OVERVIEW

The course provides the fundamental concepts of analog and digital electronics, focusing on components and circuits commonly used for the measurement and control of electrical systems and power electronic systems.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquisition of basic theoretical knowledge and technical references for the design and experimental verification of digital and analog electronic circuits.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understand the design criteria and guidelines for electronic circuits described in the technical literature.

Acquire knowledge of electronic components and of the selection criteria used in the design of measurement and interface circuits.

Perform experimental verification of the proper dimensioning and operation of simple electronic circuits.

PREREQUISITES

Electrotechnics, Circuit Theory.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, laboratory activities, and independent exercises.

• Lectures: classroom teaching supported by slides, with reference to textbooks, datasheets, and online resources;
• Laboratory activities: students, working in groups, will gain hands-on experience with electronic instrumentation for the characterization of diodes and transistors and will have the opportunity to design and test simple circuits based on operational amplifiers and logic devices; students will complete a worksheet during and at the end of each laboratory session;
• Independent exercises: students will perform simulations of the circuits discussed during lectures on their own computers and will explain the approach, assumptions, and results.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) may request reasonable accommodations and/or exemptions for examinations. The arrangements will be defined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Engineering Representative of the University Committee for the Support of Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders.

Students wishing to request accommodations are invited to contact the course instructor well in advance, copying the Engineering Representative of the Committee (https://unige.it/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita.html), without sending any documentation regarding their disability.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Semiconductor Physics and Passive Components

• Semiconductor materials, p–n junctions, and diodes;
• Passive components (in connection with the course Circuit Theory and Electrical Laboratory).

2. Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs)

• Operating principle and biasing;
• Large-signal and small-signal equations;
• Parameters and equivalent circuits for the three configurations: common-emitter (CE), common-base (CB), and common-collector (CC).

3. Junction Field-Effect Transistors (JFETs)

• Operating principle and biasing;
• Characteristics and applications.

4. Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs)

• Operating principle and biasing;
• Characteristics and applications.

5. Applications of BJTs, JFETs, and MOSFETs

• Amplification and signal-conditioning circuits and architectures, including Darlington pairs, cascaded amplifiers, cascode amplifiers, totem-pole stages, and differential amplifiers.

6. Operational Amplifiers

• Operating principle and main characteristics, with distinction between BJT-input and JFET/MOSFET-input operational amplifiers;
• Typical circuits for amplification, buffering, current regulation, and rectification.

7. Logic Gates

• Logic families and operating principles;
• Electrical characteristics, performance, and limitations.

A. Circuit Simulation Using PSpice

• Circuit simulation and analysis using PSpice 9.1 student version, applied across Modules 2–7.

B. Laboratory Activities (Circuit Construction and Testing)

• Design, implementation, and testing of electronic circuits, applied across Modules 5–7.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

a) Course notes.

b) Textbooks on Electronic Circuits and Devices:
- P. Horowitz and W. Hill, The art of electronics, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 1990.
- A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith, "Microelectronic circuits", Oxford Univ. Press, 6th ed. or more recent

c) Bruce Carter and Thomas R. Brown, "Handbook of Operational Amplifier Applications" (Texas Instruments), 2016: https://www.ti.com/lit/an/sboa092b/sboa092b.pdf

d) PSpice tutorials:
- Purdue University: https://engineering.purdue.edu/~ee255d3/files/PSPICEtutorial.pdf
- Installation guide (in Italian): https://www.docenti.unina.it/webdocenti-be/allegati/materiale-didattico/34276224
- General guidance webpage including examples and links for downloading the installation executable files, maintained by Prof. Guazzoni (Politecnico di Milano): https://guazzoni.faculty.polimi.it/fde/laboese.htm

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of a written test including questions and exercises covering the various topics addressed during the course.

Laboratory activities (three assignments) and independent exercises (three assignments) carried out during the course are considered part of the assessment process and provide a bonus of up to 3 points on the final examination grade (out of 30). Further details and clarifications will be provided during the first lecture and upon request.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Questions and exercises are designed to be completed in approximately 15–20 minutes each. Each question includes a theoretical component (e.g., explaining a concept or defining technical terms) followed by a short numerical problem requiring the application of the concepts discussed.

The duration of the examination is normally 1.5 hours.