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Module

ENG1004 : Electronics and Sensors

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Andrew Smith
  • Lecturer: Dr Martin Johnston, Professor Jeffrey Neasham, Dr Nick Coleman, Dr Hashim Hausien
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0

Aims

To introduce students to the basic concepts associated with analogue, focusing on the operation of semiconductor devices and circuits. This is followed by an introduction to digital electronics, where students will learn about binary systems and logic circuit design.

Outline Of Syllabus

Analogue electronics: semiconductors, doping, PN Junction, diode, diode circuits, introduction to bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and MOSFETS, operational amplifier (op-amp), op-amp circuits.

Digital electronics: binary and hexadecimal representations, binary arithmetic, Boolean algebra, logic gates, combinational circuits, arithmetic circuits, truth tables and Karnaugh maps, sequential circuits, flip-flops (D and RS), finite-state machines and implementation of arbitrary sequences, e.g. up-down counter.

Design, application, and operation of typical sample sensors used across the Engineering disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil)

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials101:0010:00Non-synchronous recorded lectures, one per week, during the first 10 weeks
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture101:0010:001x1-hour online synchronous tutorial per week, during the first 10 weeks (OS)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture101:0010:001x1-hour lecture per week, during the first 10 weeks (PiP)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion15:005:00Formatively-assessed logic experiment lab report
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion101:0010:00Preparation for online Numbas test
Structured Guided LearningAcademic skills activities51:005:00Experimentation and preparation with breadboard logic kits at home
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical13:003:001x3-hour labs with breadboard kits (PiP)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops12:002:001x2-hour online synchronous tutorial, during the last week (week 11)
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study143:3043:30Review teaching materials: lecture notes, tutorial sheets, non-synchronous videos etc
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study11:301:30Summative online Numbas test
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

PiP lectures provide the core material and guidance for further reading. The PiP tutorial sessions provide students with the opportunity to answer more advanced questions to support their learning. The supporting labs and home kits give students the opportunity not only to apply the knowledge gained in lectures and tutorials in practical design projects but also to introduce them to the use of electronic measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital voltmeters, etc.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
PC Examination902A100Online 90mins assessment (NUMBAS) - 50% analogue electronics and 50% digital electronics
Formative Assessments
Description Semester When Set Comment
Lab exercise2MWork will be checked against the different experiment objectives and verbal feedback provided to students, in lab or via video link.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The online summative NUMBAS test provides students with the opportunity to satisfy the learning outcomes. Formatively assessed logic board lab reports allows student to satisfy practical skill outcomes and reinforces the taught digital electronics theory.

Reading Lists

Timetable