Electronics I


course ID

Lecturer

CFU

6

Length

14 Weeks

Semester DD

Second


Course details

1) Intrinsic noise, Jonhson thermal noise, Shot noise, Flicker noise, Popcorn noise, Equivalent Noise Temperature, Noise Figure of single elements and elements in cascade.
2) Design of passive filters (approximations and synthesis processes): high pass, low pass, band pass and band eliminate. Butterworth, Chebychev, inverse Chebychev, Elliptic, Bessel filters.
3) Ideal and real OPAMPs, feedback OPAMPs.
4) Design of active Sallen and Key or Multiple Feedback filters (MFB).
5) Introduction to MATLAB and the SIMULINK simulation environment with particular attention to the SIMSCAPE package.
6) Analysis of the Transfer Function for the determination of cut-off frequencies in discrete circuits.
7) Dominant pole approximation and time constant technique for determining the cut-off frequencies of active (BJT) and passive analog circuits.
8) Feedback in amplifiers and notes on stability criteria.

Dedicated time: 38 hours (4.75 CFU). MATLAB/SIMULINK exercises: 10 hours (1.25 CFU)

Objectives

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course of study is aimed at providing advanced preparation in Electronics, with particular emphasis on the analysis of components and circuits used in the field of analog electronics: transistor amplifiers, active filters, problems regarding signal integrity, characterization of electronic circuits, Laplace transforms applied to circuits with active elements, treatment of the causes of noise in electronic circuits. Study of the transfer function for analog circuits and approximate techniques for determining the cut-off frequencies. Criteria for stability in feedback circuits. Analog circuit simulation with Matlab-simulink.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The acquisition of advanced skills in the field of analog electronics is obtained through lectures and circuit simulation laboratory activities (MATLAB/SIMULINK). The verification of the students' learning results is carried out with exercises during the course and with a final exam which consists in an oral interview.


APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
Students must be able to independently design an analog circuit, whether passive or active, which satisfies pre-established design specifications, appropriately choosing the electronic components on the basis of circuit simulations performed in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. Students must also be able to adapt existing circuit models to latest generation devices, and to integrate the components into circuit networks optimized in terms of signal amplification and circuit stabilization.

MAKING JUDGEMENTS:
Students must be able to independently carry out experiments, calculations or circuit simulations. Develop the ability to carry out bibliographic searches and select interesting materials, particularly on the WEB. They must be able to assume responsibilities for both project scheduling and facility management. They must have reached an adequate level of ethical awareness in research and professional activities. These skills are acquired during study for the preparation of exams, examining in depth some specific topics also by consulting articles in magazines.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Students must acquire sufficient knowledge of English to understand scientific texts, if necessary also through participation in specific English courses made available by the Science Macroarea. During the course, students must acquire the use of clear technical language with which to focus on the topic under discussion in a simple and scientifically rigorous way. They must be able to present their research or the results of a literature search to any audience.

LEARNING SKILLS:
The course aims to encourage the development of an ability to understand, communicate and apply what has been learned in very different contexts. For this purpose, during the course, numerous examples of application of what has been studied are provided to very different scientific fields. Students must be able to address new problems through independent study. They must acquire the ability to continue their studies in a PhD or other graduate schools.