Course detail

CAD in Electronic Circuits

FEKT-BREOAcad. year: 2012/2013

Basic principles of computer-aided design of electronic circuits. Work with the OrCAD-PSpice simulator. Circuit analysis and characterization in DC, AC, and time domains. Analysis of influence of device parameter tolerances on circuit behavior. Optimization and symbolic analysis. Models of passive and active circuit elements and blocks, creation of new model and part libraries. Computer-aided design of elementary electronic circuits with operating amplifiers and transistors - amplifiers, oscillators, filters. Stability analysis and provisioning. Specialized programs for design of analog frequency filters.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will become familiar with modern programs and methods for computer-aided design of electronic circuits and systems. They will be able to work immediately with all programs of the Spice family including the creation and modification of models of circuit devices and functional blocks. They will become familiar with design of basic electronic circuits with transistors and operating amplifiers.

Prerequisites

The subject knowledge from the first year of study is sufficient.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Conditions for successful completion of the course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Course curriculum

Lectures:
1. Spice language: syntax, part definition, subcircuits, models, libraries.
2. Circuit characterization in DC, AC, and time domains, initial conditions. Optimization.
3. Tolerance and sensitivity analysis, Monte Carlo, worst case analysis.
4. Modeling of electronics devices and subsystems, operational amplifiers.
5. Feedback and stability.
6. Design of transistor circuits.
7. Modeling of switched power supplies. Computer-aided design of analog frequency filters.


Computer exercises:
1. Introduction to the PSpice program. Device characteristics, operating point, small-signal parameters.
2. Model creation.
3. Advanced functions of postprocessor. Frequency response.
4. Tolerance and sensitivity analyses, Monte Carlo, worst-case analysis. Determination of required part tolerances.
5. Modeling of operating amplifier.
6. Analysis of feedback loop in circuits with operating amplifier, compensation.
7. Design of RC oscillator, amplitude stabilization.
8. Transistor amplifier: design, symbolic analysis, stability.
9. Design of frequency filter - complete design including tolerance analysis.
10. Influence of real parameters of operating amplifiers on filter properties.
12. Averaged model of DC-DC converter.
12. - 13. Individual projects.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to make the students familiar with modern methods and programs for computer-aided analysis and design of electronic circuits and systems. The knowledge of algorithms and models, including their limitations, allows the students to properly formulate design task and to solve possible errors. During computer exercises, the subject matter is demonstrated on design of basic analog circuits with transistors and operating amplifiers.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

KOLKA, Z. Simulace elektronických obvodů v PSpice. Skriptum VUT v Brně, 2012. (CS)
MALIK, N. R. Electronic Circuits: Analysis, Simulation, and Design. Prentice Hall, 1995. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EECC Bc. Bachelor's

    branch B-EST , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective specialised

  • Programme EEKR-CZV lifelong learning

    branch EE-FLE , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective specialised

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Historical overview of computer analysis of electronic circuits, survey of present most popular programs and their features. Relation between physical system and its model.

Basic methods for circuit analysis: DC operating point, transient analysis, steady state analysis, and symbolic analysis.

Advanced analyses, post processing, sensitivity and tolerance analysis, Monte Carlo.

The Spice language, device definition, subcircuit, models. Basics of electronic device modeling: Categorization of models. Semiconductor devices - model equation, parameters, identification.
Models of operating amplifiers. Block and formal models, HF models.

Selected parts of circuit design with respect to simulator employment: Feedback - basic conception, influence on circuit parameters, compensation. Practical methods for stability determination. Basic blocks with bipolar and unipolar transistors and operational aplifiers- operating point, analysis, design.

Exercise in computer lab

39 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Introduction into PSpice design system. Basics of operation exercised in analysis of simple nonlinear circuit.

2. Transistor characteristics, design and verification of DC operating point, small-signal parameters, harmonic distortion, time domain power analysis.

3. Tolerance and sensitivity analysis in the DC and AC domain. Monte Carlo and Worst-Case analyses. Determination of maximum allowable tolerances.

4. Modeling of tantalum capacitor by means of optimization.

5. Functional model of operating amplifier derived from datasheet. Its transformation into netlist and insertion into library.

6. Feedback, stability, compensation in a circuit with operating amplifier.

7. Design of transistor amplifier. DC operating point. Approximate symbolical analysis. Tolerance and temperature analysis.

8. Design and optimization of two-transistor amplifier.

9. RC oscillator.

10. Design of analog frequency filter.

11. Nonlinear functional block with operating
amplifier.

12. Simple PCB design in OrCAD.