Description

This course is dedicated to the utilisation of integrated circuits, in particular operational amplifiers, as well as to the following fields: Power Electronics; Electrotechnics with a focus on electrical installations and the conversion of photovoltaic solar energy and thermal.

English Friendly subject: International students may request from the teachers: a) materials and bibliographic references in English, b) tutoring sessions in English, c) exams and assessments in English.

Requirements

Subjects recommended to have taken before

• Physics: Analysis of Linear Circuits (V05G301V01108)
• Physics: Fundamentals of Electronics (V05G301V01201)

Instructors

• Álvarez Ruiz de Ojeda, Luís Jacobo
• Quintáns Graña, Camilo
• Raña García, Herminio José
• Valdés Peña, María Dolores

Contents

Operational amplifiers and other integrated circuits

• Introduction to amplifiers
• Frequency response in amplifiers
• Bode diagrams
• Principles of operation of an operational amplifier
• Application circuits for operational amplifiers
• Other integrated circuits of general application

Power Electronics (I)

• Introduction to Power Electronics
• Power electronic devices

Power Electronics (II)

• DC power supplies
• DC-DC converters

Power Electronics (III)

• Single-phase rectifiers
• Single-phase inverters

Electrotechnics

• Electrical installations
• Protections

Photovoltaic and thermal solar energy

• Photovoltaic and thermal solar installations
• Photovoltaic cells
• Photovoltaic panels
• Photovoltaic systems of energy conversion

Laboratory sessions

• Assembly and simulation of circuits studied in theory
• Transistor-based amplifiers
• Linear and nonlinear applications of operational amplifiers
• Linear regulators for power supplies
• Power devices
• DC-DC and DC-AC converters
• Photovoltaic solar generator

Learning Outcomes

B13

• CG13: The ability to use software tools that support problem solving in engineering

B14

• CG14: The ability to use software tools to search for information or bibliographical resources

C14

• CE14 / T9: The ability to:
  • Analyze and design combinational and sequential circuits
  • Work with synchronous and asynchronous systems
  • Use integrated circuits and microprocessors

C16

• CE16 / T11: The ability to:
  • Use different energy sources, especially photovoltaic and thermal
  • Understand fundamentals of:
    • Power electronics
    • Electronics

Planned Activities

Lecturing

• The teacher explains the theoretical contents
• This activity is individual
• Competencies developed:
  • C14, C16

Laboratory practical

• Activities include:
  • Circuit mounting and testing
  • Simulation of electronic circuits using software
• Software used: ORCAD PSPICE
• Also includes:
  • Web searches by students on technical information (e.g., transistors, operational amplifiers)
• This activity is collective:
  • Students work in teams of two
• Competencies developed:
  • C14, C16, B13, B14

Problem solving

• The teacher solves exercises related to most chapters
• This activity is individual
• Competencies developed:
  • C14, C16

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Evaluation Activities

Essay questions exam

• Description:
  Part of each partial theory exam. The number of tests and policy are detailed in the "Other comments" section
• Qualification: 35
• Training and Learning Results:
  • C14
  • C16

Problem and/or exercise solving

• Description:
  Part of each partial theory exam. The number of tests and policy are detailed in the "Other comments" section
• Qualification: 35
• Training and Learning Results:
  • C14
  • C16

Laboratory practice

• Description:
  Conducted in the laboratory and consists of:
  • Real assembly of circuits
  • Measurements on circuits
  • Questions related to circuits
  • Simulation of circuits similar to those studied
  • Questions related to simulations
• Qualification: 30
• Training and Learning Results:
  • B13
  • B14
  • C14
  • C16

Other Comments on the Evaluation

Continuous Assessment (CA)

• Based on:
  • Partial theory exams
  • Laboratory exams
• Students are considered to choose CA when attending the first partial exam
• Students may renounce CA and switch to GA until:
  • Date of first laboratory partial exam

1.1 Ordinary exam (CA)

• Evaluation divided into:
  • Theory (70%)
  • Laboratory (30%)

Theory part

• Evaluated through 3 exams
• Each exam weight: 23.33%
• Passing condition:
  • ≥ 4/10 in each exam
• Theory grade (TG):
  • Average of the three exams

Laboratory part

• Evaluated through 2 exams
• Each exam weight: 15%
• Requirements:
  • Attendance ≥ 80% of sessions
• Passing condition:
  • ≥ 4/10 in each exam
• Laboratory grade (LG):
  • Average of the two exams

Final Grade (FG)

• If all partials ≥ 4 and FG ≥ 5:
  • FG = (TG × 0.7) + (LG × 0.3)
• Otherwise:
  • FG = min [(TG × 0.7 + LG × 0.3), 4.9]
• Recovery:
  • Failed partial exams (theory or lab) can be retaken at final exam date

1.2 Extraordinary opportunity (CA)

• Students can recover failed partial exams
• Final grade calculated the same way as ordinary

2. Global Assessment (GA)

• Students choosing GA have:
  • Ordinary and extraordinary opportunities
• Evaluation consists of:
  • Theory exam (TG): 70%
  • Laboratory exam (LG): 30%

Final Grade (GA)

• If both parts ≥ 4 and FG ≥ 5:
  • FG = (TG × 0.7) + (LG × 0.3)
• Otherwise:
  • FG = min [(TG × 0.7 + LG × 0.3), 4.9]

3. End-of-program call

• Same evaluation system as global assessment

Other Important Notes

• Additional information will be published on the subject website
• Exam rules:
  • Smart devices must be:
    • Turned off
    • Out of reach
• Plagiarism:
  • Considered serious misconduct
  • Consequences:
    • Final grade = FAIL (0)
    • Reported to academic authorities