This introduction to circuit design is unusual in several respects. First, it offers not just explanations, but a full course. Each of the twenty-five sessions begins with a discussion of a particular sort of circuit followed by the chance to try It out and see how it actually behaves. Accordingly, students understand the circuit's operation in a way that is deeper and much more satisfying than the manipulation of formulas. Second, it describes circuits that more traditional engineering introductions would postpone: on the third day, we build a radio receiver; on the fifth day, we build an operational amplifier from an array of transistors. The digital half of the course center on applying microcontrollers, but gives exposure to Verilog, a powerful hardware description language. Third, it proceeds at a rapid pace but requires no prior knowledge of electronics. Students gain intuitive understanding through immersion in good circuit design.
Table of Contents
1. DC circuits
2. RC circuits
3. Diode circuits
4. Transistors I
5. Transistors II
6. Operational amplifiers I
7. Operational amplifiers II: nice positive feedback
8. Operational amplifiers III
9. Operational amplifiers IV: nasty positive feedback
10. Operational amplifiers V: PID motor control loop
11. Voltage regulators
12. MOSFET switches
13. Group audio project
14. Logic gates
15. Logic compilers, sequential circuits, flip-flops
16. Counters
17. Memory: state machines
18. Analog to digital: phase-locked loop
19. Microcontrollers and microprocessors I: processor/controller
20. I/O, first assembly language
21. Bit operations
22. Interrupt: ADC and DAC
23. Moving pointers, serial buses
24. Dallas Standalone Micro, SiLabs SPI RAM
25. Toys in the attic
Appendices
Index.
