Fundamentals of electronic circuit design.

Abstract

Purely mechanical problems are often only a subset of larger multi-domain problems faced by the designer. Particularly, the solutions of many of today’s interesting problems require expertise in both mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. DVD players, digital projectors, modern cars, machine tools, and digital cameras are just a few examples of the results of such combined innovation. In these hybrid systems, design trade-offs often span the knowledge space of both mechanical and electrical engineering. For example, in a car engine, is it more cost-effective to design a precise mechanical timing mechanism to trigger the firing of each cylinder, or is it better to use electronic sensors to measure the positions of each piston and then use a microprocessor to trigger the firing? For every problem, designers with combined expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering will be able to devise more ideas of possible solutions and be able to better evaluate the feasibility of each idea. A basic understanding of electronic circuits is important even if the designer does not intend to become a proficient electrical engineer. In many real-life engineering projects, it is often necessary to communicate, and also negotiate, specifications between engineering teams having different areas of expertise. Therefore, a basic understanding of electronic circuits will allow the mechanical engineer to evaluate whether or not a given electrical specification is reasonable and feasible. The following text is designed to provide an efficient introduction to electronic circuit design. The text is divided into two parts. Part I is a barebones introduction to basic electronic theory while Part II is designed to be a practical manual for designing and building working electronic circuits