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Electronic Devices and Circuit Prototyping (H6099)

15 credits, Level 4

Spring teaching

Transistors are the basic building block of modern electronics and are used in a large variety of applications in computing and electronics.

This module provides you with an introduction of electronic devices, circuit theory and prototyping. It will consist of a series of lectures, starting with basic concepts of semiconductor devices and circuit theory such as diodes, junction transistors and field effect transistors (FET) and metal oxide semiconductor FET (MOSFET).

You will learn how to use component specifications (data sheets) to select your electronic components and design advanced circuit to solve real world challenges. You will gain the skills to simulate and test such electronic circuits and prototype them in the Laboratory using National Instrument hardware and software.

You will use the theory covered in lectures to produce a feedback stabilized series voltage regulator in the Lab and convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) using JFET, comparing its performance with MOSFET. 

Topics include:

• semiconductor devices - diodes, junction transistors, field-effect transistors (FETs)
• circuit applications - Half-wave, Full wave rectification and amplifiers.
• Zener diode applications- fixed reference voltage
• voltage regulators using FET and MOSFET
• feedback stabilized series voltage regulator
• component specifications and selection
• use of data sheets and applications notes
• production of circuit diagrams
• circuit simulation using NI Multisim
• circuit prototyping using NI Elvis
• circuit development and testing
• circuit final construction and testing
• technical report writing.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.