Lecturer: Lodovico Ratti  

Course name: Introduction to Analog and Digital Electronics
Course code: 500544
Degree course: Ingegneria Meccatronica
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/01
University credits: CFU 6
Course website: http://eil.unipv.it/elettronicaIMN

Specific course objectives

The course covers the fundamentals of the analysis of analog and digital electronic circuits. The course provides an overview of the working principle and physical models of the most important electronic and microelectronic devices, in particular diodes and MOS transistors, and of the operation of the most widespread functional blocks, such as operational amplifiers, signal conditioning circuits, A/D and D/A converters, NOT, NOR and NAND logical gates, flip-flops and memories. The course aims at developing the student skills in the analysis of op-amp based electronic circuits performing linear and non-linear signal processing (amplification, sum, subtraction, integration, differentiation, filtering, pulse generation), basic amplifying circuits including MOS transistors and simple digital circuits based on elementary combinatorial and sequential logic gates. Beside the class lectures, the course includes laboratory activities on electronic circuit simulation.

Course programme

Introduction
Measurement, data acquisition and control systems. Digital and analog signals. Fourier analysis. Frequency spectrum. Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass filters. Bode diagrams. Step response analysis of linear circuits.

Operational amplifiers
Ideal operational amplifier. Negative feedback. Inverting and non-inverting amplifiers. Differential amplifier. Real operational amplifiers. Ideal and real integrator. Ideal and real differentiator. Active filters. Non-linear applications: bistable, monostable, astable circuits; oscillators, waveform generators.

Diodes
PN junction diode. Zener diode. Basic circuits with diodes: rectifiers, clippers, power supply filtering.

A/D and D/A converters
A/D and D/A conversion. Binary-weighted DAC, R-2R ladder DAC. Dual-slope ADC, successive approximation ADC, flash ADC.

MOS transistors
Overview of the physical model of the MOS transistor. Single-transistor amplifying configurations. Differential pair. Use of the MOS transistor in digital circuits.

Introduction to digital electronics
Logic states. Noise margins. OR, AND NOT, NAND, NOR, EXOR gates in CMOS technologies. Multivibrators. Sequential logic blocks: set-reset flip-flops. Static and dynamic RAM memories. ROM memories.

Course entry requirements

Knowledge of the fundamentals covered by the courses of Elettrotecnica or Teoria dei Circuiti is required.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 40
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 16
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 8

Suggested reading materials

A. Sedra, K. Smith. Microelectronic circuits. Oxford University Press (1998), Oxford, Fourth Edition.

P. Horowitz, W. Hill. The art of electronics. Cambridge University Press (1989), Cambridge, Second Edition.

T. C. Hayes, P. Horowitz. Student manual for the art of electronics. Cambridge University Press (1989), Cambridge.

Material relevant to laboratory activities is available on the course website..

Testing and exams

Student knowledge will be assessed through a written examination. If requested, an additional oral exam can also be taken. Students are invited to write a report on the laboratory activity, which is taken into account to determine the final grade.