This course is a basic overview of electronic components and their common uses. It covers diodes, transistors, and op amps. Laboratory demonstrations are given to reinforce the concepts learned from the lectures and homework. The course is targeted at people with a scientific or technical background who are not electrical or computer engineers. The coverage is not as deep as an electronics course aimed at electrical or computer engineers. There are a number of physical applications demonstrated in this course that serve to motivate this topic to a wider audience.
Syllabus
The course is broken into four modules, several have an associated homework and a quiz:
Module 1: Background (1 week)
Review of linear circuits and frequency response fundamentals
Module 2: Op Amps (2 weeks)
Ideal Behavior; common resistor circuits; common RC circuits; applications: amplifiers, and filters
Module 3: Diodes (2 weeks)
pn junctions; Ideal diodes; diodes with a turn-on voltage; circuits with ideal diodes; rectifiers; limiters; regulators
Module 4: Transistors (2 weeks)
Overview of the physics of MOSFETs; MOSFETS in amplifiers and in digital logic circuits
Grading and Certificate: Grading will be based on homework (80%) and four quizzes (20%) based on the four modules. A minimum grade of 70% is needed to earn a certificate of completion.