Description

The course introduces the fundamentals of the lumped circuit principles and abstractions on which the design of electronic systems is based. These include lumped circuit models for sources, resistors, inductors, and capacitors. It intends to present some techniques to analyze (to determine currents and voltages) such systems: conventional analysis (integer-differential analysis, phasors and impedances in sinusoidal regime) and linear systems theory based analysis (by using the Laplace transform).

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

Requirements

• Subjects recommended to have taken before
  • Mathematics: Linear Algebra — V05G301V01102
  • Mathematics: Calculus 1 — V05G301V01101
• Other comments
  • It is strongly recommended that students are familiar with complex numbers, trigonometric functions, solving linear equation systems, derivatives of elementary functions, and the computation of simple integrals.

Instructors

• García Mateo, Carmen
• García-Tuñón Blanca, Inés
• Gómez Araújo, Marta
• Pérez Eijo, Lorena María

Contents

• Topic I: Introduction to Circuit Analysis
  • Fundamental and derived magnitudes
  • Circuit elements
  • Kirchhoff's laws
  • Resistors in series
  • Resistors in parallel
  • Divider circuits: voltage divider and current divider
• Topic II: Techniques of Circuit Analysis in Steady-State Continuous Regime
  • Mesh current method
  • Node voltage method
  • Source transformations
  • Thévenin and Norton equivalent circuits
  • Maximum power transfer
  • Superposition
• Topic III: Reactive Elements
  • Inductors and capacitors
  • Series-parallel combinations of inductors and capacitors
  • Inductors and capacitors in steady-state continuous regime
  • Transient regime
  • Natural and step response of RL and RC circuits
• Topic IV: Sinusoidal Steady-State Analysis
  • Definition and parameters
  • RMS and average values
  • Concepts of phasor and impedance
  • Mesh and node analysis in steady-state sinusoidal networks
  • Thévenin and Norton equivalent circuits
  • Ideal transformers
  • Power expressions and calculations
• Topic V: Two-Port Circuits
  • Definition of a two-port circuit
  • Characteristic parameters
  • Interconnected two-port circuits
  • Analysis of the terminated two-port circuit
• Topic VI: Circuit Analysis in the Transformed Domain
  • Steady-state response in a circuit
  • Transfer function
  • Circuit elements in the s-domain
  • Circuit analysis in the s-domain
• Topic VII: Frequency Selective Circuits
  • Filter concept
  • Low-pass filters
  • High-pass filters
  • Band-pass filters
  • Band-reject filters
• Topic VIII: Circuit Analysis in the Time Domain
  • Classification of signals
  • Classification of systems
  • Linear and time-invariant systems
  • Direct and inverse Laplace transform
  • Poles and zeros diagram
  • Impulse response
  • Convolution integral

Learning Outcomes

• B3 (CG3) – The knowledge of basic subjects and technologies that enables the student to learn new methods and technologies, giving them versatility to confront and adapt to new situations.
• B4 (CG4) – The ability to solve problems with initiative, make creative decisions, and communicate and transmit knowledge and skills, understanding the ethical and professional responsibility of the Technical Telecommunication Engineer.
• C4 (CE4/FB4) – Comprehension and command of basic concepts in linear systems and their related functions and transforms; electric circuits theory, electronic circuits, physical principles of semiconductors and logical families, electronic and photonic devices, materials technology and their application to solving engineering problems.
• D2 (CT2) – Understanding engineering within a framework of sustainable development.
• D3 (CT3) – Awareness of the need for lifelong learning and continuous quality improvement, showing a flexible, open and ethical attitude toward different opinions and situations, particularly regarding non-discrimination based on sex, race or religion, and respect for fundamental rights and accessibility.

Recommended Readings and Tools

• Subjects that continue the syllabus
  • Physics: Fundamentals of Electronics — V05G301V01201
  • Digital Signal Processing — V05G301V01205
  • Signal Transmission and Reception Techniques — V05G301V01208
• Subjects recommended to be taken simultaneously
  • Mathematics: Calculus 2 — V05G301V01106

Planned Activities

• Introductory activities – Presentation of the course, including syllabus, bibliography, teaching methodology, and assessment and grading procedures.
  Competencies developed: CT2, CT3.
• Lecturing – Presentation of the theoretical contents and evaluation of students’ learning abilities. Exercises and problems related to the subject are solved during these sessions, either by the professor or by the students with the professor’s guidance, individually or in groups.
  Competencies developed: CG3, CG4, CE4, CT2, CT3.
• Practices through ICT – Supervised sessions where students individually or in teams solve practical problems related to the theoretical contents of the subject. Solutions may be analyzed, checked and compared using computational tools.
  Competencies developed: CG3, CG4, CE4.
• Laboratory practical – Practical sessions carried out in the hardware laboratory, where students assemble circuits and perform measurement tasks.
  Competencies developed: CG3, CG4, CE4.
• Problem solving – Supervised team-based sessions focused on solving practical applications related to the theoretical contents of the subject.
  Competencies developed: CG3, CG4, CE4.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Evaluation Activities

• Problem and/or exercise solving – Three continuous assessment tests will be carried out during the Group A schedule: ECA1, ECA2 and ECA3. Each test has a value of 2 points. The schedule of these tests will be approved by the Academic Committee of the Degree (CAG) and published at the beginning of the semester.
  Weight: 60%.
  Training and learning results: B3, B4, C4.
• Systematic observation – During the course, at the end of different practical sessions (ICT practices and laboratory sessions), students may solve short exercises related to the content of the session and previous sessions. Students who participate in continuous assessment may receive a bonus of up to 0.5 points, which will be added to the final continuous assessment grade. If the final score exceeds 10, it will be truncated to 10.
  Weight: 5%.
  Training and learning results: B3, B4, C4, D2, D3.
• Essay questions exam (Global Test – PG) – This exam covers all theoretical and practical contents of the subject and may include multiple-choice questions, reasoning questions, problem solving and exercises, and practical case development. Students following continuous assessment will take a reduced version of the exam (maximum score 4 points), while the extended version for other students is graded out of 10 points.
  Weight: 40%.
  Training and learning results: B3, B4, C4.

Other Comments on the Evaluation

Students have two opportunities during the academic year to pass the course, according to the official academic calendar.

1. Ordinary Exam (End of Semester)

Students may freely choose the continuous assessment system or rely solely on the final exam.

Possible situations:

• Students taking only the final exam
  Their final grade will be the score obtained in that exam (0–10).

• Students following continuous assessment
  The final grade will be calculated as:

  Mark = min(ECA1 + ECA2 + ECA3 + Bonus + PG, 10)

2. Extraordinary Exam

Students who do not pass the course in the ordinary call may take an extraordinary final exam covering all theoretical and practical contents of the subject. The exam may include multiple-choice questions, reasoning questions, problem solving and exercises, and practical case development.

The exam is graded from 0 to 10, and the score obtained will be the final grade.

Students who followed continuous assessment may decide on the day of the exam whether to keep their continuous assessment grade or to be evaluated only through the extraordinary exam.

End-of-Program Exam

Students eligible for the end-of-program call will take an exam covering all theoretical and practical contents of the subject, including multiple-choice questions, reasoning questions, problem solving and practical cases. The score obtained (0–10) will be the final grade.

Additional Comments

• Students must attend practical sessions in the group assigned at the beginning of the semester.
• All evaluation marks are individual.
• Taking ECA2 or any later continuous assessment test, or any final exam, implies that the student will receive a grade other than “Not Presented”.
• Continuous assessment grades are valid only for the academic year in which they are obtained.
• The subject is considered passed when the final grade is ≥ 5.

Rescheduling of Tests

If a student misses a scheduled test, instructors are not required to reschedule it.

Publication and Review of Results

Before each test, the date and procedure for reviewing the marks will be announced. Normally, marks will be published within three weeks after the test.

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct. If plagiarism is detected in any assignment or exam, the student will receive a final grade of 0 (Fail) and the incident will be reported to the appropriate academic authorities.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in academic activities is allowed, provided that it is used ethically, critically and responsibly. Results obtained from AI tools should be carefully verified, and the tools used should be explicitly declared when appropriate.