Microelectronics Course

Lesson 1 • Charge Carrier Transport

Analyses drift and diffusion as the two primary carrier transport mechanisms. Connects transport equations to current flow in semiconductor devices.

Lesson 2 • Semiconductor Material Properties

Examines intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, doping mechanisms, and carrier concentrations. Links material composition to electrical conductivity control.

Lesson 3 • P-N Junction Fundamentals

Introduces the P-N junction, depletion region formation, and built-in potential. Provides the structural basis for diodes and all junction-based devices.

Lesson 1 • Diode Models and Characteristics

Covers ideal, piecewise-linear, and small-signal diode models for circuit analysis. Bridges semiconductor physics to practical circuit-level approximations.

Lesson 2 • Special-Purpose Diodes

Introduces Schottky, varactor, LED, and photodiode types and their application contexts. Expands design options beyond standard rectifier applications.

Lesson 3 • Filtering and Voltage Regulation

Examines capacitor filters, ripple voltage, and Zener-based voltage regulation. Connects rectifier output to stable DC supply design.

Lesson 1 • DC Biasing Techniques

Covers fixed-bias, potential-divider, and emitter-stabilised bias circuits for quiescent point stability. Prepares students to set reliable operating points in amplifier designs.

Lesson 2 • BJT Operating Regions

Defines cut-off, active, and saturation regions using I-V characteristics and load lines. Enables correct region identification for amplifier and switch design.

Lesson 3 • BJT Structure and Operation

Explains NPN and PNP transistor structures, minority carrier injection, and current gain. Establishes the physical basis for BJT amplification.

Lesson 4 • Frequency Response of BJT Amplifiers

Analyses low- and high-frequency roll-off using coupling capacitors and parasitic capacitances. Connects bandwidth limitations to practical amplifier design constraints.

Lesson 1 • FET Biasing and Quiescent Point Design

Analyses self-bias, potential-divider, and drain-feedback bias for FETs. Applies graphical and analytical methods to establish stable operating points.

Lesson 2 • FET Small-Signal Amplifier Configurations

Applies FET small-signal models to common-source, gate, and drain amplifier topologies. Quantifies voltage gain, input impedance, and output impedance for each configuration.

Lesson 3 • MOSFET Operation and Types

Explains enhancement and depletion MOSFET structures, threshold voltage, and channel formation. Establishes the dominant device type in modern integrated circuits.

Lesson 4 • JFET Structure and Characteristics

Covers N-channel and P-channel JFET operation, pinch-off, and drain characteristics. Introduces voltage-controlled current source behaviour distinct from BJTs.

Lesson 1 • Ideal Op-Amp Model and Properties

Defines infinite gain, input impedance, and bandwidth assumptions of the ideal op-amp model. Provides the analytical framework for all linear op-amp circuit analysis.

Lesson 2 • Non-Ideal Op-Amp Parameters

Examines offset voltage, bias current, slew rate, and finite bandwidth effects on circuit performance. Enables accurate real-world op-amp circuit design and error budgeting.

Lesson 3 • Integrators and Differentiators

Designs op-amp integrator and differentiator circuits and analyses their frequency-domain behaviour. Connects time-domain operations to filter and waveform-shaping applications.

Lesson 4 • Linear Op-Amp Circuit Configurations

Analyses inverting, non-inverting, summing, and difference amplifier topologies. Builds a toolkit of standard configurations for signal conditioning applications.

Lesson 1 • Stability Analysis Using Bode Plots

Applies Bode magnitude and phase plots to determine phase margin and gain margin. Provides graphical tools for predicting and preventing amplifier oscillation.

Lesson 2 • Effects of Feedback on Amplifier Parameters

Quantifies how negative feedback modifies gain, bandwidth, input impedance, and output impedance. Demonstrates the trade-off between gain and performance improvement.

Lesson 3 • Feedback Theory Fundamentals

Introduces the general feedback model, loop gain, and the four feedback topologies. Establishes the mathematical framework for analysing any feedback amplifier.

Lesson 4 • Oscillator Circuits

Applies the Barkhausen criterion to design RC, LC, and crystal oscillator circuits. Connects positive feedback theory to practical signal generation applications.

Lesson 1 • VLSI Design Flow Overview

Introduces RTL design, logic synthesis, place-and-route, and physical verification steps. Maps the complete path from specification to manufacturable chip layout.

Lesson 2 • Logic Families and Electrical Characteristics

Compares CMOS, TTL, and ECL logic families by speed, power, and noise margin. Provides criteria for selecting logic families in mixed-signal system design.

Lesson 3 • Combinational Logic Circuit Design

Covers Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, and standard combinational building blocks. Develops systematic methods for minimising and implementing logic functions.

Lesson 4 • CMOS Layout and Design Rules

Applies design rules for CMOS transistor layout, well regions, and metal interconnects. Ensures students can create layout-correct cells that pass fabrication verification.

Lesson 1 • DC-DC Converter Topologies

Analyses buck, boost, and buck-boost converters in continuous and discontinuous conduction modes. Develops voltage conversion ratio and inductor design skills for switching regulators.

Lesson 2 • Analogue IC Building Blocks

Covers current mirrors, differential pairs, and cascode stages as core analogue IC subcircuits. Provides the fundamental cells used in op-amp and data converter IC design.

Lesson 3 • Voltage References and Regulators

Designs bandgap voltage references and linear regulators for stable on-chip supply generation. Completes the power management subsystem design skill set for integrated circuits.

Lesson 4 • PWM Control and Feedback in Converters

Applies pulse-width modulation and closed-loop feedback to regulate converter output voltage. Connects feedback theory to practical switching power supply control design.