Analog and Digital Programmable Electronic Systems - LEETC

1. To know the typical topologies of various fundamental analog and digital electronic systems.

2. To understand the characteristics and various uses of electronic key systems, including its limitations.

3. To learn to compare, choose and apply the topologies studied, adapting them to specific electronic systems.

4. To learn how to analyze electronic systems that contain the actual basic topologies studied.

5. To know how to develop moderate complexity electronic systems containing the studied topologies as functional blocks.

I. Study of the ideal and real operational amplifier model. Static and dynamic characteristics. Circuit techniques for reducing the effects of op-amp imperfections. Typical architecture: differential input stage, gain stage, level shifter and output stage. Applications in linear (amplifiers) and non-linear circuits (comparators, precision rectifier, exponential and logarithmic amplifier. Analog multipliers: 1, 2 and 4 quadrant (Gilbert cell). RC harmonic oscillators; amplitude control circuits. A/D and D/A converters; block diagram and converter classification; architecture: and typical circuits; typical specs.

II. Ideal and non-ideal specifications of given circuit. Relationship between the circuit and the respective equivalent functional block.

III. Exemplification of given circuits application. Contextualization in complex electronic systems.

IV. Considerations about discrete and integrated circuit implementation, their restrictions and limitations.

A major goal of this course is the understanding of the characteristics and the use of various fundamental electronic circuits, both analog and digital, of general application in electronic systems. Various basic circuits that comprise more complex electronic systems are studied (I, III - 1), with emphasis in illustrating its use in real systems (III, IV - 3.4). For these circuits, specifications are analyzed for ideal and real cases (II, IV - 2, 5) and the synthesis driven by the triad theory- simulation-experimentation is strongly stimulated. The implementation of several circuits in laboratorial classes, where students assess the performance of developed circuits, consolidates theoretical knowledge and exercises student’s ability for experimental execution.

Teaching methodology:

Theoretical and practical classes: Presentation and discussion of theoretical concepts, with problem workout and discussion of the respective methodology; Classes of lab practice: Theoretical concepts are
further developed and applied through the implementation, experimental study and simulation of some circuits. The laboratory work is pedagogically fundamental.

Evaluation:

The evaluation is composed by two components: a theoretical evaluation, which has a weight of 50%, and evaluation of lab classes, which has a weight of 50%.

A theoretical assessment is performed by four written mini-tests. These can be replaced wholly by a final evaluation test. Lab evaluation is carried out by reports from lab classes and four evaluation questionnaire.

The learning objectives 1 and 2 and theoretical part of objectives 3 to 5 are evaluated through theoretical evaluation.

The presentation and discussion of theoretical concepts, with problem workout and discussion circuit examples, provides students with knowledge of topologies, their characteristics and limitations and also their application in more complex systems. The simulation and experimentation of some circuits in laboratory classes exercises the analysis of real electronic systems, while coaching the integration of those circuits in electronic systems of greater complexity.

A. S. Sedra, K. C. Smith, “Microelectronic Circuits”, 6 th Ed., Oxford University Press Inc, 2010.

J. Keown, “OrCAD PSpice and Circuit Analysis”, 4 th Ed., Prentice-Hall, 2000.