PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRONICS - MOD. 1

The course is mandatory for the BSc-level programme in Engineering Physics and will be offered in the second period of the third year. It is an introduction to the scientific and engineering technique on analog electronics circuits. This course is foundational to understand complex electronics systems.

1. Knowledge and understanding
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles in electronic circuits, specifically those involving diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers.
Analyze electronic circuits based on diodes and understand the principles underlying transistor-based amplifiers.
Design and assess simple diode circuits, such as limiters and rectifiers, and understand these components' significance in electronic systems.
Understand the operation of differential amplifiers and recognize the applications of operational amplifiers.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Apply knowledge of electronic components to design basic electronic circuits, addressing real-world challenges and mitigating common non-idealities.
Design single-stage amplifier stages, determine their main figures of merit and transfer functions, and develop current sources using transistors, such as current mirrors.
Using operational amplifiers, leverage knowledge to design effective circuits, including summing circuits, differentiators, integrators, and more.

3. Autonomy of judgment
Critically assess the performance and efficiency of electronic designs, including single-stage amplifiers, differential amplifiers, and current mirrors.
Recognize possible errors through a critical analysis of the applied method.

4. Communication skills
Communicate technical information effectively, using appropriate terminology in both written and oral formats, to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Engage respectfully and constructively with instructors and peers, particularly during collaborative projects.

5. Learning skills
Develop strong independent learning skills.
Take comprehensive notes, selecting and organizing information based on relevance and priority.
Demonstrate autonomy in gathering and synthesizing data relevant to electronic circuit design, preparing for lifelong learning and problem-solving in advanced technological settings.

The course requires knowledge of circuit theory, basic principles of mathematics (derivatives, integrals, and differential equations), and fundamental concepts in electromagnetism.

- Introductory concepts on electronics: Kirchhoff's laws, Thevenin's and Norton's theorems, single-time-constant (STC) circuits, Bode's diagrams
- Introduction to amplifiers
- Introduction to semiconductor physics and PN junction
- Diodes, operating regimes and circuits
- Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs)
- Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs)
- Transistor amplifiers and frequency response
- Building blocks of integrated-circuit amplifiers
- Introduction to the differential amplifier

- A. S. Sedra and C. K. Smith “Microelectronic Circuits”, 8th Edition, Oxford Univ. Press, 2019.
- Richard C. Jaeger and Travis N. Blalock "Microelectronic circuit design", McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.

The achievement of the teaching objectives is assessed through course assignments (maximum +3/30) and a final written exam. The final written exam consists of 2-3 problems similar to those covered in class and group work, with a maximum score of 30/30. Both the assignments and the written exam, if passed, are valid for one academic year. The use of notes, books, and other teaching materials is not permitted during the exam. An optional oral exam is available at the student's request, involving a few theoretical questions on course topics and solving an exercise similar to those in the written exam. The oral exam can adjust the written exam mark by up to ±4/30. A single final mark for both modules will be calculated as the average of the individual marks from each module.

The course will take place through classroom lectures. The lectures will combine theory and exercises to facilitate the learning of the fundamental concepts and the understanding of the main parameters for the design and performance evaluation of analog circuits.
Through the university's "Moodle" platform, the following will be made available: 1) The teaching materials written and presented during the lectures, 2) supplementary materials for in-depth study of specific topics covered in class.

Italian

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development