1. Introduction to Electronics
Bing Chen
10/21/2013

2. Outline Circuit Technologies Types of Circuits Digitization
Power and Signals
Measuring Tools
Prototyping
Design Considerations

3. Circuit Technologies Type Applications Complexity Initial Cost
Scalability
Breadboard
Simple Prototyping
Low
Poor
Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
Prototyping, production
Low to High
Low to Medium
Good
Integrated Circuits
Research, very high volume, performance
High
Fantastic!
Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS)/Hybrid
Sensor technology, biomedical implants
Medium to High
Thin-Film Transistor (TFT)
Printable electronics, display

4. They look like…
Breadboard
PCB IC
MEMS
TFT

5. Circuit Catagories Analog Circuits Digital Circuits Biological
Power Electronics
Control Circuits
Microwave, mm-Wave, RF, THz
… many more!
They are often mixed!

6. From the real world to the machines
We live in a “digital era”
Reliable signal processing format, algorithms, “machine learning”
Need to convert natural signals for computing
Use analog-to-digital converters for digitization
Data Acquisition Systems (DAQs) are often used in data taking:
Sensors -> Frontend (DAC) -> (Firmware) -> SW (loopback)

7. Power Direct Current (DC) vs. Alternate Current (AC)
Single Supply vs. Dual Supply
High Power vs. Regular vs. Low Power vs. Ultralow Power Systems
Power is the most important thing to any circuit operation.
If something didn’t work check the power first!
Power consumption in ICs can be high ~30W
Effects speed and noise performance
Mobile systems need low power!

8. Signals Analog vs. digital signals
Low quality signal (large noise) is could cause faulty circuit operations
Often encoded in communication systems
Clock is the most important signal in most digital mixed signal systems
If something didn’t work check the clock line!
Signal lines are used in testing, debugging
Simply looking at top IOs is often inadequate for testing
Signals carry information
But without physical storage there is NO information (not now anyway)

9. Measuring Signal Values
Digital multi-meter (mostly DC)
Oscillascopes (low to high frequencies)
Network Analyzer (high frequency)
Probing station (IC)

10. Generating signals for testing
Function generator
Usually simple functions: pulse, square, sine, ramp
Software-defined signals
Meaning encoding of information: command, data
Combined with measuring, PC-based prototyping/validation systems are becoming very popular – lower cost and easy to use
i.e. Labview, PC-based Simulators

11. Prototyping Something…
Nowadays there are many design tools, PDK, SDK, EDKs, Demo Boards, etc
PCB prototyping
Microcontroller
FPGA
Labview …
Highly depends on final application
It’s like that at CERN…

12. Production Considerations
VERY different from prototyping
Cost is usually the biggest issue, aside from:
Reliability, testability, IP violation, regulation, reimbursement, security, …

13. Next Time…
Analog Design Concepts
Sensors