Knowledge of uncertainty evaluation techniques, and ability to apply in them in basic measurement situations. Knowledge of the principle of operation of the most common laboratory instruments, and knowledge of the trade-offs required in an instrument design. Ability to employ the studied laboratory instrumentation in common electronic measurements.

Mathematics: Analysis, basics of theory of probability and stochastic processes. Electronics: Circuit theory, basic operational amplifier circuits. Electronic measurements: Usage of multimeters and oscilloscopes.

Uncertainty, a probabilistic approach: Introduction to the probabilistic approach, type B evaluation of the uncertainty, type A evaluation of uncertainty, propagation of uncertainty; 2 labs on the evaluation of the uncertainty (1.8 ECTS: 0.9 ECTS lectures, 0.3 ECTS exercises, 0.6 ECTS lab). Quantities and units. The revised International System of Units. Electrical units: realization of the second with atomic clocks, realization of the volt with the Josephson effect, realization of the ohm with the quantum Hall effect; realization of the ampere with single electron devices. Metrological traceability (0.9 ECTS). Frequency synthesis and waveform generation: Properties of signal sources, oscillators, direct analogue synthesizers, indirect analogue synthesizers (phase-lock loops), direct digital synthesizers; 2 labs on PLLs and frequency counters (1.8 ECTS: 0.9 ECTS lectures, 0.3 ECTS exercises, 0.6 ECTS lab). Basic frequency counters: Time interval counter, frequency counter, period counter, reciprocal counter. High frequency counters: Prescaler, heterodyne converter, transfer oscillator (1.3 ECTS: 1 ECTS lectures, 0.3 ECTS exercises). Spectrum analysers: Bank-of-filter analyser, swept-spectrum analyser, FFT analyser, hybrid analysers; 2 labs on spectrum analyzers (1.2 ECTS: 0.6 ECTS lectures, 0.6 ECTS labs). DC voltage measurements: dual-slope and multi-slope ADC converters. AC voltage measurements: thermal converter, RMS-to-DC converters, discrete and windowed discrete RMS. DC and AC current measurements: shunt resistor, transresistance amplifier. Multimeters (1 ECTS).

In addition to lectures, the course consists of in-class exercise sessions and laboratory sessions. Exercise sessions are aimed at analysing practical measurement situations involving different type of instruments. Laboratory sessions are aimed at developing experimental skills, practicing with the laboratory instrumentation described in the lectures and introduce a number of applications. The laboratory sessions focus on the following topics: uncertainty, frequency measurements, frequency synthesis with phase-lock loops, spectrum analysers. The Laboratory sessions are mandatory, and students are asked to fill a report for each laboratory session.

Slide handouts on selected topics, exercises, homework assignments and laboratory manuals are available for download from the course website. There is no single reference textbook, but excerpts from the following additional texts are used as reference for specific topics: JCGM 100:2008, Evaluation of Measurement Data – Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. E. Rubiola, Phase Noise and Frequency Stability in Oscillators, Cambridge University Press, 2010. A. Chenakin, Frequency Synthesizers, Artech House Inc., 2011. P. Symons, Digital Waveform Generation, Cambridge University Press, 2014. M. Engelson, Modern Spectrum Analyzer: Theory and Applications, Artech House Inc., 1984 R. A. Witte, Spectrum and Network Measurements, SciTech Publishing Inc., 2014.

Lecture slides; Exercises; Exercise with solutions ; Lab exercises; Video lectures (previous years);

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;

The exam consists in a written test followed by an oral test. The written test (1h30min) is composed of one problem (10 points maximum) in which students have to analyse or design a measurement set-up, evaluating uncertainties and discussing sources of errors. The written test is open books and students can use a scientific calculator. The score of the written test ranges from 0 to 10 and the minimum pass score is 6/10. The oral test (20-30 min) consists of two open questions about the operation of devices and instruments described in the course and their uncertainties, and one question about the lab experiences. The student is expected to present the most significant aspects of a topic in a coherent and autonomous way. The oral test score ranges from 0 to 22. The final grade is the sum of the written test score and of the oral test score. One bonus point is awarded to those who attended all laboratories. The maximum grade depends on lab attendance: 30L, with 5-6 attended labs; 30, with 4 attended labs; 28, with 3 attended labs; 27, with 2 attended labs; 26, with 1 attended lab; and 25, with 0 attended labs.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.