CE161-4-AU-CO:
Fundamentals of Digital Systems

The details
2023/24
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
16 June 2022

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC G610 Computer Games,
BSC G612 Computer Games (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G620 Computer Games (Including Foundation Year),
BSC I610 Computer Games (Including Placement Year),
BENGG420 Computer Networks,
BENGG421 Computer Networks (Including Year Abroad),
BENGG520 Computer Networks (Including Foundation Year),
BENGI120 Computer Networks (Including Placement Year),
BSC G400 Computer Science,
BSC G401 Computer Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G403 Computer Science (Including Foundation Year),
BSC I101 Computer Science (Including Placement Year),
MSCIG402 Computer Science,
MSCII100 Computer Science (Integrated Masters, Including Placement Year),
BENGH650 Computer Systems Engineering,
BENGH651 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH750 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BENGHP50 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Placement Year),
BENGGH46 Computers with Electronics (Including Foundation Year),
BENGGH4P Computers with Electronics,
BENGGH4Q Computers with Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BENGI1H6 Computers with Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BENGH610 Electronic Engineering,
BENGH611 Electronic Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH61P Electronic Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BENGHP10 Electronic Engineering (Including Placement Year),
MENGH613 Electronic Engineering,
MENGH614 Electronic Engineering (Integrated Masters, Including Placement Year),
BENGH641 Communications Engineering,
BENGHP41 Communications Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BENGHPK1 Communications Engineering (Including Placement Year),
BENGHQ41 Communications Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH615 Robotic Engineering,
BENGH616 Robotic Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH617 Robotic Engineering (Including Placement Year),
BENGH618 Robotic Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BSC G111 Computing,
BSC G112 Computing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G113 Computing (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH01 Computing and Electronics,
BSC GH02 Computing and Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC GH03 Computing and Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH3P Computing and Electronics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC H631 Electronics,
BSC H632 Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC H633 Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BENGH730 Mechatronic Systems,
BENGH731 Mechatronic Systems (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH732 Mechatronic Systems (Including Placement Year),
BENGH733 Mechatronic Systems (Including Foundation Year),
BSC H737 Mechatronics,
BSC H738 Mechatronics (including Placement Year),
BSC H739 Mechatronics (including Year Abroad),
BSC H717 Robotics,
BSC H718 Robotics (including Placement Year),
BSC H719 Robotics (including Year Abroad),
BSC I400 Artificial Intelligence,
BSC I401 Artificial Intelligence (Including Foundation Year),
BSC I402 Artificial Intelligence (including Placement Year),
BSC I403 Artificial Intelligence (including Year Abroad)

Module description

The module will introduce the essential hardware and low level software components of a digital computer system. They will understand the nature and architecture of a digital computer, identifying the operation of components within the system and explain the principles of an operating system. Students will study binary arithmetic with applications and design simple logic circuits from basic gates.

Module aims

The aim of this module is to introduce the essential hardware and low level software components of a digital computer system. The operation of these components is explored problem solving classes.

Module learning outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students should have a good conceptual and practical understanding of the nature and architecture of a digital computer system. Students will be expected to be able to:

1. understand the nature and architecture of a digital computer.
2. identify and explain the purpose and principles of operation of the components of a computer system.
3. explain the principles and purpose of an operating system.
4. interpret and manipulate binary representations of data, including two's complement.
5. design and understand simple logic circuits built from standard logic gates.

Module information

Outline Syllabus

Introduction to computer automatic theory.
Brief history of computer systems
System architecture
Peripherals and buses
Processor architecture
Computer system operation
Input/Output devices
Hardware components of a computer system
Introduction to operating systems

Learning and teaching methods

Lecturers and Laboratories

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Progress Test 1    50% 
Coursework   Progress Test 2    50% 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during January 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during January 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
40% 60%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
40% 60%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Leila Musavian, email: leila.musavian@essex.ac.uk.
Prof Leila Musavian
School Office, email: csee-schooloffice (non-Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create full e-mail address), Telephone 01206 872770

 

Availability
Yes
No
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 47 hours, 45 (95.7%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
2 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.