Student guide Faculty of Engineering A.Y. 2008/09

Fundamentals of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Aim of the course
The course covers the fundamental elements of circuit theory and the principal electrical applications. It deals with signals, electronic circuits and components from a systems perspective, with particular emphasis on the fundamental concepts and references to the applications.
Students will examine various methods of direct and alternating-current circuit analysis, as well as simple problems relating to transistors of the first order. They will then deal with applications relating to the generation, distribution and use of electrical energy.
At the end of the module, students will have acquired the skills for understanding the operation of analog, digital and hybrid electronic blocks, and evaluating their function within a complex electronic system.
Syllabus
ELECTROTECHNOLOGY
1) DC circuits
Voltage and current generators
Ideal resistance and Ohm's law
Voltage-current characteristics
Non linear dipoles - ideal diode
Resistance and resistivity
Real generator
Kirchoff's Laws
Combinations of resistors
Kirchoff's method.
Maxwell or circulating current method
Superposition theorem
Thévenin and Norton equivalent circuits
Energy and power
Useful power, losses, efficiency
2) Capacitive and inductive transistors
Principles of continuity
Exponential curves
Transistors in RC circuits
Energy exchange during capacitor charging and discharging
Transistors in RL circuits
Opening of an inductive circuit
3) Sinusoidal circuits
Periodic and sinusoidal functions
Mean value and root-mean-square value
Vector method (complex numbers and their algebra)
Impedance
General methods for solving sinusoidal circuits
Resonant circuits
Power in sinusoidal circuits
Line voltage drop
Power factor correction
4) Three phase systems (three-wire)
Three-phase symmetrical generators
Balanced three-phase load
Line and phase quantities
Power in three-phase systems
Overview of the production and distribution of electrical energy
5) Electrical machines
Transformer: principle of operation
Alternator, structure and principle of operation
Asynchronous three-phase motor, operating characteristic and principle
Direct-current machines (dynamo and DC motor)
Health effects of electrical currents on humans

ELECTRONICS
1) Signals and their processing
Analog signals: amplification, time and frequency domain, filtering, frequency response function.
Digital signals: numeric representation, algorithms.
2) Components
Introduction to semiconductor components: PN junction diode, notes on bipolar transistors (BJT)
3) Analog systems
Structure and characteristics of operational amplifiers (OA).
Principal linear and non-linear applications of OA.
Comparators.
Notes on oscillators.
4) Digital systems
Elementary logic gates and principal combinatorial circuits.
Sequential circuits: flip-flops, counters, shift registers.
Overview of memories and programmable circuits (microprocessors and microcontrollers)
5) Hybrid systems
Fundamentals of analog-digital (AD) conversion
Sampling and quantisation
Notes on digital-analog conversion (DA)

Examinations
There will be intermediate written progress tests, with an additional oral evaluation in the case of borderline results.
Students who do not pass all the progress tests will be required to sit a written exam on the full course programme, which may be followed by an oral evaluation.
Reading list
Bobbio, Sammarco, Elettrotecnica generale, Petrini Editore, 1994
Bobbio, Sammarco, Macchine elettriche, Petrini Editore, 1995

Tutorials:
Collection of past exam papers with results - available from Libreria Guerini.