Course Outline for Electronic Systems Technology 254
Analog Circuits and Wireless Communications

Effective: Fall 2025
SLO Rev: 09/17/2021
Catalog Description:

ESYS 254 - Analog Circuits and Wireless Communications

90.00 Hours

May be repeated 99 time(s)
Introduction to more advanced electrical/electronics circuits. Students learn the use of BJTs (bipolar junction transistors), FETs (field effect transistors), Op-Amps (integrated circuit operational amplifiers) in building electronic circuits such as power supplies, amplifiers, oscillators, and filters. The Vacuum portion of this course offers an introduction of the significance of vacuum technology in advanced manufacturing. Clean Room application, metal fabrication, vacuum drying, and out-gassing concepts are introduced along with hands-on set-up, measurements, calculations, analysis and troubleshooting for leak detection of our high vacuum systems. The wireless communications portion of this course introduces modulation methods, including amplitude (AM), frequency (FM), single and double side band (SSB/DSB), pulse code (PCM) as well as demodulation concepts for each of the above. The students are introduced to the use of the spectrum analyzer for power versus frequency measurements. Equivalent to the ESYS 54 credit course of the same title.
Strongly Recommended: ESYS 250 or ESYS 50.
0934.00 - Electronics and Electric Technology*
Pass/No Pass/Satisfactory Progress
Type Hours
Lecture 36.00
Laboratory 54.00
Total 90.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. explain the concept of a 3-terminal device called a transistor and show how current is controlled between two of the terminals by a signal on the third terminal;
  2. explain the composition of a MOSFET and how it works as an amplifier;
  3. identify basic methods for biasing MOSFETs as amplifiers;
  4. explain the composition of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and how it works;
  5. identify the basic methods for biasing a BJT as an amplifier and a switch;
  6. identify basic transistor amplifier circuits such as common emitter/source, common base/gate, common collector/drain;
  7. draw the circuit of an emitter/source follower, explain its characteristics, purpose and operation;
  8. identify a differential amplifier by its schematic, state its purpose, explain its operation and benefits;
  9. define op amp and draw the basic circuits for an op amp inverter, non-inverting amplifier, differential amplifier, follower, instrumentation amplifier and active filter;
  10. state the basic specifications of an op amp and explain the importance of each.
  11. describe the purpose, operation, specifications and applications of the following IC amplifiers: programmable gain, power amplifier, video amplifier, RF amplifier;
  12. explain the operation of an amplifier connected as an oscillator and calculate oscillation frequency;
  13. name three common types of oscillators, identify their circuits from schematics and state the primary applications;
  14. draw the equivalent circuits of a quartz crystal used as a frequency determining element in an oscillator. State the major benefits of crystal oscillators over all other types;
  15. explain the operation of a switching amplifier and state its benefits;
  16. name the basic classes of amplifiers, state the approximate efficiency of each and indicate where each type is generally used;
  17. state the concept of a push pull amplifier;
  18. identify a complementary symmetry class AB amplifier and explain its operation;
  19. show how BJTs and MOSFETs are used in power amplifiers;
  20. troubleshoot transistor and IC amplifiers using common test equipment;
  21. install, connect, test, explain the operation of and operate at least one complete analog/linear electronic system. Examples: Audio PA system, music/instruments system, consumer stereo/surround sound system, home solar power system, autosound system.
Course Content:

Course Content (Lecture):

  1. BJTs (bipolar junction transistors)
    1. Construction using P and N semiconductor materials
    2. DC (direct current) biasing = how they are turned on/off
    3. Testing with digital multimeter for proper operation
    4. Applications as a switch as well as an amplifier
  2. FETs (field effect transistors)
    1. J-FETs (junction field effect transistors)
    2. MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor FETs)
      1. D-MOSFETs vs E-MOSFETs (depletion vs enhancement)
    3. Construction using P and N semiconductor materials
    4. DC (direct current) biasing = how they are turned on/off
    5. Testing with digital multimeter for proper operation
    6. Applications as a switch as well as an amplifier
  3. Single vs multi-stage transistor amplifier circuits
  4. IC Op-Amp (integrated circuit operational amplifier)
    1. High impedance differential amp input stage
    2. Voltage gain stage implementing Class A operation
    3. Low impedance, Class AB, emitter follower current gain output stage
    4. Single-ended, differential and common-mode input of signal(s)
    5. CMRR (common mode rejection ratio)
    6. Closed Loop Gain, Open Look Gain, Slew Rate, Frequency Response
    7. Negative Feedback Circuits
      1. Voltage follower
      2. Inverting amplifier
    8. Non-Inverting Op-amp operation
  5. Op-amp applications
    1. Active filters
      1. Low pass, high pass, band pass and band reject active filters
    2. Comparators
    3. Summing Amplifiers
    4. Integrators
    5. Differentiators
    6. Convertors
  6. Voltage Regulation
    1. Why is a voltage regulator superior to a battery for sourcing voltage?
    2. Zener diode voltage regulator
    3. Basic series voltage regulator
    4. Basic shunt voltage regulator
    5. Basic switching voltage regulator
    6. IC voltage regulator
  7. The 555 Timer IC Chip
    1. 555 Timer as an oscillator
    2. 555 Cookbook for hundreds of project circuits

Course Content (Laboratory):

  1. BJTs (bipolar junction transistors)
    1. Construction using P and N semiconductor materials
    2. DC (direct current) biasing = how they are turned on/off
    3. Testing with digital multimeter for proper operation
    4. Applications as a switch as well as an amplifier
  2. FETs (field effect transistors)
    1. J-FETs (junction field effect transistors)
    2. MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor FETs)
      1. D-MOSFETs vs E-MOSFETs (depletion vs enhancement)
    3. Construction using P and N semiconductor materials
    4. DC (direct current) biasing = how they are turned on/off
    5. Testing with digital multimeter for proper operation
    6. Applications as a switch as well as an amplifier
  3. Single vs multi-stage transistor amplifier circuits
  4. IC Op-Amp (integrated circuit operational amplifier)
    1. High impedance differential amp input stage
    2. Voltage gain stage implementing Class A operation
    3. Low impedance, Class AB, emitter follower current gain output stage
    4. Single-ended, differential and common-mode input of signal(s)
    5. CMRR (common mode rejection ratio)
    6. Closed Loop Gain, Open Look Gain, Slew Rate, Frequency Response
    7. Negative Feedback Circuits
      1. Voltage follower
      2. Inverting amplifier
    8. Non-Inverting Op-amp operation
  5. Op-amp applications
    1. Active filters
      1. Low pass, high pass, band pass and band reject active filters
    2. Comparators
    3. Summing Amplifiers
    4. Integrators
    5. Differentiators
    6. Convertors
  6. Voltage Regulation
    1. Why is a voltage regulator superior to a battery for sourcing voltage?
    2. Zener diode voltage regulator
    3. Basic series voltage regulator
    4. Basic shunt voltage regulator
    5. Basic switching voltage regulator
    6. IC voltage regulator
  7. The 555 Timer IC Chip
    1. 555 Timer as an oscillator
    2. 555 Cookbook for hundreds of project circuits
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Distance Education
  2. Laboratory
  3. Lecture/Discussion
  4. Online Assignments
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Measure and compare the performance of a class AB and class D amplifier, including gain, bandwidth, noise, and efficiency.
  2. Develop and execute a troubleshooting plan for a MOSFET oscillator circuit.
  3. Build a power supply project with variable positive and negative voltage outputs using center-tapped transformer, bridge rectification, large filter capacitors, LM317/LM337 IC voltage regulators. Enhancements may include LED digital readouts and custom packaging for easy transportation.
  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Quizzes
  3. Papers
  4. Class Participation
  5. Homework
  6. Lab Activities
  7. Observation and critique of laboratory exercises
  8. Final Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. identify op-amp circuit configurations and calculate gain and impedances for the circuit;
  2. identify the terminals and basic internal construction of MOSFET transistors, and describe the operation of MOSFET switching and amplifier circuits.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Floyd, Thomas (2018). Electronic Devices (Conventional Current Version) (10th). Pearson.
  1. Lessons in Electric Circuits, Vol. 1 & 2, 2015, Kuphaldt, T., open source, hosted on ibiblio.org.
  2. Delmar's Standard Textbook of Electricity, 7th Edition, Stephen L. Herman, 2019.
  • Scientific calculator similar to Sharp EL-531 series available in our Chabot College Bookstore.
  • Composition Book or similar for note taking.
  • Computer with Internet access.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Analog circuits, including amplifiers, oscillators, and filters, using single-chip analog devices, operational amplifiers, field-effect transistors, bipolar transistors. High vacuum technology as pertaining to clean room, metal fabrication and vacuum drying applications. Wireless communications training in WiFi, Bluetooth and spectrum analyzers.
Strongly Recommended: ESYS 250 or ESYS 50.
Discipline:
Electronics