ECE 2799

Engineering Notebook Guidelines

Professors Bitar and Michalson

www.bookfactory.com/special_info/engr_notebook_guidelines.html

“ Short pencil …

Better than long memory ”~ Confucius ~

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?

Purpose?

To Document Ideas Inventions Experiments Observations

To Authenticate Dates Details Diligence Ownership

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

One of Bell’s Notebook Pages

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

One of Edison’s Notebook Pages

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)

One of Black’s “Notebook” Pages

Idea of negative feedback sketched out on an August 1,

1927 New York Times.

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”

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

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

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

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”

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)

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.