1. ECE 2799 Engineering Notebook Guidelines
Prof. Bitar
Prof. Mazumder

2. Better than long memory ”
“ Short pencil …
Better than long memory ”
~ Confucius ~

3. Purpose of a Notebook ?
There are two primary purposes of an engineering notebook:
One important purpose is project documentation.
Hint: Your homework assignments will be a lot easier if each team member keeps good written notes!
Another important purpose is authentication.
Where did your ideas come from, when and where?

4. Purpose? To Document To Authenticate Ideas Inventions Experiments
Observations
To Authenticate
Dates
Details
Diligence
Ownership

5. Engineering Notebooks in History
Historically, engineering notebooks have played an important role in both documenting and authenticating projects and inventions.
Great examples from history:
Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison, 1886
Harold S. Black, Negative Feedback, 1921 (WPI)

6. One of Bell’s Notebook Pages

7. One of Edison’s Notebook Pages

8. One of Black’s “Notebook” Pages
Idea of negative feedback sketched out on an August 1, 1927 New York Times.

9. A Notebook as Documentation
Organization Aid
Everything important is in one, portable place that everyone can review/copy and doesn’t require connectivity, electricity or even a table.
Memory Aid
It’s far too easy to forget ideas!
“Things to do lists”
“Action items”
Responsibilities.
Capture of Ideas
“Midnight epiphanies”

10. Notebook Content (for this course)
Sketches, Concepts, Ideas, Approaches
Issues To Be Resolved
Team Member Responsibilities
Schedules
Current Project Status
Block Diagrams
Circuit Diagrams and Schematics
Draft requirements
Experimental Data
Information Sources
Tables, Equations and Graphs
Cost Analysis
Contact Info
Meeting Notes
Conversation Log

11. Format ? Permanently Bound Notebook Numbered Pages (DO NOT Tear Out!)
Table of Contents (or tabs)
Sign, Date, and Record Times on Each Page
Witness Signatures
Work Neatly in Ink (Cross Out – DO NOT Erase!)
Label Figures, Charts, Tables, Equations, etc.
Do Not Leave Blank Areas (delimit dates)
Reference All Secondary Sources

12. Practical Notekeeping
In a modern design environment, there are two types of project documentation you will generally keep
Electronic notes
Schematics, PCB Layouts, Simulations
Computer code, design documents
Handwritten notes
Your engineering notebook
Documents the design process

13. Electronic Notes
While electronic information is essential, it has its problems:
Proper electronic documentation really requires a revision control system –
Who made changes?
What changes were made?
When were the changes made?
Why were the changes made?
Do I have the most recent revision?
Source code “war stories”

14. Use of Notes as Legal Documents
Since the AIA the notebook (notes) as a demonstration of conception and reduction to practice for patenting is (may be) less important.
Notes may be a defense against misappropriation of trade secrets. (new)

15. Why am I Underlining Notes?
In terms of design documentation and possible litigation support, notes includes everything project related:
Written engineering notebooks
Computer files
Printouts
Datasheets
Pictures
Etc., etc., etc.