1. Electronics: Technologies, Definitions and Introductory Concepts
Learning in
Electronic Circuits
Electronics: Technologies, Definitions and Introductory Concepts
© 2013 Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (EPSEVG)
José Antonio Soria Pérez - Associate Professor at (UPC – EPSEVG Campus).
C/ V. Balaguer, 1. Vilanova i la G. (Barcelona - Spain). Telf: Fax:
Office hours: VG3-D101 – EEL MON 10-14h, TUE: 10-14h (Yellow zone)

2. In this lesson, you will...
... be introduced to the main concepts of electronics
Basic definitions, technologies and introductory concepts about electronic circuits.
The different categories of electronic components

3. What are “electronic circuits” ?
They are boards with assembled electronic components
Printed Circuit Board prototyping (PCB’s)
Experimentation (Breadboard prototyping)
Components develop electronic functions … that is mathematical operations applied to electricity
Electronics is present in everyday life
Industrial
Domestic
Multimeter
Car computer
PCI graphic board
Signal operation
Train
Automotive
Robotics
Solar Energy
Motor control
Energy transformation
Audio
Mobile
Air conditioning
Computing
Microwave

4. A resistor is an example
Component technology
Electronic functions are carried out by components
Components can be...
...‘thru-hole’ (TH) or ‘Surface Mount’ Devices (SMD/SMT).
... linear or non-linear function devices
Thru-Hole
SMT
Resistors
PCB i v + i v + R
A resistor is an example
of a linear device
A diode is an example
of a non-linear device

5. digital integrated circuits
Component technology
Electronic functions are carried out by components
Components can be...
...‘thru-hole’ (TH) or surface mount devices (SMD/SMT).
... linear or non-linear devices.
... passive or active devices.
... discrete or integrated devices.
... analog or/and digital devices.
External energy source required
Active (semicondusctors)
Passive
Integrated → Several functions included
Analog
Discrete → Elementary device
Passive
Device
Active
Device
An operational amplifier is an example of an analog integrated circuit
Logic gates are examples of
digital integrated circuits
Analog →
Digital
Performance do not rely on power sources
(No amplification of input power at the output)
Digital (Classic TTL levels) →
Performance do rely on external power sources
(Amplification of input power at the output)
Integration → The goal is to increase functionality and reliability
(at the expense of reducing consumption power)

6. Electronics. Fields of application
I/O A/D
Peripherals
Bus (n)
I/O A/D
Computer
(Controller)
I/O
A/D
Communication
channel
Transceivers
COM
The goal of electronics:
To control physical processes
Interfaces/
Drivers
I/O*
D/A
Actuators
Signal
Conditioning
Physical world
Sensors/
Transducers

7. Electronic components: Overview
General vs. Specific purpose
General purpose devices are not application intended (Their purpose is «generic»)
Specific devices are application intended (They have an «specific goal»)
Example: A resistor opposes to current flow
Example: The thermistor (NTC) is a resistor whose value depends on temperarture
It is necessary to develop (almost) any control operation...
It is, therefore, a general purpose device
It is designed for sensing temperature. Althogh its operation principle
is based on the resistor, it has an specific goal.

8. Electronic components: Overview
…on the component typology
Almost all elementary components develop generic functions …with few exceptions (i.e: the NTC)
Almost all integrated components develop specific functions …but some of them have become generic with the time
Other categories:
Mechanical accessories are necessary in circuit assembly
Digital integrated circuits are considered a special case
Example: The integrated operational amplifier is used for signal conditioning
General purpose
operational amplifier
Connectors and switches
Circuit boards
Specific purpose
operational amplifier
Component functionality can be programmed !!!
These include passive components, discrete semiconductors (and general purpose IC’s)

9. Digital devices Non-programming: Programming Obsolet !!!
Combinational logic: the outputs depend exclusively on the digital inputs (logic gates, decoders, multiplexers, etc…)
Sequential logic: the outputs additionally depend on values in previous operating time (Flip flops, RAM, ROM, E2PROM, etc…)
Programming
Custom design:
PALs, GALs, PLAs, PLDs.
Controllers (MCUs)
FPGAs, DSP’s and ‘multiple core’ systems
Programable Logic Computers (PLC’s)
Memory
RAM HW
Multiplier
Timers
Oscillator
WDT
E2P
Radio Transceivers
UHF ASK/FSK
Capture Mod.
Comparators
PWM
Com An.
+Vref
USB port
AD Conv.
LCD Control
SPI/I2C/TCP-IP Ports
RS232
CAN 2.0B
QEI
DMA
Example: logic gates
Example: the RS latch
SN7400
SN74LS279
Obsolet !!!
High data processing resources
(Signal processing and Image
Patten recognition applications)
Plant workstation computers
(for industrial usage)
Custom design of logic/sequantial circuits
Industrial control tasks