| Module Code | CSU11031 |
| Module Name | Electronics and Information Technology |
| ECTS Weighting [1] | 5 ECTS |
| Semester Taught | Semester 1 |
| Module Coordinator/s | Prof. Éamonn Ó Nualláin |
Module Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Implement basic resistive electronic circuits in a circuit simulator and perform basic electronic circuit analysis;
- Implement basic reactive electronic circuits and perform basic electronic circuit analysis;
- Explain the electrical properties of matter (in particular semiconductors) and explain the operation of semiconductor devices (diodes and transistors);
- Explain the operation of transistor based circuits i.e. logic gates and amplifiers (basic understanding).
- Explain the concepts of electromagnetic fields, the operation of the antenna and how information is communicated wirelessly;
- Analyse and explain the concept of analogue and digital signals, including modulation and multiplexing, analyse and explain why and how analogue and digital signals are modulated and illustrate the characteristics of modulated and multiplexed signals;
- Explain the difference between time and frequency domains and perform signal analysis in time and frequency domains using modern software programming tools (Matlab).
Module Content
Part I: Electronics
The first aim of the first part of this module is to give students a grounding in electronics. To this end we will examine the fundamental circuit components and evaluate circuits built using these components using a circuit simulator. The second aim of the first part of the module is that students be able to explain the concepts of wireless communications at the physical layer. This includes an explanation of
electromagnetic fields (the means), the antenna (the front end transmit/receive device) and the means by which EM signals can be modulated to transmit information.
Part II: Information Technology
The second part of the module begins with an overview of the concept of information and its significance in todays’ society. The aim of the module is to then show how such information is transmitted over links and networks. The course gives particular focus on the understanding of time domain, frequency domain and bandwidth of signals. It introduces some basic operations, such as modulation and multiplexing, and will introduce some general concepts of data transmission and transmission media.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Teaching and learning will be based on lectures, tutorials and assignments.
Assessment Details
| Assessment Component | Brief Description | Learning Outcomes Addressed | % of Total | Week Set | Week Due |
| Basic circuit analysis based on Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws, the Potential Divider and formulae for series and parallel resistances. | LO1 | Week 2-3 | Week 3-4 | ||
| Circuit Simulation Assignment I | Build simple circuits involving reactive components using a circuit simulator. | LO1, LO2 | Week 3-4 | Week 4-5 | |
| Circuit Simulation Assignment II | Build a simple signal amplifierusing a circuit simulator. | L03, LO4 | Week 4-5 | Week 5-6 | |
| Matlab Fourier Series Assignment | Build a number of signals by using the Fourier series method. | LO5 | Week 8-9 | Week 9-10 | |
| Matlab Spectrum Analysis Assignment | Analyse the frequency spectrum of a number of signals. | LO 5 | Week 10-11 | ||
| Examination | In Person 3 hour written examination | LO 1, LO 2, LO 3, LO 4, LO 5 | 100% | N/A | N/A |
Reassessment Details
Written Examination, 3 hours In person (100%).
Contact Hours and Indicative Student Workload
| Contact Hours (scheduled hours per student over full module), broken down by: | 33 hours |
| Lecture | 22 hours |
| Laboratory | 0 hours |
| Tutorial or seminar | 11 hours |
| Independent Study (outside scheduled contact hours), broken down by: | 95 hours |
| Part I: Independent Study (preparation for course and review of materials) | 10 hours |
| Part I: Independent Study (preparation for assessment, incl. completion of assessment | 20 hours |
| Part I: Independent Study (additional work or assignments) | 20 hours |
| Part II: Independent study (preparation for course and review of materials) | 25 hours |
| Part II: Independent Study (additional work or assignments) | 20 hours |
| Total Hours | 128 hours |
Recommended Reading List
- Introductory Circuit Analysis by Robert Boylestad.
- Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory by Robert Boylestad.
- Computer Networks by Andrew Tannenbaum.
- Data Communications and Networking by Behrouz Forouzan.
Module Pre-requisites
Prerequisite modules: N/A
Other/alternative non-module prerequisites: Basic principles of computer programming.
Module Co-requisites
N/A