An Application Oriented Course Sequence In Electronics In Ecet

As the data rates in computers and communication systems zoom into the gigabit range, the analog signal techniques have assumed great importance. New analog design techniques and circuit layout techniques are being used in modern industry. There is an urgent need for bringing these advancements into the classroom. Furthermore, with availability of so many integrated circuits and systems-on-chip, the electronic design in industry has become more system oriented than before. This paper presents a sequence of two courses to meet the above needs in the undergraduate electronics courses: Analog Electronics and Digital Electronics. The courses use top-down instruction starting from the system level followed by component level understanding. The first course is oriented to teach the system level input-output characteristics of analog electronic components and subsystems. The second course focuses on teaching the modern digital ICs and their applications, the design of high speed switching circuits using the modern electronic design automation (EDA) tools. The topics in the second course include the power up/down sequencing, hot-swap circuits, clock generator and recovery circuits, heat management considerations, various signaling standards and an introduction to signal integrity, EMI, shielding, grounding and layout issues in printed circuit boards, integrated circuits and packages. Students use the simulation tools which are currently being used in industry thus reducing the gap between industry and education. The hardware experiments help in developing troubleshooting skills and learning about components.