DCU Home | Our Courses | Loop | Registry | Library | Search DCU

Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title Digital and Analogue Electronics I
Module Code EE223
School School of Electronic Engineering
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Derek Molloy
Semester 2: Derek Molloy
Autumn: Derek Molloy
Module TeachersDerek Molloy
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
None
Array
Description

The purpose of the module is to introduce the fundamental principles of digital and analogue electronics from system and device perspectives. Students will develop the ability to analyse and design basic digital and analogue electronic circuits and small systems. Significant elements of the learning experience will rely on problem based learning. Students are expected to participate actively in lectures, tutorials and laboratory/assignments. A kit of components is used to support this module, which must be borrowed by each student through a library loan arrangement.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the characteristics of basic analogue electronic circuit elements, including diodes and transistors.
2. Analyse and design basic analogue electronic circuits and systems.
3. Explain the characteristics of basic digital electronic circuit elements, including gates and flip flops.
4. Explain and solve arithmetic problems using a variety of digital number representations, including unsigned and signed binary, BCD, octal, decimal and hexidecimal.
5. Analyse and design combinatorial and sequential digital electronic circuits and systems, including adders and mixed analogue/digital circuits, through the use of DACs and ADCs with a micro-controller.
6. Build and debug digital and analog electronic circuits and systems using electronics kit, communicating with student peers, demonstrators and technical staff, and documenting experimental outcomes.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Online activity24Video lectures and interactive online content
Laboratory12Four three-hour laboratories
Tutorial10Typically once per week
Assignment Completion6Arduino individual assignment
Independent Study73Study of materials, write-up time and preparation time for laboratories, assignment work and study for class tests
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Digital Arithmetic
Alternate number bases: binary, octal, hexadecimal. Base conversion. Binary arithmetic. Signed number representation. Logic circuits for addition and substraction.

Combinatorial Logic
Basic Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and corresponding ciruit elements. Boolean algebra. De Morgan's Laws. Further Boolean operators (XOR, NAND, NOR). Minimisation of logic functions using Boolean algebra and using Karnaugh maps, including 3-variable and 4-variable cases.

Diode devices
Semiconductor materials and properties. Forward/reverse bias pn junctions. Diode equation. Reverse breakdown and zener diodes.

Transistor devices
Introduction to Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJT) and Field Effect Transistors (FET): MOSFET, JFET. FET.

Sequential Logic
Sequential logic elements including S-R, D, and J-K latches and flip-flops. Basic applications of flip-flops, including registers and counters.

Analogue & Digital
Introduction to the concepts of digital-to-analogue and analogue-to-digital conversion. This material also introduces the Arduino micro-controller and applies it to the task of A2D and D2A (PWM) conversion. The students perform an investigative laboratory on this topic.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment25% Examination Weight75%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Laboratory PortfolioLab 1 - Logic Gates10%Week 3
Laboratory PortfolioLab 2 - The Diode and Combinational Logic10%Week 5
Laboratory PortfolioLab 4 - The counter10%Week 7
Laboratory PortfolioLab 4 - The Arduino10%Week 9
AssignmentArduino assignment, video presentation/demo and report.10%Week 10
Loop Quiz4 class tests, week 4,6,8,1050%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 3
Indicative Reading List

  • Dhanasekharan Natarajan: 2020, Fundamentals of Digital Electronics, Dhanasekharan Natarajan, Switzerland,
  • Neil Storey: 2009, Electronics: A Systems Approach, 4th, Prentice Hall, 0273719181
Other Resources

43853, EE223 Loop page, Dr. Shirley Coyle, 2020, Course notes, videos, interactive quizes, https://loop.dcu.ie/course/view.php?id=51883, 43854, ebook, Tony R. Kuphaldt, 0, Lessons In Electric Circuits, http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/, 43855, PBL worksheets for electronics, Tony R. Kuphaldt, 0, Socratic Electronics, http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/socratic/, 43856, eBook, Robert L. Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky, 2013, Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, Pearson, https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/lib/dcu/reader.action?docID=5174836&ppg=6, 43857, Online peer learning forum, 0, All About Circuits Forum, http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/,
Programme or List of Programmes
APBSc in Applied Physics
ECEBEng Electronic & Computer Engineering
ECSAStudy Abroad (Engineering & Computing)
ECSAOStudy Abroad (Engineering & Computing)
MEB.Eng. in Mechatronic Engineering
PANBSc Physics with Data Analytics
PBMBSc Physics with Biomedical Sciences
PHABSc in Physics with Astronomy
Date of Last Revision14-SEP-10
Archives:

My DCU | Loop | Disclaimer | Privacy Statement