Electronicshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW_llr9FX9g
The concept electronics is used for electronic components, integrated circuits, and electrical systems. Main areas of usage are modern information technology and telecommunications, tools for recording and playing sound and picture, sensors and steering systems, instrumentation and measurement devices. Electronics, information technology and communication technology have undergone immense growth during the past 30 years. Our new technology-based lives are run by the development of miniaturized electrical circuits (microchips) and broadband phone and internet through optical fibers or across wireless channels.
Within transportation we have advanced electrical navigation systems, landing systems for planes, and anti-collision systems for ships and cars. Automatic toll stations across the biggest cities provide money for new roads and environmental friendly traffic. Modern cars are provided with constantly advancing electronics, such as airbag systems, ABS breaks, anti-spin systems and theft alarms.
Modern electronics has revolutionized medical diagnosis by introducing new techniques like CT (computer tomography), MR (magnetic resonance), and ultrasound imaging devices. The industry applies electronics for controlling and supervising production processes and developing new technologies.
Centrally in this picture we also have sensors that can “feel” sound, light, pressure, temperature acceleration, etc., and actuators that can “act”, i.e. perform specific operation such as turning on a switch or transmit sound signals. This advancement in technology and electronics will continue with increasing speed in times to come.
Finally, computers have become common facilities in offices and at home. Through systematic miniaturization of electrical components and circuits, computers and other advanced electronics today are now available for ordinary users for moderate prices.
Electronics is distinct from electrical and electro-mechanical science and technology, which deals with the generation, distribution, switching, storage and conversion of electrical energy to and from other energy forms using wires, motors, generators, batteries,switches, relays, transformers, resistors and other passive components. This distinction started around 1906 with the invention byLee De Forest of the triode, which made electrical amplification of weak radio signals and audio signals possible with a non-mechanical device. Until 1950 this field was called "radio technology" because its principal application was the design and theory of radio transmitters, receivers and vacuum tubes.
Today, most electronic devices use semiconductor components to perform electron control. The study of semiconductor devices and related technology is considered a branch ofsolid state physics, whereas the design and construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems come under electronics engineering. This article focuses on engineeringaspects of electronics.
[edit]Electronic devices and components
Main article: Electronic component
An electronic component is any physical entity in an electronic system used to affect the electrons or their associated fields in a manner consistent with the intended function of the electronic system. Components are generally intended to be connected together, usually by being soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB), to create an electronic circuit with a particular function (for example an amplifier, radio receiver, or oscillator). Components may be packaged singly, or in more complex groups as integrated circuits. Some common electronic components are capacitors, inductors, resistors, diodes, transistors, etc. Components are often categorized as active (e.g. transistors and thyristors) or passive (e.g. resistors and capacitors).
[edit]Early electronic components
Vacuum tubes were one of the earliest electronic components. They dominated electronics until the 1950s. Since that time, solid state devices have all but completely taken over. Vacuum tubes are still used in some specialist applications such as high power RF amplifiers, cathode ray tubes, and some microwave devices.
[edit]Types of circuits
Circuits and components can be divided into two groups: analog and digital. A particular device may consist of circuitry that has one or the other or a mix of the two types.
[edit]Analog circuits
Main article: Analog electronics
Most analog electronic appliances, such as radio receivers, are constructed from combinations of a few types of basic circuits. Analog circuits use a continuous range of voltage as opposed to discrete levels as in digital circuits.
The number of different analog circuits so far devised is huge, especially because a 'circuit' can be defined as anything from a single component, to systems containing thousands of components.
Analog circuits are sometimes called linear circuits although many non-linear effects are used in analog circuits such as mixers, modulators, etc. Good examples of analog circuits include vacuum tube and transistor amplifiers, operational amplifiers and oscillators.
One rarely finds modern circuits that are entirely analog. These days analog circuitry may use digital or even microprocessor techniques to improve performance. This type of circuit is usually called "mixed signal" rather than analog or digital.
Sometimes it may be difficult to differentiate between analog and digital circuits as they have elements of both linear and non-linear operation. An example is the comparator which takes in a continuous range of voltage but only outputs one of two levels as in a digital circuit. Similarly, an overdriven transistor amplifier can take on the characteristics of a controlled switch having essentially two levels of output.
[edit]Digital circuits
Main article: Digital electronics
Digital circuits are electric circuits based on a number of discrete voltage levels. Digital circuits are the most common physical representation of Boolean algebra, and are the basis of all digital computers. To most engineers, the terms "digital circuit", "digital system" and "logic" are interchangeable in the context of digital circuits. Most digital circuits use a binary system with two voltage levels labeled "0" and "1". Often logic "0" will be a lower voltage and referred to as "Low" while logic "1" is referred to as "High". However, some systems use the reverse definition ("0" is "High") or are current based. Ternary (with three states) logic has been studied, and some prototype computers made. Computers, electronic clocks, and programmable logic controllers (used to control industrial processes) are constructed of digital circuits. Digital signal processors are another example.
Building blocks:
Highly integrated devices:
- Microprocessors
- Microcontrollers
- Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
- Digital signal processor (DSP)
- Field-programmable gate array (FPGA)
[edit]Heat dissipation and thermal management
Main article: Thermal management of electronic devices and systems
Heat generated by electronic circuitry must be dissipated to prevent immediate failure and improve long term reliability. Techniques for heat dissipation can include heat sinks andfans for air cooling, and other forms of computer cooling such as water cooling. These techniques use convection, conduction, & radiation of heat energy.
[edit]Noise
Main article: Electronic noise
Noise is associated with all electronic circuits. Noise is defined[1] as unwanted disturbances superposed on a useful signal that tend to obscure its information content. Noise is not the same as signal distortion caused by a circuit. Noise may be electromagnetically or thermally generated, which can be decreased by lowering the operating temperature of the circuit. Other types of noise, such as shot noise cannot be removed as they are due to limitations in physical properties.
[edit]Electronics theory
Main article: Mathematical methods in electronics
Mathematical methods are integral to the study of electronics. To become proficient in electronics it is also necessary to become proficient in the mathematics of circuit analysis.
Circuit analysis is the study of methods of solving generally linear systems for unknown variables such as the voltage at a certain node or the current through a certain branch of anetwork. A common analytical tool for this is the SPICE circuit simulator.
[edit]Electronics lab
Main article: Electronics lab simulation
Due to the empirical nature of electronics theory, laboratory experimentation is an important part of the study of electronics. These experiments are used to prove, verify, and reinforce laws and theorems such as Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, etc. Historically, electronics labs have consisted of electronics devices and equipment located in a physical space, although in more recent years the trend has been towards electronics lab simulation software, such as CircuitLogix, Multisim, and PSpice.
[edit]Computer aided design (CAD)
Main article: Electronic design automation
Today's electronics engineers have the ability to design circuits using premanufactured building blocks such as power supplies, semiconductors (such as transistors), andintegrated circuits. Electronic design automation software programs include schematic capture programs and printed circuit board design programs. Popular names in the EDA software world are NI Multisim, Cadence (ORCAD), Eagle PCB and Schematic, Mentor (PADS PCB and LOGIC Schematic), Altium (Protel), LabCentre Electronics (Proteus), gEDA, KiCad and many others.
[edit]Construction methods
Main article: Electronic packaging
Many different methods of connecting components have been used over the years. For instance, early electronics often used point to point wiring with components attached to wooden breadboards to construct circuits. Cordwood construction and wire wraps were other methods used. Most modern day electronics now use printed circuit boards made of materials such as FR4, or the cheaper (and less hard-wearing) Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper (SRBP, also known as Paxoline/Paxolin (trade marks) and FR2) - characterised by its light yellow-to-brown colour. Health and environmental concerns associated with electronics assembly have gained increased attention in recent years, especially for products destined to the European Union, with its Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), which went into force in July 2006.
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The program is nationally accredited by the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB ). While attending college, students are eligible to register with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of the Province of British Columbia (ASTTBC). After two years of acceptable experience, graduates may become fully certified members.The program is also approved/accredited by the Canadian Forces Naval Electronics Technician (communications) Non Commissioned Member Subsidized Education Plan (NCMP ) |
Industry Relations and Further Studies
| Course work includes field trips to local industries. The program offers the option for coop placement in the industry after the third semester. For more information on the coop program, visit the web site of the Cooperative Education and Student Employment Centre.
Upon graduation students may bridge to the 3rd year of an engineering degree program with universities such as Lakehead University or University of Victoria.
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An Electronic Engineering Technology Career
| Graduates may look forward to opportunities in the areas of communications, computers and control related to the installation, operation, maintenance and sales of complex electrical and electronic equipment for government agencies, educational institutions and private companies. Some graduates may be employed as assistants to scientists and engineers on research and development projects. With the increasing use of automatic and computerized control in industry, there is a growing demand for technologists with a knowledge of digital techniques and computer systems. |
Dealing with information
Electronic Engineering brings into our lives all of the modern products (and gadgets!) which we take for granted. These devices are often unseen and unrecognised, but utterly essential to our social, business and industrial lives. Electronic Engineering is concerned mainly with the systems used for the transmission and processing of information of all kinds, from simple control circuits to complex international satellite digital telecommunications systems. It includes analogue and digital television systems, portable computers, super computers and sophisticated space exploration systems.
Electronic Engineering involves the design, manufacture and application of electronic components, in particular, semiconductor microchips. It also is central to industrial automation and encompasses areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence and satellite launching and position control. The knowledge required for a job in the field of electronics is very special and includes a good grounding in the fundamentals of electricity and electronics with their application to computer systems, communications systems, modern automobiles (including Formula One!), aerospace, and many other fields.
What will I study?
During your 3 or 4 years you will study a variety of subjects which address the four main areas:
Electronic Engineering,
Embedded Systems (microprocessor based),
Communications Engineering,
Control Engineering.
You will study up to 27 hours per week in years 1 and 2 and 24 hours a week in years 3 and 4. Approximately half of the workload is spent in laboratories. Years 2 and 3 also include project work.
Electronic Engineering,
Embedded Systems (microprocessor based),
Communications Engineering,
Control Engineering.
You will study up to 27 hours per week in years 1 and 2 and 24 hours a week in years 3 and 4. Approximately half of the workload is spent in laboratories. Years 2 and 3 also include project work.
What kind of work will I do when I graduate?
Both programmes aim to produce graduate engineers to work in the electronics, embedded systems and communications industries in Ireland or abroad.
What other opportunities are open to me when I graduate?
If you graduate from 4th year with a First- or Upper Second-Class Honours grade, you may pursue postgraduate research to Masters (MEng) and then to Doctorate level.
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