Course Description

ECE 3040 is the first course in the area of microelectronics. It introduces the basic concepts in semiconductor materials, devices, and circuits and provides the foundation for the subsequent courses in ICs and VLSI design. In this course, the basic theory of charge flow in semiconductor materials is described. PN junction diodes and transistors (bipolar and MOSFET) are introduced and their operation principles, physics, characteristics and computer models are explained. Methods for analysis of microelectronic circuits containing diodes, transistors, resistors, capacitors, and inductors are described and the circuit simulation program SPICE is utilized to verify analysis and perform system applications. Single stage transistor amplifiers, differential amplifiers, and Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps) are introduced and analyzed and their applications are discussed. On the digital side, you will learn how digital gates and inverters are configured from transistors and how the device characteristics determine key performance indexes. In summary, you will develop the analysis and design capabilities necessary for the utilization of microelectronic components in analog and digital circuits and system applications.