electronic cicruits, system and data processing

Teacher(s)

Toussaint Sébastien;

Language

English

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Master the fundamental building blocks of electronics (battery, Resistor, Capacitor, Op Amp). Design or analyse elementary circuits (Multivibrators). Discuss the methodology underlying the construction of an electronic-based instruments (Measurand, Sensor/Transducer, Circuit, Signal) Explain the basic working principles underlying electronics technologies. Formulate concepts and insights in a scientific manner.

Content

This course is the follow-up of “Conceptual physics with technical applications”. It aims at illustrating the impact of the elementary physical laws on the economic development of electronics.
It focuses on the methods underlying the development and design of electronic-based products. After attending this course, the student will be able to:

• Master the fundamental building blocks of electronics.
• Design or analyse elementary circuits.
• Explain the basic working principles underlying electronics technologies. 
• Formulate concepts and insights in a scientific manner.

The course is divided into three parts:

• Part 1: an extensive description of the silicon-based technologies industry.

In this part, the teaching activities focus on the following concepts: switches-based logic, logic gates, arbitrary basis counting (e.g. binary), the different scales in micro- and nano-technologies, printed board circuits and integrated circuit (focusing on the conceptual supply chain).

• Part 2: analysis of elementary electronic compounds and circuits.

This part of the course focuses on the connection between elementary physical or mathematical laws underlying the realisation of electronic compounds.
Here, the teaching activities focus on the following concepts: electromotive force, the physics of resistors and capacitors, vector fields, Gauss law, the RC-circuit.

• Part 3: the physics of sensing and detection

Starting from the environment (sensing a temperature, humidity, gas concentration, etc.) the course focuses on presenting the appropriate sensor choice, illustrates the elementary circuit used for sensing (i.e. the relaxation oscillator) and analyses the collected signal. Signal processing is addressed thanks to filtering.
In this part, the teaching activities focus on the following concepts: black box, feedback, the operational amplifier (used in elementary circuits), circuit design on breadboard, filtering.
Eventually, most of the concepts presented in the course are illustrated by the ex-cathedra experimental realisations.

Teaching methods

Four hours a week are dedicated to INGE1244 during the semester: an ex-cathedra lecture (two hours) is followed by a session of two hours of exercise session. One (or two) topic is extensively presented ex-cathedra (e.g. the drag force, work-energy theorem, etc.) and the same topic is exemplified in the following exercise session. The exercises can be separated into three categories: synthesis questions, conceptual questions, and computational questions. During the session, the students are expected to work by themselves (alone or in small groups). Nevertheless, the teacher is fully available for four tasks: (1) answer clarification questions, (2) deliver tips to guide students (requesting them) towards the solution, (3) discuss the way the student justifies the answer and (4), if necessary, solve “tougher” problems on the board.

Evaluation methods

Written closed-book exam with three categories of questions:

• A question evaluating the student’s ability to understand the methodology underlying the construction of an electronic-based instrument (30%)
• A series of multiple-choice conceptual questions. These questions evaluate the student’s ability to identify the relevant concepts required to explain an observation and present a justification (35%)
• A series of exercises. These questions evaluate the student’s ability to solve problems with numerical values (35%).

The use of a simple (non-graphical and non-programmable) calculator is permitted. No form is allowed.

Online resources

Complementary notes related to each course are communicated online each week.

Faculty or entity

> ESPB