Course Syllabus

  • Course Details
  • ECE 581: High Frequency Power Electronics -- All Sections
  • 3 Credit Hours
  • This course addresses the motivations and inherent design issues associated with high frequency switched mode power supply design. Origins and dependencies of frequency dependent losses will be reviewed, with specific emphasis on potential design approaches which reduce energy loss and facilitate high frequency operation. Resonance, and its application to power converter will be discussed. Students will learn steady-state and dynamic modeling techniques which allow the analysis and design of converters containing significant resonant intervals, for which traditional small ripple assumptions do not hold..
  • Course Topics
  • High Frequency Power Conversion
    1. Switching losses and device selection
    2. Nonlinear device capacitances
    3. Resonance in power electronics
    4. Soft switching (ZVS and ZCS)
  • Resonant Converters
    1. State-plane analysis
    2. Resonant converter topologies
    3. Sinusoidal analysis
    4. AC-modeling and frequency modulation
  • Non-resonant soft switching converters
    1. State-plane analysis
    2. Constant frequency control
    3. Resonant switches
    4. Modeling and Simulation
    5. Discrete time models
  • Switched capacitor converters
    1. SSL and FSL operation
    2. Charge vector modeling
    3. Soft-charging operation
  • Applications and practical issues of high frequency converters
  • Class Meeting Schedule
  • Lecture: MWF, 9:10-10:00 am
  • Lectures meet in PER 108
  • Lab experiments occur in MK225
  • Attendance is required in all lectures and scheduled lab times
  • Instructors
  • Professor Daniel Costinett
  • Email: ude.ktu@ttenitsoC.leinaD
  • Please use [ECE202] in the subject line for all course-related e-mails.
  • Phone:865-974-3572
  • Office: MK504
  • Office Hours: T, 2:00-3:00pm & W 2:30-3:30pm
  • E-mail to set up an additional time

  • Policies
  • No late work will be accepted except in cases of documented medical emergencies.
  • Collaboration is encouraged on all assignments except exams.
  • Assignments will be due in lecture on the day listed in the course schedule. The assignment is due prior to the start of the scheduled period.
  • All written assignments will be submitted through Canvas

  • Grading
  • Homeworks and Labs are learning experiences and will be graded based on effort
  • Exams (midterms and final) are assessments and will be graded based on demonstrated knowledge and correct application of techniques.
  • Grading
  • Homework: 40%
  • Midterms: 25%
  • Final: 35%
  • Grading Scale
    • ≥92.5% 92.5% to 90% 90% to 87.5% 87.5% to 82.5% 82.5% to 80% 80% to 77.5%
    A A- B+ B B- C+
    77.5% to 72.5% 72.5% to 70% 70% to 67.5% 67.5% to 62.5% 62.5% to 60% <60%
    C C- D+ D D- F
  • Assignments
  • The course will have approximately 12 homework assignments, 1 midterm exam/project, and one final exam/project.
  • Homeworks
  • All homeworks count towards the final grade
  • You are welcome to work collaboratively on homework assignments, but must submit your own work
  • All homework assignments will be submitted prior to the start of lecture through Canvas as a pdf. A physical copy may be submitted prior to the start of lecture for a 5% grade penalty
  • Exams
  • All exams will count towards the final grade
  • All exams are open-book, open-note, and a calculator may be used. No collaboration is allowed.
  • Textbook
  • (recommended) Erickson and MaksimovicFundamentals of Power Electronics 2nd Edition
  • Available at UT bookstore or through online retailers
  • How to succeed in this course
  • Attend all lectures
  • Read associated sections in the book, as listed on the course schedule
  • Work collaboratively (in person or virtually) to understand assignments
  • Actively participate in lab sessions
  • Review material in advance of quizzes and exams
  • Ask questions in lecture / office hours / e‐mail after having made an attempt at the material on your own
  • Additional notices for all students
  • If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. (865-974-6087, 2227 Dunford Hall).
  • Every effort will be made to reasonably and fairly deal with students who have serious religious observances that conflict with scheduled exams, assignments, etc. Please notify the instructor well in advance, so that there is time to make adequate arrangements.
  • All students of the University of Tennessee are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported. Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). For further information, please refer to the university Standards of Conduct and the academic policies and procedures, present in hilltopics