ECE 231S Introductory Electronics (20081)

1.     Instructors

LEC 01 and 02: Khoman Phang, Office: Bahen BA5136,   Email: kphang@eecg.toronto.edu

LEC 03: Roman Genov,   Office: Bahen BA5142,   Email: roman@eecg.toronto.edu

2.     Home Page

https://ccnet.utoronto.ca/20081/ece231h1s

·        All the latest course announcements, handouts, and other information.

·        Bulletin board:  Contains a discussion forum for homework questions, labs, and course concepts. Use to post questions and to exchange information. Remember that it is a public forum and that your postings are professional communications that should be respectful of others.

3.     Text Book

Microelectronic Circuits, 5th Edition, A. S. Sedra and K.C. Smith, Oxford University Press, 2004. Available at UofT bookstore for $119.95 (book only) or $129.95 (with problems supplement).

This course is an introduction to electronic circuits using operational amplifiers, diodes, and transistors. The course will cover approximately the first five chapters of Sedra and Smith. The course syllabus can be found on the left sidebar of the course website. Topics include:

·        Chapter 1: Review (voltage amplifiers, frequency response, etc.)

·        Chapter 2: Operational Amplifiers

·        Chapter 3: Diodes

·        Chapter 4: Field-Effect Transistors

·        Chapter 5: Bipolar Junction Transistors

4.     Homework Problems and Exercises

Homework problems and exercises will be assigned weekly. Students are expected to keep up with the homework in order to prepare for tests and exams. Homework ‘exercises’ are found within each section in the chapter, whereas homework ‘problems’ are found at the end of the chapter.  The final answers to each problem are provided, and the complete solutions will be posted a few weeks after the date on which we assigned the problems.  Many helpful tips to specific problems can be found in the archives of past homework discussion streams on the bulletin board.  Questions relating to the homework should be posted on the bulletin board or brought up during tutorials.

5.     Tutorials

Tutorials are held weekly on Fridays 2:00pm-3:00pm, beginning Jan.11th.  They will cover the self-study quizzes (see ‘Tests’ below), key homework problems, review key concepts from the lectures, and provide students with a chance to ask individual questions. The two term tests and a quiz will also be held during the tutorial (see ‘Tests’ below).

6.     Tests

·        There are two tests and one quiz in this course. The tests are 50 minutes long and will be held in the tutorials. Details about tests and exams are available off the ‘Tests & Final’ sidebar from the course website. 

·        Test #1: Fri. Feb.8th  (tentative)

·        Quiz: Fri. March 14th (tentative)

·        Test #2: Fri. March 28th (tentative)

·        Self-study quizzes based on problems from past tests and exams will be posted on the web site weekly and taken up in the tutorials. These questions will help you prepare for exam type questions, but are not marked.

7.     Labs

This course is supplemented by 4 laboratory experiments (see course website sidebar link to “Labs” for the lab schedule). The purpose of these lab projects is for students to become familiar with Spice circuit simulation, and with the experimentation and debugging of electronic circuits.

·        Lab information sessions: Prior to the first lab experiment, students must attend an introductory lab information session to sign up in pairs of two, and to obtain information about the course labs. The information sessions are listed below:

Section

Date

Time

PRA0101

Mon. Jan. 21

2pm

PRA0102

Tue. Jan. 22

10am

PRA0103

Mon. Jan. 14

2pm

PRA0104

Tue. Jan. 15

10am

·      Students work in groups of two.

·        You can find a lab partner at the time of the lab information session. To help you find a lab partner, students in each lab section will be posted on the website. Students must have a lab partner in time for the first lab.

·        Each student keeps a bound, lab book to document their work.

·        To receive full marks, students must successfully complete the lab preparation, the lab itself, document their lab results in the lab book, and answer relevant questions posed by the TAs during evaluation.  A mark will be given at the end of each lab. There is no write up required after the lab. The labs are equally weighted. 

·        The Lab handout will be available from the Handouts section of the course website.

·        Lab kits are currently available from TWO stores near campus. The cost last year was around $20 without the protoboard and $50 with the protoboard. Although the protoboard is optional, it is recommended because it allows you to prepare your circuits ahead of time.

1.      Creatron Inc., http://www.creatroninc.com, 255 College St. (at Spadina), Toronto, 416-977-9258. The protoboard from Creatron comes completely assembled.

2.      Honson Computer Corp., www.supremetronic.com, 289 College St. (at Spadina), Toronto, 416-967-9333. The protoboard from Honson comes unassembled, so soldering, wiring, and assembly (as described in Appendix A of the Lab Handout) are required and must be done before the first lab. Soldering and wiring supplies are available in the GB341 lab during regular hours. Please speak to the lab coordinator, Mr. Mihai Zaharia, in GB338, if you need assistance.

8.     Marking Scheme

Final Exam       55%

Tests (2)          30%

Labs (4)           10%

Quiz (1)            5%

9.     Have a Question?

1.   Post general questions on the Bulletin Board of the course website which is regularly monitored by course TA’s and instructors.

2.   Email ta231@eecg.utoronto.ca for specific questions relating to you and the course (including labs, quizzes, and marks).

3.   Approach your TA or lecturer at the end of any tutorial or lecture.

Page last updated Jan.7, 2008