The module offers an introduction to circuit theory and analogue electronics. No previous knowledge of electronics is required.

The aim of this module is to introduce the fundamentals of circuit analysis, analogue electronics, transistors and amplifiers. The module will enable students from diverse A-level and non A-level backgrounds to reach a common level of knowledge and understanding.

Upon successful completion of the module students should be able to: 

·        Apply Ohm’s law and Kirchoff’s current and voltage laws to simple circuits.

·        Describe fundamental concepts linking simple circuit elements together.

·        Apply the basic analytical techniques to AC and DC circuits.

·        Discuss the concepts of input impedance and output impedance.

·        Apply analytical techniques to circuits involving combinations of circuit elements.

·        Analyse the operation of simple power supply circuits, and specify components for a given performance.

·        Apply the definitions of complex impedance to previously learned analytical techniques.

• Use a range of techniques to produce Bode plots and understand them.

   

• Design and analyse simple transistors amplifiers and op-amp amplifiers.

   

• Design and analyse simple waveshaping circuits based around both active and passive circuit components.
• Analyse resonant RLC circuits as well as simple RL and RC circuits.

Semester 1

Part A Circuit Theory (SH)

DC circuits – Current and voltage definitions, resistive elements, Kirchoff’s laws & Ohm’s law. Network reduction, analysis techniques, theorems and max. power transfer.

 [5 lectures]

AC circuits I - Energy storage elements, capacitance & inductance, physical understanding. AC circuit elements.  Energy storage. Alternating current, simple ac steady-state sinusoidal analysis.

[5 lectures]

Part B Analogue Electronics (GTR)

Fundamentals

Resistive networks (series & parallel), voltage & current sources, Thevenin & Norton equivalent circuits, current and voltage division, input resistance, output resistance, coupling capacitors and decoupling capacitors, current limiting and over voltage protection, analogue vs digital, noise.

[4 lectures]

Components & active devices – Components vs elements & circuit modelling. Introduction to sensors & acuators, self-generating vs modulating type sensors, simple circuit interfacing.

[2 lectures]

Diodes and Diode circuits – Diode characteristics and equations, ideal vs real. Signal conditioning, clamping and clipping, rectification and peak detection, Photodiodes, LEDs, zener diodes, voltage stabilisation, voltage reference, power supplies.

[4 lectures]

Semester 2

Part A Circuit Theory (SH)

AC Circuits II - Power dissipation & RMS, phasor diagrams. Introduction to complex number representation. Definition of complex impedance and use with complex numbers. AC circuit analysis with complex numbers: introduction to mesh and nodal analysis.

[5 lectures]

RL, RC and RLC circuits - Time response (natural & step responses). Frequency response RLC circuits, resonance & Q-factor. Use of differential equations and their solutions. Simple filter and band-pass circuits. Introduction to second order circuit. Use of Bode plots.

[5 Lectures]

Part B Analogue Electronics (GTR)

Amplifier concepts – Sources & loads, equivalent circuits, filtering & bandwidth, differential mode. Introduction to operational amplifiers, ideal vs real, simple amplifier configurations: Inverting and non inverting configurations, transimpedance amplifier, virtual earth and summing amplifiers, Schmidt trigger. Bode Plots of simple circuits.

[5 lectures]

Transistors –Introduction to transistors (FETs & Bipolars). FET principles & types, MOSFET characteristics and simple amplifier circuits. MOSFET small signal equivalent circuit and dc biasing.

[3 lectures]

Amplifier Circuits – Examples of ac and dc amplifiers based on op-amps, clamping and waveshaping, rectifiers, and oscillators.

[2 lectures]

Lectures, tutorial problems, group working, peer and self marking, formative test and feedback

12th August 2010