Electronics Power Systems

Electronic Power Systems
Course Number: 214 - 14819
ECTS credits: 6
YEAR 3/ UPPER Division

PREREQUISITES/STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE COMPLETED:

Though there are no prerequisites listed, this is an upper division course which requires prior knowledge of the
subject area.

COMPETENCES AND SKILLS THAT WILL BE ACQUIRED AND LEARNING RESULTS:

The aim of this course is to provide the students with a solid knowledge in a number of key horizontal techniques in electronic systems. During the development of this subject special emphasis will be placed on the application of these techniques to specific equipment and subsystems commonly used in telecommunications, both for signal processing as well as equipment supply. To achieve this objective, students will acquire the following abilities:

- Understand the operation of electronic circuits with negative feedback and their frequency response
- Analyze and evaluate the most common oscillator circuits
- Understand the functioning of real operational amplifiers and their linear and nonlinear applications
- Understand the operation of the most commonly found electronic subsystems used in signal processing and communications such as timers, VCOs and PLLs
- Understand the operation and applications of power supplies and power equipment for telecommunication systems

In terms of general abilities or skills, the following areas will be worked upon throughout the development of the subject:

- Ability to design and conduct experiments and to analyze and interpret the results. In particular, this capability will be dealt with during the laboratory practical sessions (PO b)
- Ability to work cooperatively in a team, knowing how to adapt the requirements and working conditions of the subsystem developed so that they operate correctly within a global system which is not only electronic. This aspect will be covered by means of the development of examples and case studies (PO d).
- Ability to identify, formulate and solve problems in Engineering (PO e)
- Ability to use techniques and tools required in modern engineering to reduce the equipment development time (PO k)

DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS:

BLOCK 1
1. Electronic Feedback Circuits
1.1    Basic concepts of the theory related to feedback electronics
1.2    Electronic feedback circuit topologies
1.3    Calculation of the gain, input impedance and output impedance in feedback circuits.
1.4    Conception of the practical or approximate method used to solve negative feedback circuits. Example
1.5    Basic configurations of the beta network according to the different topologies
1.6    Study of feedback circuits for each one of the different topologies.

2. Frequency Analysis of Electronic Feedback Circuits
2.1    Frequency analysis of a feedback amplifier
2.2    Stability study of a feedback amplifier using the Bode diagram
2.3    Compensation methods. Exercices

3. Oscillators
3.1    Start up condition and oscillator maintenance
3.2    General configuration of an oscillator.
3.3    RC oscillators:
3.4    Amplitude limiters
3.5    LC Oscillators: Colpitts, Hartley and Clapp Oscillators
3.5    Crystal Oscillators (Xtal)

BLOCK 2
4. Real Operational Amplifiers and their Applications
4.1    Ideal operational amplifier (review)
4.2    Real operational amplifier characteristics
4.3    Linear applications (review)
4.4    Active filters as linear application
4.5    Non-linear applications

5. Electronic Subsystems for signal processing and communications: Integrated timers and applications. PLLs and Applications.
5.1  The 555 integrated timer: monostable, astable and VCO modes
5.2    PLLs:
5.2.1 Blocks diagram and working principle
5.2.2 PLL components: phase detectors, filters, VCOs
5.2.3 PLL transfer function. PLL types.
5.2.4 1st order PLL. Examples.
5.2.5 2nd order PLL. Examples.
5.2.6 PLL Applications.

BLOCK 3
6. Voltage Regulators and Switching DC/DC Converters
6.1    Series Shunt feedback in linear voltage regulators
6.2    Basic design of a linear voltage regulator
6.3    Power and efficiency calculations

7. Fundamentals of switching DC/DC Converters
7.1    Basic operation of Buck converter
7.2    Basic design of Buck converter
7.3    Negative feedback in a switching DC/DC Converter
7.4    DC/DC and AC/DC Converters for Telecommunications.SAIs

8. Energy Converters
8.1    Basic analysis of a photovoltaic generator
8.2    Description of other systems related to electrical energy generation.

LEARNING ACTIVITES AND METHODOLOGY:

The teaching methodology will include::
- 40% Magisterial Classes (2.4 ECTS), where the students will be presented with the basic knowledge they must acquire. Students will be supplied with lecture notes and key reference texts which will enable them to complete and acquire a more in depth knowledge of the subject. (PO d, e)
- 40% Problems Classes (2.4 ECTS) these are aimed at the solving of exercises and examples within the context of real case studies and test of the continuous evaluation process. These classes will be complimented with the resolution of practical exercises on behalf of the student which in some cases may require the use of computer based simulation programs. (PO b, d, e, k)
- 20% Laboratory Practicals (1.2 ECTS), here the student will design, construct and measure electronic systems within the area of communications and real applications. (PO b, d, e, k)

Group tutorial: At least a group tutorial will be carry out the recovery week as revision and final exam preparation. (See the weekly plannification for additional details)

ASSESSMENT SYSTEM:

A continuous evaluation system will be carried out where the following will be evaluated:

1.    Obligatory Laboratory Practicals (20%): The knowledge acquired by the student will be evaluated by means of the experimental implementation of several of the circuits analyzed previously in the Magisterial and Problems classes. The development of the laboratory practicals will be carried out in groups (PO b, d, e, k)

2.    Solving of problems and/or test questions proposed for each thematic block (20%). Resolution will be carried out individually (PO b, d, e, k).

3.    Obligatory Final exam (60%). Also, at the end of the course a final exam will be carried out where the global knowledge acquired by the students will be evaluated (PO e). A minimum mark will be required (4 over 10 points) to fulfill the requirements of continuous evaluation process.