431-222 Electronic Circuit Design 1

431-210 Electrical Circuits 2, 640-141 Physics A, 640-142 Physics B (or equivalent).

Students completing this subject will be able to analyse and design simple active electronic circuits and understand the principles and operation of the semiconductor devices used in them.

Topics include: amplifier concepts and characteristics (gain, impedance, bandwidth); amplifier types and circuit models (eg. voltage, transimpedance); cascaded amplifiers; omamp circuits (incl. effect of finite open-loop gain); basic semiconductor concepts (valence and conduction bands, conductors, insulators and semiconductors); carrier transport in semiconductors (electrons and holes, drift and diffusion, recombination - direct and indirect); doping of semiconductors; p-n junction under forward- and reverse- bias (current-voltage characteristic); p-n junction capactitance: diodes; diode basis circuit analysis (load line, constant voltage drop, small-signal model); diode circuits (rectification, limiting); zener diode (principle, characteristic, design of voltage reference); light omitting diodes (principle, biasing); MOSFET (enhancement) BJT transistor devices and circuits (device structure, operation, large signal characteristics, operation as a switch, biasing, small-signal characteristics and circuit model, single-stage common source/emmitter amplifier circuit analysis and design, low-frequency amplifier response, followers); linear voltage regulation (principle, example, current limiting); fixed voltage regulators; power supply decoupling; dc-dc converters (principles, step-up, step-down); heat and power design (heat sinking, thermal resistance).

• ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals

• in-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline

• ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution

• ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance

• understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development

• understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them

• capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning

• intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity

One written 3-hour examination (60%), practice problems (10%), test (5%), laboratories (20%) and assignment (5%).