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Unit outline_

ELEC9404: Electronic Circuit Design

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aims to teach students analysis and design techniques for electronic systems such as signal amplifiers, differential amplifiers and power amplifiers. A background in basic electronics and circuit theory is assumed. Completion of this unit will allow progression to advanced studies or to work in electronics and telecommunication engineering. Topics covered are as follows. The BJT as an amplifier. Biasing in BJT amplifier circuits. Small signal operation and models. Single stage BJT amplifiers. BJT internal capacitances and high frequency models. The frequency response of the common-emitter amplifier. BJT current sources and current mirrors. Differential amplifiers. Output stages and power amplifiers: class A, class B and class AB.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ELEC5737
Assumed knowledge
? 

A background in basic electronics and circuit theory is assumed

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Alex Y. Song, alex.song@sydney.edu.au
Laboratory supervisor(s) Rui Chu, rui.chu@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Alex Y. Song, alex.song@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Bo Liu, bo.liu@sydney.edu.au
Huan Li, huan.li@sydney.edu.au
Yuan Ma, yuan.ma@sydney.edu.au
Yikai Yang, yikai.yang@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Exp 1 - Laboratory introduction (Op-amp)
Simulation-based or experiment-based project report.
6% - n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Exp 3 - Differential amplifiers and current mirror
Simulation-based or experiment-based project report.
6% - n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Assignment Exp 2 - BJT amplifier
Simulation-based or experiment-based project report.
6% - n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Assignment Project - Power amplifier
Simulation-based or experiment-based project report.
17% - n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO9
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final exam
Online quizzes.
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO10
Participation Tutorial
participation in classes, in tutorials and in labs
0% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO2
Online task Quiz 1
online quiz
5% Week 05 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO10 LO6 LO5
Online task Quiz 2
online quiz
5% Week 09 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO7 LO6
Online task Quiz 3
online quiz
5% Week 12 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO8 LO7 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Lab skills: Lab work is performed in groups. Each student must use a bound notebook to record pre-lab work and lab experiments individually. These are assessed by lab staff in each tutorial session along with group participation and pre-lab work (done before the lab). The final project includes assessment for 1) your individual lab book recordings of design, calculations and simulations, circuit building, troubleshooting of the circuits, comments, solutions, and conclusions and 2) A group presentation.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Op Amps, BJTs Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 03 BJTs, MOSFETs Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 04 BJT amplifier and cirtuits Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 05 Frequency response Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 06 MOSFET amplifier circuits Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 07 Integrated circuits design basics Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 08 Differential circuits Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 09 Power and output Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 10 Feedback circuits Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 11 Digital circuits, CMOS Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 12 CMOS, Memory Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 13 Review Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Sedra and Smith, Microelectronic Circuits (sixth). Oxford, 2010. ISBN: 9780195323030 .

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. make written and oral presentations concisely and accurately, in the form of tutorial presentations, lab reports, and project report
  • LO2. work in a team to discuss with and draw upon the diverse skills and knowledge of other team members in conducting lab experiments
  • LO3. conduct simulation-based work using circuits and associated simulation software packages such as LTSpice to solve a particular problem
  • LO4. design power amplifiers and output stages, digital and integrated circuits using techniques and principles presented in the course
  • LO5. use basic circuit building blocks to create more advanced circuits within the scope and to the extent of the information presented
  • LO6. demonstrate an understanding of operational amplifiers and their internal devices, including BJT and CMOS transistors, DC biasing techniques and small signal modelling
  • LO7. apply specific principles and techniques to SPICE circuit simulation using a variety of different software packages from leading industry vendors to the extent of the material presented
  • LO8. determine the stability of feedback amplifiers and their steady state performance
  • LO9. instigate inquiry to extend the knowledge and awareness of supplementary techniques, concepts and materials using varied resources and media formats within the context of the projects and problems investigated
  • LO10. demonstrate an understanding of fundamental issues in electronic circuit design such as non-idealities of amplifiers and the effect of passive and parasitic components.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

n.a.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.