• Final exam: April 20, 2023, 09:00-12:00, in STH216. Same rules as for the midterm: one sheet of formulas (no complete solutions) is allowed, calculators. The exam will cover all of the material in the course, with questions similar to those seen in homework assignments and covered in the lab. Please note that a passing grade (50% minimum) must be achieved on the final exam in order to pass the course.
• The lab final is set for March 29, 2023, 14:00-17:00, in H300. You will be given a circuit to assemble, and you will need to demonstrate that you can use your benchtop instruments to investigate and analyze its properties. A brief written submission (one page) will be submitted by 17:00. For example, the circuit could be an RC filter, and you would need to assemble it, perform a series of measurements and plot its transfer function, generating a Bode plot, and discuss it briefly.

• Hello, and welcome! This is the home page of the course. All updates and communications with the students will be done through this website.
• Brightspace will only be used to submit assignments and lab reports.
• Lectures are every Wednesday and Friday 9:30-11:00, in TH259 starting January 11.
• Labs are Wednesday and Thursday, 14:00-17:00, in H300, also starting January 11.
• Homework: Expect a homework assignment every two weeks or so; full marks will be given for demonstrated effort. This is different than for the midterm and final, where full marks will require a correct answer.
• The reading week is February 21-24.

  An in-class midterm is tentatively scheduled for the first lecture day after the reading week (March 1, 2023).

• Textbook: It is possible to take a class without a textbook, relying on the internet resources, or with any of the textbooks listed in the References. However, Robert E. Simpson, Introductory Electronics, 3rd ed. Allyn and Bacon, Inc., is highly recommended. It is an example of a "keeper" book, useful as a reference in later years. The book is out-of-print and cannot be ordered through the Campus Store. Students are encouraged to look for a used copy, or order online. Several copies are available to borrow from the Physics Office, B210.
• Assignment 1 has been posted, it's due by 9:30 on January 25. Both hardcopy (in class) and online submissions (Brightspace) are accepted.
• Assignment 2 has been posted, it's due by 9:30 on February 8.
• Assignment 3 has been posted, it's due February 17 (the last day before reading week).
• Midterm: in-class, March 1, one sheet of formulas (no complete solutions) is allowed, on all of analog electronics up to and including the material covered on February 17.
• There is no lecture on March 8. Instead, Phil will review the solutions to the problems on the midterm, in H300, at 9:30-11:00 on Wednesday, March 8.
• Assignment 4 has been posted, it's due March 22. About a half of it corresponds to the material already covered, the rest will be covered March 10-17.
• Assignment 5 has been posted, it's due March 29.

This is only an approximate listing, some topics may not get covered this year. As time allows, other topics not listed here may be included.

• Basic physical concepts
• charge, voltage, current, resistance, power
• DC circuits
• circuit reduction
• Kirchhoff's rules
• equivalent circuits
• Transient currents
• capacitors, inductors
• generalization of Ohm's Law
• MATH: simple differential equations
• resonance phenomena
• Sinusoidal currents, simple AC circuits
• MATH: complex numbers
• phasors
• time- and frequency-domain descriptions of AC circuits
• Fourier transform
• resonant circuits and their analysis, Q factor
• RC and RL circuits as filters; decibels
• AC equivalent circuits
• transformers
• Non-linear circuit elements
• elementary physics of semiconductors, pn-junction
• diodes and rectifiers
• transistors and their use as switches and amplifiers
• bipolar transistors and JFETs
• Operational amplifiers
• general amplifier theory; feedback
• op-amp concepts: virtual ground, summing point
• simple op-amp circuits
• math operations using op-amps
• signal modulation and de-modulation
• lock-in amplifier
• Noise
• Mathematics of Digital Circuits
• binary and other encodings
• Boolean algebra
• truth tables
• basic logic gates
• logic families
• Combinatorial Logic Devices
• encoders/decoders
• bus drivers
• 7-segment displays
• Sequential Logic Devices
• flip-flops
• synchronous and asynchronous counters
• Digital I/O and Communications
• serial vs. parallel
• Complex Digital Circuitry
• computer architecture
• microprocessors
• DSPs
• Programmable Logic Arrays
• Analog-to-Digital and Back
• A-to-D and D-to-A converters
• sensors and transducers
• control and time sequencing
• Microcontroller-Based Devices
• microcontroller architecture
• PIC microcontrollers
• assembly-language programming