Learning objectives
1) Knowledge and understanding
This module aims at providing students with basic knowledge and
understanding of:
- analysis techniques for first- and second-order systems in the frequency
domain
- transfer functions and frequency response functions
- characteristics and behavior of feedback systems
- methods for evaluating the stability of linear systems
- electronic devices and simple electronic circuits
2) Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to:
- analyze the behavior of linear systems, and in particular of first- and
second-oder systems, by frequency domain analysis
- analyze behavior and stability of feedback systems
- recognize common electronic devices and circuits.
Prerequisites
Students must be familiar with the concepts and methods treated in the
mathematics and physics courses of the first two years of the degree
(Analisi matematica 1, Analisi matematica 2, Fisica generale 1, Fisica
generale 2).
Course unit content
Introduction to Electronics
This part of the course (module 2) aims to provide the students with the general criteria to analyze the behavior basic electronic circuits for signal processing. Therefore, the contents proposed during the course include the following topics:
1) Mathematical models of mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical linear systems
2) Frequency domain analysis of linear systems
3) Systems with feed-back
4) Basic models of electronic devices, as diodes, transistors and operational amplifiers, and some of their applications.
Full programme
1) Mathematical models of mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical linear systems (2 h)
Examples of mathematical models of mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical linear systems.
2) Frequency domain analysis of linear systems (10 h)
Fourier and Laplace transform: examples and rules. Transfer functions. Step response of 1st and 2nd order systems. Series and parallel-connected systems.
3) Systems with feed-back (6 h)
Typical equations of systems with feed-back. Feedback loops. Stability and the poles of the transfer function. Bode plots. Bode stability criterion.
4) Basic models of electronic devices, as diodes, transistors and operational amplifiers, and some of their applications (6 h)
Semiconductors’ properties. Pn junction. I-V curves of: diodes; MOSFETs; BJTs; Opartional Amplifiers. Basic applications of diodes (rectifiers), transistors (H bridge to generate square waves, and common emitter amplifier with BJT), and Operational Amplifiers (inverting and non-inverting amplifiers, buffer, adder, subtractor).
Bibliography
The student can study the topics discussed during the course reading the following textbooks:
A. Hambley, “Electrical Engineering: Principles and Applications”, 6th ed., Prentice Hall, ISBN-10: 027379325X
R.C. Jaeger, T.N. Blalock, "Microelectronic circuit design", 4th ed., McGraw-Hill, ISBN 978-0-07-338045-2
The notes of the lectures and exercises will be available to students and shared on the Elly web site.
Teaching methods
The module 2 (Introduction to Electronics) of the course counts 3 CFUs (one CFU, University Credits equals one ECTS credit and represents the workload of a student during educational activities aimed at passing the exams), which corresponds to 24 hours of lectures. The educational activities include lectures and exercises. During lectures, the course topics are proposed from the theoretical and design point of view to promote a deep understanding of the issues and to bring out by the students any previous knowledge on the subjects in question. Slides and notes used to support the lessons will be uploaded to the Elly Platform. Notes, slides, spreadsheets, tables, and all shared material are part of the educational material. For non-attending students, it is important to stay up-to-date on the course through the Elly platform, the only communication tool used for direct teacher/student contact. On this platform, the topics discussed in the lesson will be pointed out and registered, providing the students with an index of the contents for the final exam.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam. There is a single written exam for the two modules making up the integrated course. About Introduction to Electronics (Elementi di Elettronica), students will have to demonstrate knowledge solving quantitative exercises by hand calculation on the techniques for the frequency-domain analysis of linear systems shown during the lectures.
During the samel exam can be verified what the knowledge acquired by the student on electronics topics treated during the course.
The score of the whole exam will be a weighted sum of scores obtained by each written part (written part of Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, written part of Introduction to Electronics, and oral part of Introduction to Electronics).
Other information
The course web site can be found on the Elly platform.
