1 Letters in brackets correspond to departmental program objectives

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Topics:

Introduction/PSpice
Semiconductors
Energy band diagrams
Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors
Conductivity, resistivity, and mobility
PN junction characteristics
PN junction biasing
Diode current equation
Diode circuit analysis
Breakdown
Diode applications
Transistor introduction
BJT characteristics, operating states, equations
BJT biasing
BJT small signal model
BJT CB, CE, CC amplifiers
BJT amplifier gain, input impedance, output impedance
JFET characteristic curves and equations
D-MOSFET characteristic curves and equations
E-MOSFET characteristic curves and equations
FET small signal models
FET amplifiers
MESFET
Digital circuits

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Performance Criteria:

for Objective 1:

        a. Students will demonstrate an understanding of basic semiconductor theory, including the concepts of energy band diagrams, mobility, etc.
        b. Students will demonstrate an understanding of pn junction operation, biasing, and current.
        c. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the internal semiconductor characteristics of diodes and BJT/FET transistors.

for Objective 2:

        a. Students will demonstrate an understanding of diode and BJT/FET operating modes.
        b. Students will demonstrate an understanding of electrical modeling of diodes and BJT/FET transistors.
        c. Students will demonstrate an understanding of electrical circuit analysis, as applied to the DC and AC evaluation of circuits containing diodes and
            BJT/FET transistors.

for Objective 3:

        a. Students will demonstrate an understanding of characteristic curves and equations associated with diodes and BJT/FET transistors.
        b. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of BJT and FET operating configurations, including CB, CE, CC, CS, and CD.

for Objective 4:

        a. Students will demonstrate an ability to apply course concepts to the understanding of laboratory circuits, containing diodes and BJT/FET transistors.
        b. Students will demonstrate an ability to simulate, construct, test, evaluate, and troubleshoot circuits in the laboratory environment.
        c. Students will demonstrate the ability to prepare technical reports.

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Course Policies:

Contact Information:

Office : 316-A Nichols Hall
Phone : 464-7661 (office)
            
E-Mail : kimyy@mail.vmi.edu

Office Hours:

Monday : 0900-1100
Wednesday : 0900-1100, 1400-1600
Thursday : 1000-1130
Friday : 0900-1100
(and by appointment)

Lecture Policies:

Homework - Usually assigned once a week
Tests - Three; during regular class time
Final - Comprehensive

No make-up tests will be given.
Late homework will be graded accordingly.

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Grading Policies:

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(1)                "Cadets' Responsibilities"

Work for grade" is defined as any work, whether written or oral, that is presented to an instructor for a grade.  All work submitted for grade is considered the cadet's own work, whether or not he or she has indicated that it is "certified." "Cadet's own work" means that he or she has composed the work from his or her general accumulation of knowledge and skill and that it has been composed especially for the current assignment.  No work previously submitted in any course will be resubmitted for grade in a current course without the specific approval of the instructor.  The cadet is referred to the VMI-authorized handbook for rules concerning quotations, paraphrases, and documentation, and to his or her instructor for requirements on identifying sources used on certified assignments.

If a cadet has received help on work submitted for grade from sources other than those specifically authorized, he or she must write "HELP RECEIVED" conspicuously on his or her written work (or, at the beginning of an oral presentation, state that he or she has received help), and he or she must explain the nature of the help received. Admission of help received may result in a lower grade but will not result in prosecution for an honor violation.

            Cadets are certified in regard to the contents of a quiz/exam until it is returned to them. Certification, in this case, means that they cannot talk to anyone, except the instructor, about the contents of the quiz/exam.  This enjoinder does not imply that any inadvertent expression or behavior that might indicate one’s feeling about the test should be considered a breach of the certification.  The real issue is whether individuals received information, not available to everyone else in the class, which would give them an unfair advantage.  If an individual inadvertently gives or receives information, the incident must be reported.

Each cadet is responsible for familiarizing himself or herself thoroughly with the policies stated in this section, with any supplementary statement posted by the academic department offering a course he or she is taking, and with any policies stated by his or her instructor.  If he or she has any doubt about the correct interpretation of a policy, he or she should consult the instructor offering the course. The violation by a cadet of any of these policies will, if he or she is found guilty, result in his or her being dismissed from VMI.  His or her ignorance of the correct interpretation of these policies is no excuse.

(2)                Departmental Policy

All work for grade must explicitly indicate any help received from any source including but not limited to paper text documents and/or electronic documents as well as human or electronic assistance of any type.

(3)                Faculty Policies

(a)                Tutoring:
No tutoring services are permitted for this course without the prior approval of the instructor.  Consultation with the instructor is permitted.

(b)                Peer Collaboration:
Peer collaboration is not permitted for this course.
All homeworks are certified as your own, independent work.  You may not receive assistance from any sources other than your instructor and any sources authorized by your instructor.  You may discuss general course concepts with each other; however, you may not discuss specific assigned problems.
All lab work is certified as the work of the lab group only.  You may not receive assistance from any sources other than your instructor and any sources authorized by your instructor.  You may discuss general lab concepts and procedures with each other; however, you may not share lab data.
All tests and exams are certified as your own, independent work.

(c)                Computer Spelling, Style, and Grammar Checkers:
The use of computer spelling, style, and grammar checkers is permitted for this course.

(d)                References:
Students must properly reference direct quotations (with quotation marks and source), as well as significant paraphrasing (with source).
Unless a direct quotation is necessary, put the information in your own words to demonstrate your understanding of the material.
See "Easy Access" for more information regarding quotations and proper paraphrasing.

(e)                Other:
Lab reports are due the week after the experiment is performed.
Come to the labs prepared, i.e. with preliminary work completed, so you may immediately begin with the experimental work.  Pre-lab work will be graded at the start of each laboratory session on a 0-1-2 scale.
Use your lecture material to aid in the preparation of your lab reports.

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Experiment Schedule:

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Lab Report Preparation:

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Assignments:

Homework #1                                         Laboratory #1                                         Laboratory #8

Homework #2                                         Laboratory #2                                         Laboratory #9

Homework #3                                         Laboratory #3                                         Laboratory #10

Homework #4                                         Laboratory #4                                         Final Project

Homework #5                                         Laboratory #5                                        

Homework #6                                         Laboratory #6

Homework #7                                         Laboratory #7

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Interesting Links:

IMAPS (International Microelectronics And Packaging Society)Home Page

IEEE Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology Society Home Page

SMT (Surface Mount Technology) Magazine Web Site

Advanced Packaging Magazine Web Site

Solid State Technology Magazine Web Site

Scientific American Special Issue : "The Solid State Century"

International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors 1999 Edition
(Courtesy The University of Notre Dame)

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Course Materials:

Tables of Constants

Mobility Chart (print in landscape mode) (ref: Yang, Microelectronic Devices)

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Last modified by Shawn Addington on 08/20/02