ENGR-4300
Electronic Instrumentation

Goals

Background

• MATH-2400: Differential Equations and PHYS-1200/1260: PHYSICS II are the formal prerequisites for this course.
• We also use concepts from most required math courses, physics courses, and basic engineering courses.

Class Materials

There is no standard text for this course. We will be using some readily available pamphlets and a lot of web-based info.
• Electronics class notes prepared by D.M. Gingrich of the University of Alberta Physics Department. These notes are sufficiently complete that they can serve as a textbook. However, it is best to make use of some online supplementary material for most students to learn the fundamental circuits and electronics concepts needed for this course. Thus, there is also available a Virtual Electronics Textbook that provides guidance on which materials are useful in the various sections of Gingrich's notes. Engineer's Mini Notebook Series by Forest M. Mims, available from Radioshack. We will be using the general formula book, the op-amp book, and the sensor book. A bound copy of the notes and copies of the 3 Mims Mini-Notebooks are available for purchase from Audrey Hayner in JEC 6003. The cost is $10 for all four.
• One of the most important tools we will be using in this class is the circuit analysis software from OrCAD -- Capture for schematic capture and PSpice for analysis. The experiments in which we use these powerful tools include detailed instructions, but it is always useful to have a general reference available. Should you need one, check out the OrCAD PSpice User's Guide. This is a very large document (436 pages), so it is not a good idea to access it if you have a slow connection.
• All students are required to purchase a kit consisting of electronic components, a protoboard, some tools and a storage box. These kits will be available soon (probably during the second week of class) for a cost of $50. Thus, the combination of the notes, notebooks, and the kit is still less than many textbooks. Please check out the parts list to be sure your kit is complete when you receive it.
• There is an outstanding book on the practical use of electronics that we recommend as an additional reference. The Art of Electronics by Horowitz and Hill. This book is probably the best source available for practical electronics advice and information. It also has some good introductory material on circuit analysis, op-amps and digital electronics.
• Some students have asked for recommendations for a textbook, even if it is not perfect for this course. There are several books, for example, that cover many more subjects than we do, but do have most of the background information needed to do the homework, experiments and projects. They are available from online bookstores and are relatively expensive. If you want to order one, but would like to look them over first, copies are available.
  (1) Electrical Concepts and Applications by Boctor, Ryff, Hiscocks, Ghorab and Holmes of Ryerson Polytechnic University (Toronto) is written for nonelectrical engineering students and is available from VarsityBooks.com for $99.
  (2) Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering by Leonard Bobrow of UMass is intended for a first course in electrical engineering and is available from several online stores for $95.
  There are also books that have about the right kind of coverage for a limited set of topics.
  (3) The Essence of Analog Electronics by Colin Lunn of Southbank University (England) is a smaller book intended for students studying electronics for the first time and is available from severl online stores for about $25. It does a relatively good job with basic circuits and op-amps, but has no information on digital electronics.

• Quizzes/Exams (35% of total course grade)
  • Practical Quizzes (10%) -- To successfully apply the materials studied in this course, it is necessary for students to master a small number of practical skills. These include, but are not limited to, PSpice simulation, function generator and scope operation, protoboarding passive components, determining resonant frequencies, identifying logic gates, ... Several short (about one half hour) quizzes will be posted below that address such practical skills. One quiz must be completed by the 10th week of class, two more by the 14th week and one more by the last day of class for a total of 4 quizzes to be completed by each student. Quizzes, which will be taken individually (no partners), can be worked on during open shop hours. Quizzes will be added as the semester progresses. Please read the quizzes over and discuss them with anyone you wish before going to open shop. Essentially no help will be available during the time the quizzes are taken. Only questions regarding such issues as terminology and equipment malfunction will be answered by the staff person in attendance. When the quiz is complete, it will be checked for correctness and signed off. Should the answers not be correct, some feedback will be provided regarding what is in error. Each quiz can be attempted three times without any penalty. However, for four or more tries, only partial credit will be given at the discretion of the grader. During the three semesters these quizzes have been given, over 99% of the grades have been for full credit.

    Some general Rules, Guidelines and Advice for the practical quizzes should be read before attempting any of the quizzes. The following quizzes are now available for this semester: Quiz #1, Quiz #2 Quiz #3, Quiz #4, Quiz #5, Quiz #6. Please note: Practical Quizzes 1 and 2 can only be completed before 3 November. After that date, only the last four quizzes can be attempted. Also, all students MUST do Practical Quiz 6 on Logic Gates.

    In the past, there have been 5 practical quizzes rather than 4. However, due to the problems we have had getting the computers fully operational, it has not been realistic to begin doing the practical quizzes until somewhat later than usual. To make up for the missing quiz, the TAs and instructors will be observing the practical skills of each student.

  • Topical Quizzes (25%) -- There will be one quiz on each of the main topics of the course, except for Instrumentation Methodology, which will be addressed in the practical quizzes. All Quizzes will be closed book, but students are permitted to bring one 8.5" x 11" crib sheet. Specific topics to be addressed on each quiz will be announced at least one week before the quiz date. Check the syllabus for last semester to see the kind of questions you can expect to see on the quizzes.

  • Optional Final Exam (Variable %) -- Students who wish to improve on their quiz grades will have the option of taking a final exam. Students who miss a quiz for ANY reason or who fail to complete all the assignments in the course will be required to take this exam. Details will be provided near the end of the term.

• Homework (10%) -- Assignments are made in class. Problems will be posted on the webpage or on the bulletin board outside the studio. Each student must hand in the homework.

• Experiments (30%) -- When an experiment is completed, the Experiment Completion Sheet must be signed by one of the TAs or the Instructor. All collaborating partners must be in attendance to obtain this signature. For full credit,the results, discussion and any calculations called for are to be turned in on the date announced in class. This date will also be posted next to the assignment schedule below.. Usually, this section can be completed as the experiments are being done. Thus, it will be best to hand in this sheet at the time the experiment is completed. Experiments are to be done by each pair of partners (2 students). Experimental data are to be shared by the cooperating partners (4 students). If the Experiment report is not handed in by the posted date, it can be handed in anytime before the following project report deadline for half credit. A participation grade will be assigned for each of the experiments, based on attendance and contribution to the classwork involved in each activity. You will earn 5 points for each experiment if you are in attendance and doing your share. It will be possible to make up class time missed during open shop.

• 4 Design Projects (25%)

  Please check each project write up for specific instructions.

  • Project Reports (25 pts) -- The general issues to be addressed in each report include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following. Please note that the guidelines are somewhat different for each project.
    • Introduction (2 pts): Introduce and describe the goals of the project. Usually, you will be asked to list at least two issues from the course that have an impact on the project.
    • Design (5 pts): Describe your project design, how you came up with this particular design, and discuss potential problems you will look for when you build and test your circuits and other apparatus. Develop a plan for testing your design.
    • Analysis (4 pts): Discuss why your project should work and support your discussion with calculations, graphs, PSpice simulations, and common sense reasoning.
    • Implementation (2 pts) -- Discuss what problems were encountered during the implementation of your project and how you solved them. Include advice you would offer to someone who wished to avoid these problems in the future.
    • Final Design and Testing (4 pts): Describe your final design. Demonstrate the operation of your apparatus to a TA or instructor and have them sign off that you have done so. Have your experimental data signed by a TA or instructor.
    • Personal Responsibilities (2 pt): A short paragraph should be written describing what each group member contributed to the project design, analysis and testing.
    • Creativity (0-5 pts):
    • Appendix (1 pt): Include any background materials you used in the preparation of your design.
    • Participation (5 pts)-- A participation grade will be assigned for each of the projects, based on attendance and contribution to the classwork involved in each activity. It will be possible to make up class time missed during open shop.
  • A list of specific issues to be addressed for each project may also be posted in the class announcements. A discussion of how your design deals with each of these issues must also be included at the appropriate place in your report.
  • Late Penalty -- The Design Project Reports are due on the dates indicated below. If they are handed in late, the following penalty will be applied. For each school day late (weekends and vacations are not counted): 1 point per day for the first two days, 2 points per day for the next three days, 3 points per day for the next four days, and so forth. Thus, if the report is handed in 5 days late, the penalty is 8 points. Please note that there are, at most, 5 school days per week.

Schedule

• Experiment 1: Introduction to Instrumentation, Basic Circuit Concepts and Capture/PSpice Due Date: 6 September

• Monday Holiday
• Experiment 2: Basic Circuits and Electronics Due Date: 12 September.
• Read Gingrich Chapter 1

• Finish Exp 2
• Experiment 3: Introduction to AC Circuits Due Date: 19 September
• HW#1 Due: 15 September
• Read Gingrich Chapter Two through section 2.2

• Finish Exp 3
• Review for Quiz 1
• Quiz 1
• Experiment 4: Introduction to Operational Amplifiers Due Date: 26 September
  

• Finish Exp 4
• Project 1 -- Accelerometer Due Date: 3 October

• Read Gingrich from section 2.3 through section 3.6
• Project 1 Report Due Tuesday
• Experiment 5: Introduction to AC Steady State Due Date: 10 October
• HW#2 Due Date: 11 October

• Read Gingrich Chapter 4
• Monday's Class Meets on Tuesday due to Monday Holiday
• Experiment 6: Introduction to Diodes, Voltage Limitation and Regulation Due Date: 18 October
• HW#3: Diode Rectifiers Due Date: 13 October
• Review for Quiz 2

• Quiz 2
• Experiment 7: 555 Timer, LEDs, and Phototransistors Due Date: 23 October

• Project 2 -- Optical Transmitter-Receiver. Due Date: 30 October See also Project 2 Supplementary Info

Week Ten (10/30-11/3): More on op-amps and magnetic circuit components

• Project 2 Report Due on Tuesday
• Experiment 8: Op-Amp Configurations -- Integrator, Differentiator, Voltage Follower Due Date: 3 November
• HW#4 Op Amp Circuits Due Date: 6 November
• Read Gingrich section 3.7 and Chapter 6
• Experiment 9: Circuit Components and Magnetic Fields Due Date: 10 November

• At least one practical quiz MUST BE COMPLETED BY Friday.

• Experiment 9 Continued
• Review for Quiz 3
• Quiz 3
• Begin Project 3 -- Instrumented Beakman's Motor. Due Date: 17 November

• Complete Project 3
• Experiment 10: Introduction to Digital Logic Due Date: 4 December

• Read Gingrich Chapter 7
• Continue Experiment 10

• HW#5 Digital Logic Due Date: 4 December
• Complete Experiment 10
• At least a total of three practical quizzes MUST BE COMPLETED by Friday.

• Project 4 -- The Clapper, an application of Digital Logic Due: 8 December
• Review for and take Quiz 4 and discuss the Optional Final Exam
• All practical quizzes MUST BE COMPLETED by the last day of class (Thursday).

• There will also be an opportunity to retake Quizzes 1, 2 and/or 3 during the scheduled Final Exam time: Wednesday, 13 December at 11:30 in Darrin 308.