ECE 173High-Speed Digital Design
Studies of analog circuit principles relevant to high-speed digital design: signal propagation, crosstalk, and electromagnetic interference. Topics include electrical characteristics of digital circuits, interfacing different logic families, measurement techniques, distributed circuits and transmission lines, ground planes and grounding, terminations, power systems, electromagnetic compatibility and noise suppression. Laboratory sequence illustrates fundamental lecture topics and includes completion of a final design project.
Prerequisite(s): ECE 101 and ECE 101L and ECE 174, or by permission of the instructor. ECE 171 and ECE 121 are recommended.
- If you completed the prerequisites but get an error message:
- UCSC Students - email your proof of prerequisite material to the department at bsoeadv@ucsc.edu for approval. If you have not completed ECE 174, but need this class for your major requirements, please use this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSds3tHxdjUE8JjLi7L36nzVj6M89RpZ7W17oImHrxsbzNt8fA/viewform
- Visiting Students - Please submit proof of prerquisite material via this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSds3tHxdjUE8JjLi7L36nzVj6M89RpZ7W17oImHrxsbzNt8fA/viewform. Visiting students will only be considered for enrollment after UCSC students have been accommodated, if space is available. Notification of permission code status will be communicated by Friday, June 5th
- From the Instructor: The primary software tools for PCB design in this course are Cadence OrCAD Capture CIS and Allegro, as in ECE 174. Altium Designer, KiCad, and EasyEDA are also supported.
Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.
When it runs
Summer 2026Open Summer 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Tue Thu 1:00pm–4:30pm | J Baskin Engr 156 | R. Lin | Open 29/30 |
Spring 2026Open Spring 2026
| Section | Type | When | Where | Instructor | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lecture | Mon Wed Fri 4:00pm–5:05pm | Merrill Acad 102 | S. Bose | Open 28/35 |
Who teaches it
| Instructor | Rating | Difficulty | Would take again | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soumya Bose | 2.4 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 | 60% | 5 |
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