EE122 - Introduction to

Electronic Circuit Design

Prof. Greg Kovacs

with Amy Droitcour and Bob Ricks

Department of Electrical Engineering

Stanford University
 About EE122
• “Curiosity-driven” laboratories with a flexible structure.
• A team-based approach to learning.
• Practical, rather than theory-driven content.
• Preparation for laboratories will involve team research and
analysis, rather then lengthy write-ups.
• An informal lab-book-based approach to taking data.
• No formal examinations (midterms or final), with grading
based on laboratory notebooks, teamwork, and final
project.
• Final project with a full three weeks provided for design
and construction.
• Final demos given by each team to the entire class.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 2

 An introduction to gEEk culture.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 3

 EE122 Course Goals

• Analog circuit design knowledge.

• Introduction to sensors.

• Working knowledge of interface electronics

(to the “real world”).

• Developing circuit design intuition.

• Experience with teamwork in

experimentation, documentation and design.
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 4
Basic Things You Have to Handle

• Know how to use Excel (how to enter data and

how to make plots).

• Know how to use Word (including importing

graphics) and how to generate PDF files.

• Find a form of SPICE that you are comfortable

with (B2Spice, PSPICE, HSPICE, or whatever).
TA’s will help.

• Get a copy of Horowitz and Hill, “The Art of

Electronics.”

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 5

 Your Professor in ˜ 1961

Gotta hack
circuits!

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 6

 Sandy Plewa (CISX-203)
723-0720, splewa@leland

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 7

 Bob Ricks
bricks@mail.arc.nasa.gov

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 8

 Amy Droitcour
adroit@stanford.edu

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 9

 Grading
• Laboratory notebooks - 20%

• Formal laboratory write-ups - 30%

• Final project (team) demonstration/presentation and

write-up - 40%

• TA evaluation of laboratory skills (individual) - 10%

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 10

THIS IS A PROJECT-BASED
CLASS!

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 11

Spring 00/01

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 12

 On Clear Communication
• You are the chief airplane washer at the company
hangar and you:
(1) Hook high pressure hose up to the soap suds machine.
(2) Turn the machine "on".
(3) Receive an important call and have to leave to go home.
(4) As you depart for home, you yell to Don, your assistant, "Don, turn it
off.”
(5) Assistant Don thinks he hears, "Don't turn it off.” He shrugs, and
leaves the area right after you.
(6) Refer to next slide for the results.

• As with any occupation make sure everyone has a clear

understanding of what you are communicating.
• This un-doctored picture shows what actually
happened.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 13

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 14
 Safety Issues

• Electricity can kill you.

• Keep voltages below +/-15 V unless specifically

authorized.

• No line-powered projects please. Use the bench

power supplies, “wall wart” AC adapters, solar
cells, or batteries.

• If any circuits interface to the human body, they

must be battery powered and isolated from any
instruments, etc.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 15

Electrostatic Discharge Protection

• “Normal” static
electricity we carry
can severely
damage CMOS
chips.
• With POWER OFF,
touch something
grounded before
handling a chip.
• Once on a board,
the chips are pretty
safe.
Photos Courtesy of Analog Devices.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 16

 LTC1475

Photo Courtesy Linear Technology.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 17
Please keep the lab neat!

It is your job.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 18

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 19
 NO!
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 20
 Good Books
• Horowitz and Hill, “The Art of Electronics.”

• Application notes and books of them from chip

manufacturers like:
– National Semiconductor

– Linear Technology

– Maxim

– Analog Devices

• Electronics “cookbooks” (various) - check Fry’s

and Jameco.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 21

 Good Magazines

• Nuts and Volts (www.nutsvolts.com).

• Wireless World.

• Popular Electronics.

• Elektor (way cool Euro mag!) (http://www.elektor-

electronics.co.uk/index.html)

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 22

 Good (New) Parts Sources
• Digi-Key - www.digikey.com
• Jameco - www.jameco.com
• Fry’s (but don’t ask for help) - www.outpost.com (doesn’t
list all items in store)
• Allied - www.alliedelec.com
• Newark - www.newark.com
• Radio Shack - www.radioshack.com
• Hosfelt (yes, it’s real) - www.hosfelt.com

• Let us know of any others you find - they will be added to

this list!

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 23

• Haltek, Mountain View, CA - OUT OF BUSINESS!!!!
Good
• Halted Specialties, Inc., Santa Clara, CA
– 3500 Ryder St., Santa Clara, (408) 732-1573 Surplus
– www.halted.com
– Great selection of parts. Sources
• Alltronics
– Parts, some instruments, much junk (catch owner in a good mood).
– 2300D Zanker Road, San Jose, (408) 943-9773, www.alltronics.com
• Gateway, various cities, (800) 669-5810
– Cool surplus parts.
• Davylin Corp., North Hollywood, CA
– www.Davylin.com/Electronics
– Test instruments, weird military stuff.

• Resources Unlimited, Manchester, NH

– can be hard to deal with, but have large selection of optics, lasers, and weird stuff.
– (800) 810-4070
• All Electronics, Van Nuys, CA
– www.allcorp.com
• Foothill and Livermore Swap Meets
– Livermore 1st Sunday of every month all year
– Foothill 2nd Saturday of every month summer/fall only

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 24

• Marlin P. Jones & Assoc., Inc. More
– P.O. Box 12685, Lake Park, FL 33403-0685
–
–
(800) 652-6733
www.mpja.com
Surplus
– Lots of cool video stuff, kits and parts. Sources
• American Science and Surplus
– www.sciplus.com
– Weird assortment...

http://community.webshots.com/photo/1297708/1510906PaIhCjlKGC

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 25

 Schedule
• Week of 9/29 - Instrumentation: Physical and Virtual (SPICE)
• First class is: Monday 9/29
Notes: Lab assignments, course organization will be discussed. Kovacs, Gilchrist, Ricks, and TAs will
introduce themselves in class and schedule laboratory times.
Students should purchase textbooks and laboratory books.
Lecture Topics:
• Review of basic instruments (physical and virtual).
• Review of electronic components.
• Introduction to the design process.

• Week of 10/6 - Basic Op-Amp Concepts

Students will learn how to operate the electronic instruments in the laboratory and familiarize themselves
with the necessary software, as required.
Lecture Topics:
• Power sources such as basic power supply circuits, batteries, etc.
• Operational amplifier circuits (inverting and non-inverting amplifiers, summers, etc.).
• Limitations and strengths of integrated circuit opertional amplifiers.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 26

 Schedule
• Week of 10/13 - Frequency Concepts and Nonlinear Circuits
Students will experiment with simple operational amplifier circuits and get a feel for what these chips can
and cannot do.
Lecture Topics:
• Analog filter circuits.
• Nonlinear operational amplifier circuits.
• Simple oscillators.

• Week of 10/20 - Interface Circuits

Students will learn to use filters, nonlinear circuits with op-amps, and how to generate a basic set of useful
signals. “Fooling around” with the circuits will be encouraged.
Lecture Topics:
• Interface circuits to motors, relays, lamps, etc., using discrete transistors (bipolar and MOSFET).
• Digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital concepts.
• Basic sensor concepts - how circuits see, feel, hear, etc.

Project proposals due in class on Monday, 10/27. Approved project proposals will be returned to
teams in class on Wednesday, 10/29. Turning in proposals early is highly encouraged!

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 27

 Schedule
• Week of 10/27 - Optoelectronics
Students will use simple circuits to interface to a variety of “real-world” devices.
Lecture Topics:
• LED’s, lasers, phototransistors, and other interesting optoelectronic devices.
• Simple circuits to move information with light.

• Week of 11/3 -Additional Circuit Concepts, Final Project Construction - Droitcour

Students will gain hands-on experience with optoelectronic components and demonstrate an optical signal
transmitter and receiver.
Lecture Topics:
• A variety of useful circuit building blocks.

• Week of 11/10 - Additional Circuit Concepts, Final Project Construction - Droitcour

Students will be exposed to a variety of interesting circuit concepts that might come in handy when
working on the details of their projects.
Lecture Topics:
• More interesting circuit tricks.
• Brief student project presentations in class.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 28

 Schedule
• Week of 11/17 - Final Project Construction - Droitcour
• Students should begin construction of projects, obtain any special components, and team member
responsibilities should be clarified and assigned.
Lecture Topics:
• How to build prototype circuits.
• How to debug analog circuits.
• Brief student project presentations in class.

• Week of 11/24 - Final Project Construction

Students should be finishing project fabrication and testing.
Lecture Topics:
• Student question-and-answer to help with project-related problems.
• More interesting circuits.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 29

 Schedule
• Week of 11/25 - Dead Week - Demonstrations , Write-Ups Due
Students should be finishing project fabrication and testing.
NO LECTURES

• The final project demonstrations are scheduled for Wednesday, 12/3, and
the final reports are due Friday, 12/5 by 5 pm (please turn them in to Ms.
Sandy Plewa).

• Demo day is not flexible. All students must

attend. Please block this date on your calendar
right now. Please.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 30

 Analog in the Great Outdoors….

Projects for sports and exploration

are welcomed!

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 31

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 32
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 33
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 34
 Some Interesting Project Ideas
• Op-amp tester.
• Magnetic field probe.
• Ultrasonic translator.
• Eyeblink sensor - sleepiness monitor.
• Differencing dual sensor.
• Acoustic ranging system.
• Amplified stethoscope.
• LED oscilloscope.
• Electronic sculpture.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 35

 Some Interesting Project Ideas
• Function generator.
• Precision power supply.
• Voice spectrum shifter.
• Cheapo network analyzer.
• Optical voice communicator.
• Peltier heater/cooler.
• Earthquake detector (with simple multi-band
spectrum analyzer).
• Infrared intrusion alarm.
• Bi-amplified audio system.
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 36
 Challenge Project Ideas

• Best use of Polar heart monitor technology (need

to build a 5 kHz magnetically coupled receiver).
• Best health related device.
• Best gadget for outdoor use (mountaneering,
skiing, scuba diving, etc.).
• Best athletic training gadget.
• Electronic art - something interactive and cool.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 37

 Booty
Beware

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 38

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 39
 Beer
Cooler

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 40

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 41
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 42
 Ultrasonic
Distance
Gauge
EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 43
 Disco Mixer

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 44

 Dissin’
Parrot

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 45

 Line
Following
Robot Car

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 46

 Example of How
To Build Projects
• The “Tweak-O” guitar
effects box article by
Steve Daniels
(http://home.netcom.com/~
smallbearelec) is a great
example of how to build,
package and decorate a
project.
• The circuit itself, however,
is a bit too simplistic for
EE122.
• PDF of article courtesy of
Steve Daniels.

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 47

 Gotta hack
circuits!

EE122, Stanford University, Prof. Greg Kovacs 48