ECE 333 - Electronics 1 SSoE Summer 2012 A Brief Introduction to Electronic Devices and Theory

Introduction to Electronics: What is electronics?

Electronics is the branch of EE that deals with the study of control of electrons (electricity) in vacuums, gases, and semiconductors, and the application of devices using such control. For purposes of this class, and modern usage, we mean semiconductor devices and their applications in electric circuits.

Introduction to Electronics: Semiconductors.

Semiconductor devices are the foundation of modern electronics, including radio, computers, and cell phones. Such devices include transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, and solar cells. Silicon is used to create most semiconductor devices. Other semiconductor materials include Germanium, and Gallium-Nitride The current carrying properties and the conductivity of a semiconductor can be changed by adding quantities of other elements, called dopants, to the base material. In crystalline silicon typically this is achieved by adding impurities of boron (p-type) or phosphorus (n-type).

Introduction to Electronics: Electronic Devices - Diodes.

A diode is formed by a p-n junction, the joining of n-type and p-type semiconductors. A diode only allows current to flow in one direction, from the p-type (anode) to the ntype (cathode).

Introduction to Electronics: Electronic Devices - Transistors.

A transistor can be formed by a p-n-p (or n-p-n) junction. A transistor is a device that utilizes a small change (I,V) in input to produce a large change in in output (I,V,P). They primarily function as switches or amplifiers.
Emitter P Collector

N
Base

Introduction to Electronics: Electronic Devices Operational Amplifiers.

An Operational Amplifier (op-amp) can be formed by connecting multiple transistors together. An op-amp is typically used to produce a voltage output many times larger than the voltage difference between its input terminals.

Introduction to Electronics: Electronic Devices Integrated Circuits.

An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as IC, chip, and microchip) is an electronic circuit manufactured by the techniques of photolithography, doping, deposition, and etching. These techniques allows the integration of large numbers of tiny transistors, capacitors, resistors, and diodes onto a single small area (substrate)

Introduction to Electronics: History of Electronics.

Pre- 20th Century

Franklins lightning experiments determine charge flow, giving us our modern + to current convention ~1750 Coulomb develops equations describing forces acting on charged particles ~1780 Volta invents the Voltaic Pile, the 1st battery ~1800 Orsted discovers that electric currents create magnetic fields ~1820 Ampere developed the basic mathematical theories of E&M ~1820 Ohm discovers the proportional relationship between current and voltage, introducing the concepts of resistance and conductance ~1830 Faraday invents the Homopolar motor and develops the concept of magnetic lines of force ~1821. Invents the electric dynamo in 1831, the first electric generator. Henry discovers self inductance ~1821 Kirchoff formulates the KVL and KCL ~1845 Maxwell formulates classical E&M, uniting electricity, magnetism, and optics via the wave equations ~1865 Edison discovers the thermionic effect ~1880 Tesla invents the AC induction motor and most of the modern electric grid ~1890 Hertz proves the existence of electro-magentic waves ~1885 Marconi invents the radio and applies the use of antennas as communication devices ~1895

Introduction to Electronics: History of Electronics.

Early 20th Century Fleming invents the vacuum tube rectifier, the 1st diode ~1905 DeFrost invents the Triode, a 3-terminal rectifier w/ a grid to control electron flow ~1906 Thompson, Rutherford, Plank, Bohr - Developers of atomic theory Einstein originator of relativity and the photoelectric effect Debrouglie, Heisenburg, Schrodinger, Dirac Fathers of quantum theory. The Transistor Age Bardeen and Brattain invent the point contact transistor, the 1st solid state amplifying device, demonstrating the transistor effect in 1947 Schockley invents the junction transistor and forms Schockleys Diode Equation in 1950. This is the real foundation of modern electronics. Modern Electronics Teal invents the silicon transistor in 1954 Kahng & Atalla creates MOSFET in 1960 Kilby invents Integrated Circuit (IC) in 1959