Syllabus Module 4: Electronic Fundamentals

Module 4 prepares the students/ staff for the electronics of the aircraft systems. Here, the basic of the electronics are covered.

The syllabus is rather selective, for example, for B1 modules, it excludes the materials and the electronics properties. However, we include this subjecs in our teaching, as we found out that, to understand the operation of diodes and transistors, the students need to know the materials.

Subtopics	A	B1	B2
4.1 Semiconductors 4.1.1 Diodes (a) Diode symbols; (LevelsA -,B1- 2, B2- 2) Diode characteristics and properties; Diodes in series and parallel; Main characteristics and use of silicon controlled rectifiers (thyristors), light emitting diode, photo conductive diode, varistor, rectifier diodes; Functional testing of diodes. (b) Materials, electron configuration, electrical properties; (Levels -, -, B2- 2) P and N type materials: effects of impurities on conduction, majority and minority characters; PN junction in a semiconductor, development of a potential across a PN junction in unbiased, forward biased & reverse biased conditions; Diode parameters: peak inverse voltage, maximum forward current, temperature, frequency, leakage current, power dissipation; Operation and function of diodes in the following circuits: clippers, clampers, full and half wave rectifiers, bridge rectifiers, voltage doublers and triplers; Detailed operation and characteristics of the following devices: silicon controlled rectifier (thyristor), light emitting diode, Shottky diode, photo conductive diode, varactor diode, varistor, rectifier diodes, Zener diode.	- -	2 -	2 2
4. 1.2 Transistors (a) Transistor symbols;  -  , 1, 2 Component description and orientation; Transistor characteristics and properties. (b) Construction and operation of PNP and NPN transistors;  - , -, 2 Base, collector and emitter configurations; Testing of transistors. Basic appreciation of other transistor types and their uses. Application of transistors: classes of amplifier (A, B, C); Simple circuits including: bias, decoupling, feedback & stabilisation; Multistage circuit principles: cascades, push-pull, oscillators, multivibrators, flip-flop circuits. 4.1.3 Integrated Circuits  (Levels -, 1, - ) (a) Description and operation of logic circuits and linear circuits/operational amplifiers. (b) Description and operation of logic circuits and linear circuits;  (Levels -, - , 2 ) Introduction to operation and function of an operational amplifier used as: integrator, differentiator, voltage follower, comparator; Operation and amplifier stages connecting methods: resistive capacitive, inductive (transformer), inductive resistive (IR), direct; Advantages and disadvantages of positive and negative feedback.		1 - 1 -
4.2 Printed Circuit Boards   (Levels, - , 1, 2) Description and use of printed circuit boards.
4.3 Servomechanisms   (Levels -, 1 , - ) (a) Understanding of the following terms: Open and closed loop systems, feedback, follow up, analogue transducers; Principles of operation and use of the following synchro system components/features: resolvers, differential, control and torque, transformers, inductance and capacitance transmitters. (b) Understanding of the following terms:  (Levels -, - , 2 ) Open & closed loop, follow up, servomechanism, analogue, transducer, null, damping, feedback, deadband; Construction operation and use of the following synchro system components: resolvers, differential, control and torque, E and I transformers, inductance transmitters, capacitance transmitters, synchronous transmitters; Servomechanism defects, reversal of synchro leads, hunting.