be typed. All sketches, tables and graphs are to be made using software (i.e. not by hand). Each report is due one week from doing the lab. The outline for the first lab report is as follows:

Objectives

1. To understand how to use the prototyping board (breadboard), power supply and multimeter
2. To assemble a simple circuit consisting of resistors in series and parallel configurations
3. To verify Ohm's Law for ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

EagleCAD

Eagle CAD is a powerful piece of software for anyone interested in electronics as a hobby or professionally. It features a beautiful schematic drawing engine and solid automated layout and PCB design modules. It can also, in conjunction with the POVRay raytracing program, produce 3d rendered images of finished boards as well.

We will be using Eagle to draw our schematics for this class for our lab assignments. It will be installed on the computers in 248, but feel free ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Homework 1

Draw circuit diagrams for each problem. Show all calculations.

Homework is due Friday 9/3/2010

1. Calculate the current flowing through a 450 ohm resistor connected across a 9V power supply.
2. Calculate the voltage drop across a 22k resistor passing a 4 mA current.
3. What resistance would you need to limit the current from a 5V supply to 15 mA?
4. If you had 3 resistors, R1= 500, R2 = 1500, R3= 470 connected in series, what would the equivalent resistance be ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Reversing a string

Problem: Reverse a user-input string and write it to a file

Solution: In Python, there are a number of ways to reverse a string. The most direct method involves reading the characters in reverse and performing a concatenation on them. By far the most elegant way to do it is:

>>> 'hello'[::-1]
'olleh'

The reversed() function does not do the trick, as it is meant to work on things like iterators.

Writing the result to a file should involve the ...

Tags: courses , python , tsm435

Homework 5

A 10mV/C input is converted to a 10mV/F output

1) State A is the non-inverting amplifier, stage B is the inverting adder and stage C is the inverter-follower. Can you modify Stage B so that Stage C is not required? (Look up a non-inverting adder)

2) Construct a circuit that performs the reverse operation, i.e. converts a 10mV/F input to a 10mV/C output.

3) Construct an active band pass circuit to isolate a band of ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Op Amp Circuits

Here's a link to a comprehensive list of operational amplifier circuit from National Instruments. It includes both measurement and signal generation circuits.

Here's another one from Texas instruments for some of the basic circuits built in single supply configurations.

Tags: courses , tsm435

Biasing the BJT

Biasing the transistor for proper operation is somewhat tricky. You never want to rely on the transistor beta for reliable performance. Following is an idea for biasing the transistor so that when the signal coming in at Vin is close to ground, the output is at the middle of the full voltage range (10V for 0-20 range).

The following rules apply:

1. When Vin = 0, the 110k and 10k resistors form a voltage divider, such that the voltage at the base ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Study Abroad

Study abroad programs give students the opportunity to experience the life in another country, thus broadening their perspective on their own professional careers and personal lives. More and more, employers are looking for this international experience in their recruits. I encourage you to take a look at the flyer, and please get in touch with your adviser or Ms. Boone for more information.

Tags: courses , tsm435

Lab 4: Diodes

Objectives

1. To learn how to connect different diodes in an appropriate manner
2. To measure voltage drops across diodes and to ensure Kirchoff's voltage law still applies
3. To learn how a diode bridge works with the help of LEDs
4. To become familiar with an oscilloscope

Parts List

...

Figures

Procedure

...

Observations

1. Voltage drop across the LED is:
2. Maximum allowable current is:
3. Minimum resistance necessary to ensure diode safety for the applied voltage is:
4. Observations of the diode ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Homework-4

Solve the following problems

Homework is due Monday 10/5/2009
Please find the cutoff frequencies for the following circuits and do the a.c. analysis just like you did for the lab
Figures 1 and 2 are series RC circuits and Figures 3 and 4 are parallel RC circuits .

Tags: courses , Instrumentation , tsm435

Greenhouse trip

Please provide a few thoughts on your trip to the plant biology greenhouse. Include a brief vision on what you'd like to see there, and how you may best contribute to it.

Tags: courses , tsm435

Lab 4: RC Filter Circuits

Errata

Vout for a low pass circuit is measured across the capacitor - not the resistor

Objectives

1. To learn how to use the function generator
2. To investigate the frequency response of high- and low- pass RC filter circuits
3. To compare experimentally observed responses with theoretically calculated ones

Parts List

...

Figures

Procedure

...

Calculations

Cutoff frequency for high pass filter:

Cutoff frequency for low pass filter:

Table 1: High Pass Filter: Theoretical calculation

Frequency	Xr=R	Xc=1/(2π.f.C)	Zt=(Xr ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Homework-3

Solve the following problems

Homework is due Monday 9/21/2009 1) Find the amount of energy stored in the following capacitor that have 120 V applied to them a) 100 μF b) 0.001F c) 10kF d) 1pF(pico Farad)
2) Find the capacitive reactance or capacitance in each of the following cases a) f=100 Hz C= 150 μF b) C=2.2 F f= 60Hz c) Xc = 15.92 Ω f= 50 Hz d) Xc = 60 Ω ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Homework 2

Solve problems the following problems using using KVL and KCL

Homework is due Friday 9/11/2009
1) Use the algebraic method to find values of currents flowing through each resistor for the circuit in Fig.1
2) Solve for values of current flowing through each resistor for the circuit of Fig.2
3) Find I1 in Fig.3
4) Find I2 in Fig.4

Tags: courses , tsm435

Lab 3 - Eagle CAD

Objective

To learn to use Eagle CAD for building schematics.
Your lab report will consist of two parts:
1) The .sch file (the schematic file) that you create in Eagle) and
2) the exported graphic (in PNG, BMP or JPEG format) embedded in a Word Document.
Both files to be submitted electronically to me as well as Goutam.

Please replicate the following graphics. The logic symbol is an Exclusive OR .So search for XOR in the library

Open in a ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Lab 2: Resistors

Instructions for lab writeup: All lab reports are to be typed. All sketches, tables and graphs are to be made using software (i.e. not by hand). Each report is due one week from doing the lab. The outline for the first lab report is as follows:

Objectives

1. To build a series-parallel circuit with resistors
2. To build a voltage divider with resistors
3. To validate Kirchoff's current and voltage laws
4. To learn about different types of resistors
5. To become familiar ...

Tags: courses , tsm435

Lecture 1

Agenda for today's lecture:

1. Introductions
2. Overview of the class
3. Basic definitions
• What is electricity?
• What is a voltage / current / resistance?
• What are DAQs?
4. Role of math in electronics
5. Electronics as a hobby
6. Semester project
7. Programming
Please feel free to chime in with your comments in the section below.
Posted on August 24, 2009 7 Comments

Tags: courses , tsm435

The TSM435 Subblog

Hello everyone. This Fall, we will be trying a new experiment. I will be using this blog as a teaching tool for TSM 435. We will be using this space to discuss topics related to all aspects of the course, including theory, components, homework etc. Students will be able to join the discussion using the comments section for each post so that everyone is on the same page.

Posted on August 23, 2009 3 Comments

Tags: courses , tsm435