Circuits and Systems (BMEN30006)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
This subject introduces students to the fundamental principles of circuit and signal measurements and analyses in a biosignals context. In addition to the fundamental concepts, topics to be covered include an introduction to various types of sensors and the basic methods required to analyse measurements, calibrate sensors and evaluate measurement system performance.
In the laboratories, students will learn about laboratory safety, team work and measurement safety in an integrated way.
This subject is one of the subjects that define the Bioengineering Systems Major in the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedicine, and it is a core requirement for the Master of Engineering (Biomedical). It provides a foundation for various subsequent subjects, including BMEN90002 Neural Information Processing and BMEN90021 Medical Imaging.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics include:
Basic principles of charge, current, Coulomb's law, electric fields and electrical energy, Kirchhoff's current law, Kirchhoff's voltage law, voltage and current division, node voltage analysis, mesh current analysis, Thévenin and Norton equivalent circuits, transient analysis of RC and RL circuits, steady-state analysis of RLC circuits, phasors and impedance, frequency domain models for signals and frequency response for systems, continuous-time and discrete-time Fourier transforms, frequency response, filtering, transfer functions, Z-transforms, Laplace transforms, poles and zeros, Bode plots, and the relationship to state-space representations.
This material is complemented by the use of software tools (e.g. MATLAB) for computation and simulation, and practical experience with circuits and systems in the laboratory.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Apply physical principles, fundamental abstractions and modelling techniques in the analysis of electrical systems
- Develop and demonstrate basic biosignals laboratory skills through implementing, testing and debugging simple circuits on prototyping breadboards
- Apply fundamental mathematical analysis and modelling techniques to understand signals and systems in both time-domain and frequency-domain
- Analyse continuous-time and discrete-time signals and systems.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- Ability to apply knowledge of science and engineering fundamentals.
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution.
- Ability to utilise a systems approach to complex problems and to design and operational performance.
- Proficiency in engineering design.
- Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large.
- Capacity for creativity and innovation.
- Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, as a team leader or manager as well as an effective team member.
- Capacity for lifelong learning and professional development.
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMEN20003 | Applied Computation in Bioengineering | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| COMP20005 | Engineering Computation |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
BMEN20001 Biomechanical Physics and Computation
AND
Either:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20029 | Engineering Mathematics |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
OR
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST20009 | Vector Calculus |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| MAST20030 | Differential Equations | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
NOTE: For students enrolled in MC-ENG (Biomedical) or MC-ENG (Biomedical with Business) BMEN20003 - Applied Computation in Bioengineering and MAST20029 - Engineering Mathematics may be taken concurrently. Please complete an enrolment variation form if you wish to enrol concurrently, Subject Coordinator approval is not required.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELEN30012 | Signals and Systems |
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Assessment
Semester 1
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Six workshop group reports (students work in group of 2 or 3) not exceeding 30 pages in total each spread from week 2 to week 12, requiring 20 hours of work in total per student. ILOs 1-4 are assessed in the submitted workshop reports.
| From Week 2 to Week 12 | 30% |
One online mid-semester test. ILO 1 is assessed.
| Week 7 | 10% |
One final written examination. ILOs 1, 3 and 4 are assessed.
| During the examination period | 60% |
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Katie Davey Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 3 x 1 hour lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week, and 6 x 2 hour workshops per semester Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 30 May 2021 Last self-enrol date 12 March 2021 Census date 31 March 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 May 2021 Assessment period ends 25 June 2021 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject is delivered through lectures, tutorials and workshop classes for hands-on laboratory activities.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Students are provided with lecture slides, tutorials and worked solutions, a problem set and solutions, problem sets, laboratory sheets, and reference text lists.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
Exposure to signal processing in a bioengineering context through research lab visits and/or guest lectures.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Biomedical Major Bioengineering Systems Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Bioengineering Systems Informal specialisation Elective subjects for B-BMED Specialisation (formal) Biomedical with Business - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 April 2025