Electronics

It does not require experience in electronics.

1 – Theoretical classes: Description of fundamental concepts and techniques of analysis and design, which enables students to acquire essential skills for practical classes. Several analog electronics circuits used in digital systems will be analyzed. Some simple embedded systems implemented on the Tinkercad (online simulation platform) will also be examined. Some concepts about energy literacy will be presented.

2 – Practical classes: Resolution of exercises, namely analysis and design of low complexity analog circuits and their implementation in a breadboard. Implementation of the two final projects using the Arduino nano development board (traffic light control system and electric lock control system).

In the theoretical component, the main electrical quantities will be presented, as well as, some circuit analysis techniques. The concepts of inductance and capacitance will also be introduced. Afterwards, semiconductors will be presented, so that students can understand the working principle of diodes, Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) and operational amplifiers (amp-ops).

Students should understand the working principle of some commonly used electronic systems, namely with regard to the Software / Hardware interface.

Embedded systems (ES) will also be introduced. In this regard, students should understand the architecture and characteristics of an embedded system, as well as identify its functional requirements and the main tools used in its design.

Some concepts about energy literacy will also be presented throughout the semester.

Regarding the laboratory component, students are expected to acquire some competences resulting from the manipulation of electrical and electronic components in practical applications. Similarly, they should acquire skills in the manipulation of some electrical circuit simulation tools. Students should also acquire basic skills regarding the use of tools used in the design of ES.

1. Introduction

• Definitions of basic electrical quantities.

• Fundamental elements of a circuit.

• Electrical resistance, Ohm’s law, Joule effect and superconductors.

• Renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, energy sustainability and circular economy.

2. Circuit analysis techniques

• Laws of Kirchhoff.

• Analysis of elementary circuits.

• Analysis Methods: Mesh analysis and Nodal analysis.

• Network Theorems: Superposition theorem and Thevenin’s theorem.

• Simulation of electrical and electronic circuits using simulation tools: Pspice, LTspice and Tinkercad

3. Semiconductors

• The atom.

• Materials used in Electronics.

• Electron and hole.

• Extrinsic and intrinsic semiconductors.

• N-Type semiconductor.

• P-Type semiconductor.

• PN junction – Diode.

4. Diode

• Diode operation.

• V-I characteristic.

• Diode model.

• Circuit analysis.

• Analysis and simulation of circuits with diodes using the Python programming language

• Most relevant applications in the field of computer engineering

5. Electricity and the human body

• Voltage characteristics of grid electricity

• Root mean square value

• Severity of electrical current in the human body

• Main physiological effects of electric current on the human body

6. Bipolar junction transistor

• Structure.

• Basic operation.

• Characteristic and operation.

• BJT as an amplifier.

• BJT AC models.

• Common-emitter amplifier.

• Common-collector amplifier.

• Common-base amplifier.

• Analysis of BJT circuits (DC and AC).

7. Operational amplifier

• Differential amplifier.

• Integrated circuits.

• Characteristics of amp-ops and schematic symbol.

• Circuit model.

• Characteristics of an Ideal amp-op.

• Ideal amp-op analysis.

• Different types of feedback.

• Mathematical operations.

• Amp-op versus analog computer.

8. Digital to Analog Converters (CAD)

• Sample and hold circuit.

• Nyquist’s theorem.

• Aliasing.

• Quantization block.

• Characteristics.

• CAD architectures.

9. Embedded Systems

• Structure.

• Microcontrollers.

• Sensors.

• Actuators.

• Integrated development environment.

• User interface.

NAO

Main Bibliography:

1.  Amaral, A. M. R. (2021). Electrónica Aplicada. Lisboa: Edições Silabo (Cota: 1-1-414 (ISEC)).

Complementar:

1.  Amaral, A. M. R. (2017). Electrónica Analógica: Princípios, Análise e Projectos. Lisboa: Edições Silabo (Cota: 1-1-398 (ISEC)).

2.  Amaral, A. M. R. (2015). Análise de Circuitos e Dispositivos Electrónicos (2ª ed.). Porto: Publindústria (1-1-388 (ISEC)).

3.  Nilsson, J. W., Riedel S. A. (2011). Electric Circuits (9ª ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc (Cota: 1-3-289 (ISEC)).

4.  Malvino, A., Bates, D. (2016). Eletronic Principles (8ª ed). New York: McGraw-Hill (Cota: 1-1-144(ISEC))

5.  Millman, J., Halkias C. (1972). Integrated Eletronics: Analog and Digital Circuits and Systems. Tokyo: McGraw-Hill. (Cota: 1-1-217 (ISEC))

6.  Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (Maio 2010). Simple Experimental Techniques to Characterize Capacitors in a Wide Range of Frequencies and Temperatures. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 59(5), pp. 1258-1267.

7.  Amaral, A. M. R., Laadjal, K., Cardoso, A. J. M (Junho 2023). Advanced Fault-Detection Technique for DC-Link Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors Based on a Random Forest Classifier. Electronics, 12, pp. 1-18.

8.  Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J.M. (Setembro 2022). Simulation Tool to Evaluate Fault Diagnosis Techniques for DC-DC Converters. Symmetry, 14, pp. 1-16.

9.  Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (Maio 2022). Using Python for the Simulation of a Closed Loop PI Controller for a Buck Converter. Signals, 3, pp. 313-325.

10. Amaral, A. M. R., Laadjal, K., Cardoso, A. J. M (2023, July). Decision Tree Regressor-Based Approach for DC-Link Electrolytic Capacitors Health Monitoring. In 7th AEIT International Conference of Electrical and Electronic Technologies for Automotive, Modena, Italy (pp. 1-6).

11.  Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (2009, November). State Condition Estimation of Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors Used on the Primary Side of ATX Power Supplies. In 35th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Porto, Portugal (pp. 442-447).

12. Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (2016, June). Unregulated AC-DC power supply under heavy load operation: Simulation and design. In Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE 26th International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, Edinburgo, UK (pp. 913-918).

13. Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (June 2016). Modeling, Simulation and Design of an AC-DC Power Supply. International Journal on Numerical and Analytical Methods in Engineering, 4(3), pp. 72-82.

14. Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (Oct-Dec 2016). Voltage Doubler for AC-DC Step-Up Linear Power Supplies: Design, Modelling and Simulation. Acta Electrotechnica et Informatica, 16(4), pp. 3-10.

15. Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (July 2013). Using a Very Simple Capacimeter to Evaluate Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors Health Status. International Journal on Engineering Applications, 4(1), pp. 234-240.

16. Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (2021, March). Regulated Step-Up Power Supplies: Design and Simulation. In 18th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals & Devices (SSD), Monastir, Tunisia & Virtual (pp. 801-807).

17. Amaral, A. M. R., Cardoso, A. J. M. (2021, Jully). Design, Analysis and Simulation of AC-DC Converters with Python. In 3rd International Conference on Electronics Representation and Algorithm (ICERA), Yogyakarta, Indonesia & Virtual (pp. 13-18).