ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS - 2021/2

Module code: EEE1025

Module Overview

Expected prior learning: None.

Module purpose: The module offers an introduction to circuit theory and analogue electronics.

Module provider

Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Module Leader

EVANS Philip (Elec Elec En)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 88

Lecture Hours: 11

Tutorial Hours: 11

Guided Learning: 10

Captured Content: 30

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.  

Module content

Indicative content includes the following.

 

Part A - Circuit Theory

DC circuits – Current and voltage definitions, Passive sign convention and circuit elements, Combining.

resistive elements in series and parallel. Kirchhoff’s laws and Ohm’s law. Anatomy of a circuit, Network reduction, Introduction to mesh and nodal analysis .  [5 lectures]

 

AC circuits I – Time dependent signals, average and RMS values. Capacitance and inductance, energy storage elements, simple AC steady-state sinusoidal analysis. [5 lectures]

 

AC Circuits II - Phasor diagrams, definition of complex impedance, AC circuit analysis with complex numbers. [3 lectures]

 

RL, RC and RLC circuits - Frequency response of RLC circuits, simple filter and band-pass circuits, resonance and Q-factor, use of Bode plots, use of differential equations and their solutions. Time response (natural and step responses). Introduction to second order circuits. [5 lectures]

 

Revision problem classes  [2 lectures]

 

Part B - Analogue Electronics

Fundamentals

Resistive networks, voltage and current sources, Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits, current and voltage division, input resistance, output resistance, coupling and decoupling capacitors, maximum power transfer, RMS and power dissipation, current limiting and over voltage protection. [4 lectures]

 

Components and active devices – Components vs elements and circuit modelling, real and ideal elements. Introduction to sensors and actuators, self-generating vs modulating type sensors, simple circuit interfacing. [2 lectures]

 

Diodes and Diode circuits – Diode characteristics and equations, ideal vs real. Signal conditioning, clamping and clipping, rectification and peak detection, photodiodes, LEDs, Zener diodes, voltage stabilisation, voltage reference, power supplies. [4 lectures]

 

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
School-timetabled exam/test TUTORIAL PEER ASSESSMENT SCHEME 10
Examination Online 2 HOUR ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) EXAM IN A 4 HOUR WINDOW 90

Alternative Assessment

A student required to resit the TPAS unit of assessment is required to re-submit written answers to all TPAS questions relevant to the module. This re-submission is assessed by the TPAS Coordinator on a pass-fail basis only.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the following:

·         That they can recognise common electronics components and circuits, recognise the purpose of a circuit. and analyse the properties of electronics systems. This involves both analytical and recognition skills.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following.

·         A 2-hour online, open-book examination in a 4-hour window  (90%).

·         Three sets of problems assessed via the Tutorial Peer Assessment System (TPAS)     (10% in total).

For exact TPAS submission dates, see the Departmental assessment calendar issued to you.

 

Formative assessment and feedback

For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways.

·         During lectures, by question and answer sessions

·         During tutorials/tutorial classes

·         Via the Year 1 Tutorial Peer Assessment System

·         By means of unassessed tutorial problem sheets (with answers/model solutions)

·         During supervised laboratory sessions

Module aims

  • Introduce the fundamentals of circuit analysis and analogue electronics. The module will enable students from different educational backgrounds to reach a common level of knowledge and understanding.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Apply basic analytical techniques (including Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff’s Laws and Mesh/Nodal analysis) to determine the currents and voltages in simple electronic circuits.
2 Apply the definitions of complex impedance to understand the response of reactive components to AC signals.
3 Apply analytical techniques to determine the frequency response of combinations of resistive/reactive elements including RL, RC and RLC circuits.
4 Simplify circuits to produce Norton and Thevenin equivalents.
5 Understand and apply the concept of input impedance and output impedances of analogue circuits and components.
6 Discuss the electrical characteristics of diodes and analyse simple analogue circuits containing these elements.
7 Analyse the operation of simple power supply circuits and specify components for a given performance.

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve the following aims.

The student should complete the course with a thorough grounding in elementary analogue electronics. The material is listed above. The level of experience is at introductory university level ad designed to prepare them for later parts of their course.

 

Learning and teaching methods include the following.


  • Lectures

  • problem classes


  • tutorial problems with peer marking


  • formative test


  • feedback



 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEE1025

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems BEng (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology BEng (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology MEng 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Space Systems BEng (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Space Systems MEng 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems MEng 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electronic Engineering MEng 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Computer and Internet Engineering BEng (Hons) 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Electrical and Electronic Engineering MEng 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Computer and Internet Engineering MEng 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.