48551 Analog Electronics

This subject draws on, and brings together, the knowledge and skills developed in earlier subjects such as Electronics and Circuits and Circuit Analysis, and teaches students to analyse, understand and design complex electronic circuits and systems. Particular emphasis is placed on developing the ability to model real-life devices, to understand their imperfections and limitations. The principal goal of this subject is to give all students – whether destined to become circuit designers or engineers who simply use electronics – the tools necessary to make intelligent choices in the design of modern electronic circuits and systems.

On completion of this subject students should be able to: understand the operation and characteristics of BJTs and MOSFETs in integrated circuits; understand the internal structure of typical IC Op-Amps and the operation of its basic building blocks; understand the character and sources of non-idealities in IC Op-Amps; select an appropriate device type for a specific application; understand the frequency-domain behaviour of circuits and systems; understand the feedback principle and use it to advantage in circuit and system design; be familiar with other analog circuits like oscillators, converters, multipliers, etc.; use computer simulation to analyse and design circuits and systems; and be familiar with basic techniques used in CAD of electronic circuits and systems. The project brings together three fundamental stages of electronic circuit development: preliminary design, verification and refinement by simulation as well as building and testing a prototype.

Topics include: review of basic BJT, MOSFET and Op-Amp circuits; computer-aided design (tools and principles); differential and multistage amplifiers; non-ideal characteristics of Op-Amps; output stages and power amplifiers; review of different Op-Amp types; frequency response of linear circuits and systems; feedback principles and applications; signal generation and waveform shaping; filter design principles; other analog circuits (data converters, multipliers, etc.); noise in integrated circuits; and grounding, coupling and decoupling techniques.

Assessment: Typically this subject is assessed through a combination of assignments, online quizzes, a project and a final examination.

Typical availability

Spring semester, City campus