The course aims to deepen the basic knowledge acquired in previous electronics studies and apply it to the design and prototyping of electronic systems. Fundamental techniques for the analysis and verification of electronic circuits for sensor signal conditioning, actuator control and power management are introduced. Furthermore, the course aims to develop practical skills in the behavioral analysis of circuits using circuit simulation software and in their functional verification using laboratory instrumentation. Finally, the use of CAD software for the realization of printed circuit boards and the design of mechanical components suitable for 3D printing is introduced.
teacher profile teaching materials
- Fundamentals of circuit simulation and introduction to SPICE and LTspice.
- Schematic capture, netlists, models, and subcircuits.
- Operating-point analysis, DC sweep, parametric analysis, frequency response, noise analysis, and time-domain response.
- Performance evaluation of circuits and amplifiers: transfer function, input and output impedances, bandwidth, noise, and distortion.
- Introduction to MATLAB: desktop environment, variables, vectors and matrices, scripts, functions, control structures, and 2D and 3D data visualization.
- Integrated use of LTspice and MATLAB: data export and import, time- and frequency-domain post-processing, interpolation, FFT, extraction of characteristic parameters, and presentation of results.
Modeling and design of electronic systems for sensors and actuators
- Stages of the design process: specification definition, decomposition of the system into functional blocks, selection of the appropriate modeling level, circuit design, simulation, and verification.
- Operating principles and main characteristics of sensors, actuators, and transducers.
- Modeling of transduction and, where relevant, signal propagation in the physical domain.
- Representation of sensors and actuators through equivalent circuit models and their integration into electronic-system simulations.
- Analysis of the interaction between transducers and interface circuits, with particular reference to impedance, bandwidth, sensitivity, dynamic range, and noise.
- Signal-generation and actuator-driving circuits.
- Biasing, matching, amplification, and filtering circuits for conditioning signals generated by sensors.
- Criteria for circuit power management and power-supply decoupling.
- Verification of performance against specifications and analysis of the effects of component parameters.
- Guided development of a representative case study, from transducer modeling to the design and verification of the electronic interface circuits.
Prototyping and experimental verification
- Breadboard prototyping and criteria for connection, power supply, and interfacing.
- Use of laboratory power supplies and measurement of DC voltages and currents.
- Signal generation and acquisition using laboratory instrumentation.
- Use of an oscilloscope for time-domain signal observation and measurement.
- Signal analysis and comparison of theoretical, simulated, and experimental results using MATLAB.
- Identification of the main causes of discrepancies between predicted and measured behavior.
CAD design of electronic circuits
- Printed circuit board technology and manufacturing: materials, structure, finishes, and main technological parameters.
- Electronic component packaging and assembly technologies: THT, SMT, and an introduction to wire bonding.
- PCB design flow using Autodesk Fusion/Eagle: schematic capture, libraries, symbols, footprints, and 3D models.
- Definition of design rules and mechanical constraints.
- Criteria for component placement, power distribution, ground-plane design, and trace routing.
- ERC and DRC checks, inspection of the 3D model, and export of the files required for manufacturing.
Elements of mechanical CAD design
- Principles of subtractive and additive prototyping: CNC machining and 3D printing.
- Main mechanical machining processes and related design constraints.
- Introduction to Autodesk AutoCAD and the main tools for 2D drafting and 3D modeling.
- Design of simple mechanical components for prototyping and integration with electronic circuits and systems.
No single reference textbook is adopted.
Programme
Software tools for modeling and analysis- Fundamentals of circuit simulation and introduction to SPICE and LTspice.
- Schematic capture, netlists, models, and subcircuits.
- Operating-point analysis, DC sweep, parametric analysis, frequency response, noise analysis, and time-domain response.
- Performance evaluation of circuits and amplifiers: transfer function, input and output impedances, bandwidth, noise, and distortion.
- Introduction to MATLAB: desktop environment, variables, vectors and matrices, scripts, functions, control structures, and 2D and 3D data visualization.
- Integrated use of LTspice and MATLAB: data export and import, time- and frequency-domain post-processing, interpolation, FFT, extraction of characteristic parameters, and presentation of results.
Modeling and design of electronic systems for sensors and actuators
- Stages of the design process: specification definition, decomposition of the system into functional blocks, selection of the appropriate modeling level, circuit design, simulation, and verification.
- Operating principles and main characteristics of sensors, actuators, and transducers.
- Modeling of transduction and, where relevant, signal propagation in the physical domain.
- Representation of sensors and actuators through equivalent circuit models and their integration into electronic-system simulations.
- Analysis of the interaction between transducers and interface circuits, with particular reference to impedance, bandwidth, sensitivity, dynamic range, and noise.
- Signal-generation and actuator-driving circuits.
- Biasing, matching, amplification, and filtering circuits for conditioning signals generated by sensors.
- Criteria for circuit power management and power-supply decoupling.
- Verification of performance against specifications and analysis of the effects of component parameters.
- Guided development of a representative case study, from transducer modeling to the design and verification of the electronic interface circuits.
Prototyping and experimental verification
- Breadboard prototyping and criteria for connection, power supply, and interfacing.
- Use of laboratory power supplies and measurement of DC voltages and currents.
- Signal generation and acquisition using laboratory instrumentation.
- Use of an oscilloscope for time-domain signal observation and measurement.
- Signal analysis and comparison of theoretical, simulated, and experimental results using MATLAB.
- Identification of the main causes of discrepancies between predicted and measured behavior.
CAD design of electronic circuits
- Printed circuit board technology and manufacturing: materials, structure, finishes, and main technological parameters.
- Electronic component packaging and assembly technologies: THT, SMT, and an introduction to wire bonding.
- PCB design flow using Autodesk Fusion/Eagle: schematic capture, libraries, symbols, footprints, and 3D models.
- Definition of design rules and mechanical constraints.
- Criteria for component placement, power distribution, ground-plane design, and trace routing.
- ERC and DRC checks, inspection of the 3D model, and export of the files required for manufacturing.
Elements of mechanical CAD design
- Principles of subtractive and additive prototyping: CNC machining and 3D printing.
- Main mechanical machining processes and related design constraints.
- Introduction to Autodesk AutoCAD and the main tools for 2D drafting and 3D modeling.
- Design of simple mechanical components for prototyping and integration with electronic circuits and systems.
Prerequisiti
Basic knowledge is required in the following areas: - mathematics and physics: linear algebra, differential and integral calculus, transforms, mechanics, electromagnetism, and waves; - analog and digital electronics: passive and active components, operational amplifiers, and combinational and sequential logic circuits; - signals and systems: continuous- and discrete-time signals, linear systems, impulse and frequency responses, and sampling; - electrical and electronic measurements; - programming. No previous knowledge of LTspice, MATLAB, Autodesk Fusion, or AutoCAD is required, as their use is introduced during the course.Core Documentation
Learning resources include the lecture slides, exercise instructions, and supplementary material provided by the instructor and made available through the course Moodle page. The official documentation for the software tools, laboratory instrument manuals, and datasheets of the electronic components considered during the course are also used as reference material.No single reference textbook is adopted.
Reference Bibliography
-Attendance
The course consists of two classes or labs per week, each lasting two hours. Attendance is strongly recommended because of the practical and interactive nature of the classroom and laboratory activities.Type of evaluation
The examination comprises: 1. assessment of the exercises completed during the course, based on the material produced and submitted according to the instructor’s directions; 2. an individual practical assignment, set during the final part of the course, concerning the design and analysis of a circuit or simple electronic system using the software tools and methods covered in class. The submission includes the project files, calculation scripts, and a technical report describing the specifications, methodology, results, and their discussion; 3. a final oral examination. The oral examination covers the entire course syllabus and is not limited to the practical assignment. It assesses the student’s understanding of the theoretical principles, command of design and verification methods, ability to justify design choices, and critical interpretation of simulation and experimental results. The final mark is based on the combined assessment of the correctness and completeness of the exercises and practical assignment, the degree of autonomy demonstrated, the quality of the submitted documentation, and the outcome of the oral examination.