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ECE 201
Applications of Electrical &
Computer Engineering
Final Exam Review
(Questions & Solutions)
Section I. Multiple Choice (10 Questions)
- In designing an embedded control system for real‑time applications, which design paradigm is most effective in minimizing latency? A. Polling-based processing B. Interrupt-driven architecture C. Batch processing D. Time‑division multiplexing ** ANS : B *Rationale: An interrupt‑driven architecture allows the system to respond immediately to sensor inputs or critical events rather than constantly polling, thereby reducing processing latency.
- In an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), what parameter primarily determines the smallest discernible change in the input signal? A. Sampling rate B. Quantization resolution C. Clock stability D. Anti-aliasing filter cutoff ** ANS : B *Rationale: The quantization resolution (often expressed in bits) defines the ADC’s resolution—its ability to distinguish small changes in the input voltage.
- For maximizing the performance of an RF antenna in a wireless communication system, which of the following factors is critical? A. Antenna polarization B. Antenna gain C. Impedance matching D. All of the above ** ANS : D *Rationale: All these factors are vital. Proper polarization ensures
communication within embedded systems.
- In DC‑DC power conversion for high power density applications, which converter topology is generally preferred? A. Non-synchronous buck converter B. Boost converter C. Flyback converter D. Forward converter ** ANS : D *Rationale: Forward converter topologies are frequently employed in high‑power, isolated DC‑DC applications because they deliver high efficiency and power density with reduced losses compared to simple buck or boost configurations.
- Which error correction code is widely used in modern wireless communication systems for its balance of performance and computational complexity? A. Hamming code B. Reed‑Solomon code C. Low‑density parity‑check (LDPC) code D. Cyclic redundancy check (CRC) ** ANS : C *Rationale: LDPC codes are highly efficient, offering near‑Shannon limit performance with manageable decoding complexity—making them a favored choice in advanced wireless communications.
- In designing a system-on‑chip (SoC) for mobile applications, which factor is most essential for achieving low power consumption? A. Clock frequency scaling B. Use of advanced process technology nodes C. High‑performance caching D. Increased silicon area ** ANS : B *Rationale: Advancements in process technology (smaller nodes) reduce leakage currents and power consumption, which is critical in
battery‑powered mobile devices.
- What is the primary function of peripheral interconnects like I²C, SPI, and UART in microcontrollers? A. To perform complex mathematical computations B. To facilitate communication between integrated devices C. To store large amounts of data D. To regulate the voltage supply ** ANS : B *Rationale: These interfaces enable efficient data exchange among various integrated peripherals within a microcontroller-based system.
**Section II. Fill-in-the-Blank (4 Questions)**
- ______ is a key parameter in an ADC that defines the smallest increment of analog input that can be resolved. ** ANS : Resolution *Rationale: Resolution, typically determined by the number of bits, dictates the ADC's precision in converting analog signals to digital values.
- The process of converting a continuous-time signal into discrete- time samples is governed by the ______ theorem. ** ANS : Nyquist–Shannon *Rationale: The Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem provides the criteria for sampling rate to avoid aliasing and accurately reconstruct the original signal.
- A ______ filter is commonly used in signal processing to eliminate high-frequency noise above a specific cutoff frequency. ** ANS : low‑pass *Rationale: Low‑pass filters allow signals below a cutoff frequency to pass and attenuate frequencies above it, thereby reducing high‑frequency noise.
Section IV. Multiple Response (3 Questions)
- Which of the following factors are critical considerations when designing a wearable embedded system? (Select all that apply) A. Power consumption B. Weight and form factor C. High CPU clock speed D. Connectivity protocols E. Environmental ruggedness ** ANS s: A, B, D *Rationale: For wearables, low power consumption, compact design (weight/form factor), and efficient connectivity (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi) are crucial. While high CPU clock speeds and ruggedness may sometimes be relevant, they are generally less critical than the three selected options for consumer wearable devices.
- In the design of a software-defined radio (SDR) system, which parameters are essential for high‑performance operation? (Select all that apply) A. ADC resolution B. RF front‑end sensitivity C. Efficiency of digital signal processing algorithms D. Power supply noise levels E. CPU clock speed ** ANS s: A, B, C, D *Rationale: ADC resolution, RF front‑end performance, DSP efficiency, and low power supply noise all contribute to achieving high performance in SDR systems. While overall CPU clock speed matters in general computing, it is not a unique parameter in the context of SDR performance.
- *When implementing error correction in wireless communication systems, which aspects must be balanced? (Select all that apply)
A. Coding gain B. Decoding complexity C. Latency introduced by the error correction process D. Channel capacity E. Physical size of the transmitter ** ANS s:* A, B, C, D *Rationale: Effective error correction requires balancing improvements in coding gain and channel capacity with the computational complexity and latency of the decoding process. The physical size of the transmitter is unrelated to error correction performance. A communication system utilizes a signal with a bandwidth of ( B ) Hz. According to Shannon's theorem, what is the maximum data rate ( C ) (in bits per second) that can be reliably transmitted over a channel with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ( S )? a) ( C = B \log_2(1 + S) ) b) ( C = S \log_2(1 + B) ) c) ( C = B \cdot S ) d) ( C = \frac{B}{S} ) Correct ANS : a) ( C = B \log_2(1 + S) ) Rationale: Shannon's theorem provides the theoretical maximum data rate for a noisy channel, dependent on bandwidth and SNR. Fill-in-the-Blank: In digital signal processing, the process of converting a continuous-time signal into a discrete-time signal is known as __. Correct ANS : Sampling Rationale: Sampling is the fundamental process of taking discrete measurements of a continuous signal at regular intervals.
Rationale: Kalman filters are optimal estimators used for state estimation in the presence of noise. Fill-in-the-Blank: The process of converting analog signals to digital signals involves __, which quantizes the signal amplitude. Correct ANS : Quantization Rationale: Quantization is the process of mapping a continuous range of values to a discrete set of values. True/False: In image processing, edge detection algorithms are primarily used to smooth out the image and reduce noise. Correct ANS : False Rationale: Edge detection algorithms are used to identify boundaries and significant changes in image intensity. Multiple Response: Which of the following are common modulation techniques used in wireless communication? a) Amplitude Modulation (AM) b) Frequency Modulation (FM) c) Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) d) Phase Shift Keying (PSK) Correct ANS : a) Amplitude Modulation (AM), b) Frequency Modulation (FM), d) Phase Shift Keying (PSK) Rationale: These are fundamental methods for encoding information onto a carrier signal.
Multiple Choice: What is the Nyquist rate for a signal with a maximum frequency component of ( f ) Hz? a) ( f ) Hz b) ( 2f ) Hz c) ( \frac{f}{2} ) Hz d) ( 4f ) Hz Correct ANS : b) ( 2f ) Hz Rationale: The Nyquist rate is the minimum sampling rate required to avoid aliasing. Fill-in-the-Blank: A __ is a type of semiconductor device that acts as an electronic switch and is widely used in digital circuits. Correct ANS : Transistor Rationale: Transistors are fundamental building blocks of modern electronics. True/False: In power systems, reactive power is primarily responsible for delivering useful work. Correct ANS : False Rationale: Real power delivers useful work; reactive power supports the magnetic fields in inductive loads. Multiple Response:
True/False: In computer networks, the Media Access Control (MAC) address is used for logical addressing at the network layer. Correct ANS : False Rationale: MAC addresses are used for physical addressing at the data link layer. Multiple Response: Which of the following are common types of sensors used in electrical and computer engineering applications? a) Temperature sensors b) Pressure sensors c) Light sensors d) Relays Correct ANS : a) Temperature sensors, b) Pressure sensors, c) Light sensors Rationale: These sensors are used to measure various physical quantities. Multiple Choice: What is the main function of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)? a) To convert analog signals to digital signals b) To convert digital signals to analog signals c) To amplify digital signals d) To filter analog signals Correct ANS : b) To convert digital signals to analog signals Rationale: DACs are essential for interfacing digital systems with the
analog world. Fill-in-the-Blank: In microprocessors, the __ is responsible for fetching instructions from memory. Correct ANS : Instruction fetch unit Rationale: This unit is a crucial part of the instruction cycle. True/False: In power electronics, a rectifier converts AC voltage to DC voltage. Correct ANS : True Rationale: Rectifiers are essential for converting AC power to DC power. Multiple Response: Which of the following are key characteristics of a good communication protocol? a) Reliability b) Efficiency c) Security d) Complexity Correct ANS : a) Reliability, b) Efficiency, c) Security Rationale: These are important aspects of ensuring successful communication.
- Multiple Choice Q1:
during the transition from positive to negative cycles.
- True/False Q5: The static power dissipation in CMOS logic circuits primarily arises from leakage currents when the circuit is off. ANS : True Rationale: Leakage current is the main contributor to static power loss in CMOS. Q6: In an RTOS (Real-Time Operating System), task scheduling is always strictly time-driven and never event-driven. ANS : False Rationale: Many RTOS use a combination of time-driven and event-driven scheduling approaches.
- Multiple Response Q7: Which of the following are benefits of using three-phase power over single-phase power in industrial settings? A) Reduced conductor size B) Consistent power delivery C) Higher transmission losses D) Lower vibration in motors ANS s: A, B, D Rationale: Three-phase systems require less conductor material, provide smoother (consistent) power, and reduce motor vibration. Q8: Select all that apply: Which are features of a synchronous generator in power stations? A) Voltage regulation capability B) Independently adjustable frequency C) Requires external DC excitation
D) Generates DC directly ANS s: A, C Rationale: Synchronous generators regulate voltage and require excitation; frequency is tied to rotational speed/frequency, and they generate AC, not DC.
- Multiple Choice Q9: In a 5-stage RISC pipeline, data hazards can most efficiently be addressed using: A) Instruction caching B) Branch prediction C) Data forwarding D) Increased clock frequency ANS : C Rationale: Data forwarding (bypassing) minimizes pipeline stalls due to data hazards. Q10: Which communication protocol is predominantly used in the automotive industry for real-time control of sensors and actuators? A) I2C B) CAN C) SPI D) PCIe ANS : B Rationale: CAN (Controller Area Network) is designed for robustness in automotive environments.
- Fill-in-the-Blank Q11: The process of mapping software procedures to hardware resources in embedded systems design is known as __________. ANS : hardware/software co-design Rationale: Co-design matches algorithms to appropriate hardware for
Q16:
Which applications are typical for field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)? A) Rapid prototyping B) Non-volatile memory storage C) Custom digital signal processing D) Fixed-function microprocessor emulation ANS s: A, C Rationale: FPGAs are typically used for prototyping and DSP, not for NVM/storage or fixed-function CPU emulation.
- Multiple Choice Q17: Which parameter is most critical in selecting a microcontroller for a real- time control system in robotics? A) Number of UART ports B) Interrupt latency C) Total RAM size D) Color depth ANS : B Rationale: Interrupt latency is crucial for timely and predictable system responses. Q18: A power factor correction circuit in a switching power supply primarily aims to: A) Stabilize output voltage B) Minimize input current harmonics C) Reduce output noise D) Protect the supply from short circuits ANS : B Rationale: Power factor correction addresses input current waveforms, not directly output voltage/noise/short-circuit protection.
- Fill-in-the-Blank Q19: The primary cause of skin effect in AC transmission lines is the increased __________ at higher frequencies. ANS : current density near the conductor surface Rationale: Skin effect results from AC's tendency to flow on the surface, increasing resistance. Q20: In VLSI design, the methodology that enables hardware blocks to be verified independently before final integration is called __________ verification. ANS : modular (or block-level) Rationale: Modular/block-level verification ensures functionality before system integration.
- True/False Q21: A transformer-coupled amplifier can provide DC isolation between stages. ANS : True Rationale: The transformer blocks DC but couples AC signals. Q22: In ASIC design, the silicon area utilized does not affect the power dissipation of the device. ANS : False Rationale: Larger area can increase capacitance and power dissipation due to increased switching.
- Multiple Response Q23: Which of the following are considered renewable energy sources for powering electrical grids? A) Biomass