Mechanical Engineering 233: Electronics Design
Meets Fall Quarter 2008, TuTh 12:30PM - 1:50PM Tech L361
Expected Enrollment: 60

Instructor: Michael Peshkin
Office address: Tech  B227
Phone: 847-491-4630
E-mail: peshkin@northwestern.edu
Office Hours: TBD

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Electronics Design

Catalog description:

Design and prototyping of analog electronic circuits using semiconductor devices: diodes, transistors, opamps, instrumentation amps.  Amplification for optical and other sensors, power electronics, filters, and feedback control.  Digital signals, gates, counters, and other devices.  Intended for engineers in all disciplines.  Extensive hands-on construction and debugging.

Who takes it:

Intended for second and third year students in all engineering disciplines, though probably not appropriate for electrical engineering students.   No previous electronics coursework is assumed.  Provides a solid foundation for ME 333 Mechatronics or Design Competition.

Requirements:

100% class attendance is required. Each class session consists of a lecture and a period of in-class lab work. Most classes will have a follow-on homework set or an at-home lab project. There is no separate “lab” lab.

Hardware requirements -- all circuits are real, not simulated. A laptop computer will be used as an oscilloscope, power supply, etc. AC wall-outlet power will not be available, thus, each student must have a laptop computer with a fresh battery, capable of at least 90 minutes of run time. Laptops will be used on in-class exams as well. If your battery is old, get a new one.

Electronic components will be provided at no cost.

Software requirements -- your laptop computer must be capable of running Windows (PC, or Mac with BootCamp). 

Matlab with the Data Acquisition toolbox is required. The usual student version of Matlab does not include that toolbox. A special discounted version will be made available through McCormick IT. Be sure to purchase and install it before the first day of class. Matlab will be used in this class only as an oscilloscope.

Textbook:

Electronics - Out of the Lab. (provided at no cost)

Minisyllabus:

  • Ground and power supply considerations; use of instruments
  • Potentiometers, voltage dividers, and resistor networks
  • Opamps: design of closed loop behaviors, and applications
  • Optical, thermal, and other sensors
  • Diode circuits, rectification, capacitors, and power supplies
  • Capacitors, integrators, differentiators, and RC filters
  • Transistors, biasing, and optical sensors
  • MOSFETs and controlling large currents
  • Instrumentation amps and applications
  • Digital logic, gates, counters, and applications