Introduction:
ECE3161 Analogue Electronics
Mystery Box Challenge 2023
4 tran- One Power 12 Resistors 5 Capacitors 2 Inductors 2 Diodes 3 Op- Amps sistors Supply
RCL
Less than 9V
The goal of this mini-project is to design, simulate and build an electronic circuit of your choosing with the limited number of components that we provided for Labs 1-6. Use circuit elements according to the limited number of elements provided in the box above.
Note: Online students should do a simulation-based project based on the same number of components.
Requirements:
• Use the components provided to you for Labs 1-6. You should not exceed the number of elements in the box above. However, you can use fewer, of course. Especially students doing the project individually can have a smaller number of active components (e.g. 2 op-amps).
• You can use a dual-rail supply, but the rails must have the same voltage magnitude, such as +/- 5V. Note that you have ± 5 supply with ADALM2000.
• Design the circuits for minimum power consumption, low noise, high resolution and good linearity where appropriate.
• Derive equations and explain how you have optimised the circuit, using concepts you learnt from this unit.
• You should show your results in both the time and frequency domains to justify that your design works as expected.
• We are happy if you use your electronic circuit to control a device or sensors to test the performance. Such control devices and sensors will not be provided by the department, though. You can easily obtain them from Jaycar/Altronics/Digikey etc. (switches, LEDs and sensors are quite cheap at Jaycar). We are not responsible for postal delays if you order online.
• You can make-up values of resistors from the ones that we have provided, including the variable resistors, using parallel and serial combinations. Often you only need a ratio of resistors, rather than specific absolute values.
• If you need specific values, you should obtain them yourself from Jaycar or a similar store.
• You can wind inductors using the wire in the labs. If you need ferrite cores, please obtain them yourselves.
• For passive components (R, L, C), you should consider using them intelligently. Justify in your report why they were needed in your design. E.g., is it possible to use fewer passive components to obtain similar functionality?
Design steps:
1- Specify the desired function of the circuit, and how it is useful
2- Specify its desired performance (gain, frequency response, output levels,
waveforms...)
3- Choose a circuit topology from various options (e.g.: op-amp versus BJTs)
4- Use analysis to determine the values of the components
5- Simulate the design using LTspice
6- Build the design on a bread-board
7- Measure its performance using ADALM2000 and Scopy (On campus students)
Report:
Your report should not exceed 5 pages. Except for a title page, everything else will be counted. Any report exceeding 5 pages will not be accepted and late submission policy will apply. The font size should be 11 or higher. Each group should submit one report.
Explain the important technical details of your design. Explain clearly how you decided upon the components’ values. Include design considerations and circuit details of each individual block.
Analyse your measurements, draw your own conclusions, and develop your own explanations with your own words and sentences. A set of simulation and measurement results could include the following items:
❖ Time domain waveforms and frequency domain spectra
❖ Plots of gain of versus frequency (AC Analysis) if important for your design ❖ Power consumption (measured and calculated)
❖ Transfer functions (output versus input voltages/currents)
❖ Signal quality and noise measurements.
Using words, summarise the important results in your figures. Also, compare your simulated results with those from measurements.
You should explain how the signal gets through each part of the circuit, and what the functions of the circuit parts are, and what the characteristics of the components are used to implement the function (e.g., transconductance, logarithmic dependence, rectification etc.)
Clearly define each member’s contribution in the report. Individual mark will be given to group members.
Groups: The project can be done individually or in a group of two. Online students can also do the project alone or with a group of two.
If you are working with a group, clearly define each member’s contribution in the report. Individual mark will be given to group members.
Demonstration of the project:
Each group will present their circuit in the laboratory session in Week 12. Each assessment will be less than 10 minutes due to the large number of groups in one session.
Grading:
• We will assess the originality of the design, the ingenuity of the circuit, and its performance
• Your mark will be given based on your report and your demonstration. The demonstration of your circuit will assure us that your circuit works, matches the results presented in the report. It also verifies your understanding of the project material.
• Our expectation for simulation-based projects will be higher than hardware-based projects as hardware implementation requires additional effort. Consult with your demonstrators for project selections.
• A marking sheet is attached at the end of this document
• Late report submissions will be penalised by a 10% reduction in marks for each
day late, leading to a mark of zero after seven days delay. Some references and list of potential projects:
[1]. http://www.technologystudent.com/elec1/elecex.htm
[2]. https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
[3]. https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/analogue_circuits/ [4]. https://www.electronicshub.org/tutorials/
[5]. https://au.mouser.com/
[6]. https://au.rs-online.com/web/
[7]. https://au.element14.com/
[8]. https://www.jaycar.com.au/
[9]. https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/
[10]. https://au.mouser.com/
[11]. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/getting-started-with-ltspice/ [12]. https://www.circuitlab.com/
Some example projects:
1. Audio amplifier design e.g., Low-distortion, low-noise amplifier design
2. Oscillator Design (audio, RF, any waveform)
3. Power management related circuits
4. Tunable filters. E.g., notch filter
5. Sound controlled switch/circuits
6. Alarm circuit
7. Loudness indicator
8. Power Supply and Battery Charger related Circuits.
9. Regulator design
10. PWM Signal Generator
11. Audio/Bass Tone control
12. Lights control circuits
13. Simple Metal Detector
14. Simple Audio Amplifier.
15. Variable Voltage Supply
10. Guitar Fuzz box
11. Sound Locator
12. ‘Synth Drum’
13. ‘Synth Cymbal’
14. Automatic Fan
15. Moisture sensor
16. Graphic Equalizer
17. Low-Distortion Sine-Wave Generator
18. Pink Noise Generator
19. Modulator circuits. E.g., ring modulator, balanced mixer
20. Analog logic circuits design
21. Interface/Readout circuits
22. Circuits for sensing applications (including sensors for robotic applications)
22. Circuits for biomedical instruments (ECG, PPG, etc.)
23. Circuits for synthesizers (Note – a few groups may wish to work together on
different parts of a synthesizer, and then interconnect the parts to make some interesting noises).
Submission of report-Clayton:
Submit your report in Moodle. Check Moodle for report deadline.
Submission of report-Sunway:
Submit your report in Moodle: Mini-project Report Submission Link (Malaysia) Check Moodle for report deadline.
Group: Submission date:
Complete Design
Interface of blocks Power management Originality
Circuit complete design and overall layout/block connections
Additional considerations
Individual blocks
e.g. amplifier, filter etc.
Results (Simulations and Measurements)
Time/Freq Waveforms: Bode-plots
Linearity
Gains/AC Characteristics: Signal quality
Power Diss.:
Additional Meas./Analysis
Understanding
Responses to questions
Understanding of the blocks of the circuits Good choice of components selection
Comments
Mark
20 %
20 %
40 %
20 %
Well presenting well-thought-out explanations and measurement results
