Syllabus Fall 2003

Objectives of the course

The course focuses on those elements of electronics most frequently encountered in basic instrumentation, i.e., low power, low frequency analog and digital techniques. The objectives of the course are to give the student

• An understanding of the principles as well as the practical limitations of the electronics commonly used in experimental science and engineering.
• A general awareness of what is commercially available in the way of elementary electronic building blocks.
• And above all the ability to design and build simple but useful and functional electronic circuits.

Textbooks

The primary texts for the course are Barnaal, Analog Electronics for Scientific Applications, and Simpson, Introductory Electronics for Scientists and Engineers. The counterpoint to these is formed by Horowitz and Hill, The Art of Electronics. Although even in its 2nd edition it is getting a little bit behind modern developments, it is a valuable source of ideas and practical solutions to a wide range of problems. It also gives a much better impression of what practical electronics is all about. Textbooks for this course are strictly optional. There are many other texts available, in the UD bookstore, in places like Borders and in the library. You may consider the option of looking through more than one and selecting whichever you feel most comfortable with.

The course heavily relies on the electronic circuit simulation package Electronics Workbench. This package is available on all machines in the electronics lab. A student version is available (now called Multisim) directly from the publisher. The lab manual is always undergoing revisions but is available on the web.

Course requirements

It is expected that you have a background equivalent to PHYS 208, which covers the electricity and magnetism sections of Halliday and Resnick.

Organization of the course

The course consists of two lecture periods and one 3 hour lab session each week. Since the main purpose of the course is to give you the opportunity to gain some practical experience with electronics, the lab sessions are by far the most important part. You are expected to do a considerable amount of work during the relatively short time set for the lab, and it is essential to prepare well for it! Expect to spend 10 -14 hours per week on this course, depending on your electronics background.

The lab manual provides some structure for the first ten lab sessions. We will start out with material that may resemble a repeat of PHYS 208. This is primarily intended to improve your intuition for the concepts that form the very basis for electronics. This is then followed by sessions on the bipolar transistor, the operational amplifier and CMOS logic circuits. In the remaining time, approximately four weeks, you are expected to work on a project of your own choice.

In the lab, students should work in pairs as much as possible. Each pair is collectively responsible for the lab preparation, execution of the experiments and the keeping of adequate notes in a single notebook. Homework is handed in individually.

Electronics Workbench

The software package "Electronics Workbench" provides an easy and powerful way to simulate your circuits. Before assembling and testing the actual hardware, you should do a simulation. This usually clarifies a) what gets connected where, and thus speeds up the assembly, and b) it shows clearly how the circuit is supposed to work, which makes testing easier. Although you will be working in pairs, you should do the simulations individually, and hand in some evidence of your activity. You may also use Electronic Workbench to help you with your homework.

Grading scheme

The grading scheme for the course reflects the importance of the practical work.

• Homework 25%
• Work in the lab 35%
• Project 20%
• Final exam 20%

Homework
Normally directly related to the lab session. You are expected to submit the homework by e-mail as a Microsoft Word file. The homework is due on the date indicated on the assignment, before noon, i.e., before class. There is a 30% penalty for post deadline submission.

Lab Work
* Preparation: Circuit diagrams, Circuit layout, Parts List, Necessary calculations and simulations
* Neatness of execution: Circuit organization, Wiring, Orderly notebook, Accurate presentation of the data.
* Completeness of your notes: What was done, why, miscellaneous observations.
* It is expected that the data is processed immediately, and where possible checked against EWB simulations.
* The lab TA will establish due dates for lab reports. There is a 30% penalty for post deadline submission.

Project
During the last 4 weeks of the semester the lab time will be available to work on a project of your choice. The project should be suitable for you to demonstrate the skills you have mastered. It should contain both digital and analog parts. In the end you are expected to write a brief report explaining the project.

Final exam
The final exam will consist of two parts.
a) An in-class exam that will consists primarily of questions from the homework.
b) A EWB project which will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in the use of the simulation software.

Contact information

Instructor
Ed Nowak
Office/lab: SHL 228/027
Phone: X2676/1087
e-mail: nowak@udel.edu

Lab TA
Jonathan Skovholt
Office/lab: SHL 306/027
Phone: X0131/1087
e-mail: jskovhol@udel.edu