Week 1 Memo

Weekly Objectives

• Familiarize ourselves with the software such as labview, as well as the spectrum analyzer and function generator

• Sign out and verify that the given devices were in working condition

• Complete the weekly lab objectives

• Start planning for the division of tasks.  Talk and decide about tasks for each person

Challenges

• Due to class conflict we had only 1 hour to complete the tutorial on friday

• unable to complete the objectives due to the conflict

• Time management.

Next Week Itinerary

• Complete this weeks objectives, learn to use the labview software

• begin basic design proposals for prototype ideas

• Complete all lab objectives given to us by the Teaching assistants.

Summary

In the first week of the Spectrum analyzer project rotation we were given a case of parts for our project and asked to verify that they were all in working condition for our project, we completed the objectives associated with the RF generator, the mixer and the amplifier.  The rest of the components were accounted for we completed the first days objectives.  On the second day our lab was cancelled due to our groups conflict with EECE 359.  Our group had to write a midterm during the lab time, and was not able to complete the objectives.  Time is allocated for the coming week to complete these objectives as well as completing the new weeks lab tutorials.  Possible ideas for the project prototype include an IC peak detector with high accuracy, to ensure precise measurement after hearing that many groups last rotation suffered from inaccurate peak detectors.  Also discussed the attenuation of the project as the signal goes through the components the signal will attenuate and must be amplified to avoid losing the signal.  Discussion will resume next week.