1. ECE 2799 Engineering Notebook Guidelines Professors Bitar and Michalson www.bookfactory.com/special_info/engr_notebook_guidelines.html

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

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

4. Purpose? To Document To Document Ideas Ideas Inventions Inventions Experiments Experiments Observations Observations To Authenticate 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. Historically, engineering notebooks have played an important role in both documenting and authenticating projects and inventions. Great examples from history: Great examples from history: Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell

6. One of Bell’s Notebook Pages

7. Engineering Notebooks in History Historically, engineering notebooks have played an important role in both documenting and authenticating projects and inventions. Historically, engineering notebooks have played an important role in both documenting and authenticating projects and inventions. Great examples from history: Great examples from history: Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell Thomas Edison, 1886 Thomas Edison, 1886

8. One of Edison’s Notebook Pages

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. 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. 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) Notes may be a defense against misappropriation of trade secrets. (new)

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