Aim of the course is to provide a basic knowledge of the characteristic aspects of analog, digital and hybrid electronic systems, and give students the main tools for analyzing their behavior. In particular, the course addresses the study of some basic electronic modules (amplifier stages realized with feeDback operational amplifiers, interfacing stages, basic logic circuits) and introduces the operation principles and model of semiconductor devices (pn diodes, bipolar and MOS transistors).
Several lab sessions are proposed to practice with electronic laboratory instrumentation and electrical characterization of simple analog and digital circuits. In support of laboratory activities, the course provides an introduction to measurement uncertainties and error propagation to the use of basic laboratory instrumentation.

- Knowledge of the most common instruments present in a laboratory and ability to evaluate the instrument uncertainty.
- Knowledge of the structure of a complex electronic system: building blocks and interfaces
- Knowledge the elementary amplifier topologies, feedback amplifiers using operational amplifiers.
- Knowledge of the operation principles and models of the most important semiconductor devices; basics of their fabrication technology.
- Knowledge of elementary logic gates and switching circuits.
- Ability to analyze analog (op-amp based) amplifier circuits: evaluate transfer function and network functions in DC and frequency domain
- Ability to analyze digital (combinational logic) circuits: synthesis of elementary logic functions, interfacing, delays.
- Ability to evaluate the bias point and small-signal circuit of active devices.
- Ability to carry out elementary electrical characterizations of amplifiers and digital circuits
- Ability to estimate the uncertainty of a measurement according to the deterministic model

Basics of: mathematical analysis (differential and integral calculus); complex arithmetics; theory of linear electrical networks: time domain and frequency domain analysis; physics (basic electromagnetics, dimensional analysis)

1 Measurements and Instrumentations (12 h)
- Basics of Safety behavior in Lab
- Measurement uncertainty and propagation; instrumental and reading uncertainty
- Oscilloscope; Tester and digital multimeter; waveform generator.

2 Electronic Systems (28 h)
- Functional block decomposition of complex systems; frequency and time domain representation of signals, analog and digital signals; sensors.
- Noise as source of error; advantages brought by the use of digital signals
- review on circuit theory: Bode plot and dynamic behavior of circuits in time and frequency domain
- Amplifier topologies and main parameters
- Operational amplifiers and negative feedback: inverting and noninverting stages, with reactive elements and several inputs; cascaded stages.
- Summing and differential amplifier modules.

3 Real operational amplifiers (10 h)
- Open loop amplification, input differential resistance, output resistance
- Input currents and input offset voltage
- Transcharacteristics and limitations (linearity, safe operating area, etc.).
- Frequency response, gain-bandwidth product,

4 Semiconductor devices (30 h)
- basics of semicondcutors
- pn junction: static and dynamic behavior; small-signal model.
- Tecnologia dei semiconduttori.
- Bipolar transistor
- MOS transistor
- CMOS inverter

5 Logic gates and swithcing cirtuis (20 h)
- Transcharacteristic of logic ports, noise margins, interfacing; propagation delay and energy consumption
- Output stages: tristate and open drain;
- nMOS and CMOS combinational logic ports, delays and energy consumption
- MOS in switching applications: driving of resistive and inductive loads;
- Bridge and half-bridge circuits

Six experimental lab sessions (3 hour each) are proposed to practice with electronic laboratory instrumentation and electrical characterization of analog and digital circuits. In detail:
1) Oscilloscope and waveform generator.
2) Current and voltage measurements.
3) Measurements of RC circuits.
4) Black-box characterization of amplifiers.
5) Characterization of feedback operational amplifiers.
6) Characterization of digital circuits.

Students are required to prepare a detailed report of two of the experimental labs, one chosen from the electronic measures block 1)-3), one from the electronics block 4)-6).

Hand calculation exercises will be proposed and solved during classroom lectures.

Sedra , Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 6th Ed. Oxford University Press.
Donald A. Neamen, Semiconductor Physics and Devices - Basic Principles, Third Edition, 2003 McGraw-Hill.
Class notes and examples of worked problems available on the class website.

The final exam consists of a written test (2h) including: multiple choice and open answer questions on the course subjects, numerical (hand calculation) exercises on measurements and electronics. An optional oral exam can be required by the student if written exam is grossly sufficient. The final mark includes also an evaluation of the experimental labs reports.