EEE8123 : Advanced Electronic Devices
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Anthony O'Neill
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To provide specialist knowledge of electronic devices. To enable students to have a better understanding of state-of-the-art devices (e.g. transistors) by explaining how devices work and classifying types of electronic device. To enable students to compare competing electronic technologies. To demonstrate the electronic device elements underpinning the smart phone as an exemplar electronic system. This will be achieved through lectures, tutorials and independent study. The skills obtained in this module are valuable for engineering careers in areas such as semiconductors, microelectronics and bioelectronics.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module introduces the important subject of electronic devices and in particular their physical aspects.
The focus will be on electronic devices used in contemporary electronic systems, such as the smartphone, memory stick and power electronics.
The course begins with introductory material on semiconductor physics to a level needed to describe electronic devices with mathematical precision. This will include underpinning equations for charge transport in solids together with a simplified but accurate quantum mechanical description of metals, insulators and semiconductors.
The next part of the course deals with material junctions such as metal/semiconductor and semiconductor/semiconductor junctions and builds to more complex structures such as metal/oxide/semiconductor (MOS) junctions and a detailed analysis of MOSFETs and CMOS that includes scaling issues up to state-of-the-art.
The final part of the course covers other electronic devices such as MESFETs, JFETs, HEMTs and bipolar transistors. Displays, memory and power transistors will also be covered.
Students will also gain experience and learn how to write a technical report through their assessment, by selecting the appropriate course content to describe, explain and analyse aspects of a contemporary electronic system.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 16 | 2:00 | 32:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | Writing of summative assessment report |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 16 | 2:00 | 32:00 | Reading activity, including papers/reports provided on Canvas, to supplement knowledge of material taught in each week. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Completing tests from canvas |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | One timetabled optional session for students to attend if they have any queries. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 82:00 | 82:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide the core material and give students the opportunity to engage with set questions and query material covered in the lecture.
Problem solving is introduced through worked example tutorial (students encouraged to work in small groups). This is followed up with test sheets on Canvas (for independent problem solving). Students who want further support from the lecturer have the option of email Q&A, zoom or in person session. All queries are responded to within 24 hours
Lecturers own research is presented in many lectures to illustrate current engineering practise and achievement.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | 100 | Assignment assessing advanced electronic devices, 3000 words. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The summative assessment report allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of module material, e.g. through their selection of material chosen and depth of coverage. The report also allows students to apply their knowledge and thinking to examine results only given by a closed analytic formula in lectures. This can involve examining the influence of each parameter on device performance or how scaling dimensions may influence device performance metrics. It can also show the limits of analysis presented in class with the option to go further.
The formatively assessed tutorial are available on Canvas. This encourages students to study each topic after it is completed and prepare them for the assessed report.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- EEE8123's Timetable