Learners will develop an understanding of diodes and transistors, two of the most important building blocks in electronic circuits. They will learn about logic gates and flip-flops, both in practice and by using truth tables. Learners will also develop the skills to simulate, construct and test a variety of electronic circuits.
Understand the function and operation of diodes, transistors and logic gates
Diodes: types e.g. Zener, light emitting diode (LED), PN-junction, circuit applications e.g. voltage stabiliser, indicator light, half-wave rectifier.
Transistors: types e.g. NPN, PNP or field-effect transistor (FET), analogue circuit (single-stage amplifier), digital circuit eg comparator, transistor as a switch (automatic night light), operation e.g. analogue (voltage gain, phase inversion), digital (set-point of operation), function of components in circuits.
Explain the purpose of different types of diode, in different electronic circuits
Explain the operation transistors in analogue and digital circuits
Explain how truth tables are used to help show the function of a logic gate.
Be able to apply the principles of logic gates and circuits
Logic gates: types of gates e.g. AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, gate symbols e.g. British Standards (BS), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), truth tables, Boolean expressions e.g. A+B, Ā, A, B.
Convert truth tables into Boolean expressions.
Design logic circuits using truth tables.
Design combinational logic circuits to solve problems.
Be able to build and test operational amplifier-based analogue circuits
Building analogue circuits: method of construction e.g. prototype/bread-board, printed circuit, strip-board, types of circuits eg oscillator, filter circuit, comparator circuit, inverting and/or non-inverting amplifier Testing analogue circuits: performance against given design requirement, recording actual input and output voltages (tabulating data, plotting graph of results), circuit measurements e.g. measurement of resonant frequency, cut-off frequency, switching point, gain at mid-frequency, bandwidth.
Build and test two different types of analogue circuit using operational amplifiers
Be able to build and test combinational and sequential logic circuits
Building combinational and sequential logic circuits: types of combinational circuit e.g. at least three gates and three input variables, types of sequential circuit e.g. R-S bi-stables, JK bi-stable, 3-stage counter, 3-stage shift-register based on JK or D-type bi-stables, types of logic family e.g. transistor-transistor logic (TTL) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), characteristics of chips e.g. supply voltage, input and output operating voltages, input and output impedance, propagation delay, power Testing of logic circuits: records of performance against given design requirement, input and output states, use of truth tables, use of test equipment e.g. logic probe, signature analyser.
Minimisation of logic circuits: e.g. use of De-Morgan’s theorem, Karnaugh maps (a tool to simplify and design logic circuits).
Build and test a combinational logic circuit that has three input variables
Build and test a sequential circuit using integrated circuits.
Be able to use simulation software to construct and test the operation of analogue and digital circuits
Simulation of analogue circuit: types of circuits e.g. transistor amplifier, op-amp, active filter, rectifier, types of components e.g. resistor, capacitor, transistor, diode, instrument simulation e.g. voltmeter, ammeter, oscilloscope, records of performance against given design requirement e.g. screen print, input/output waveforms (with scales), gain-frequency response.
Simulation of digital circuit: types of circuit e.g. three input combinational circuit, counter, shift register, types of gates/sequential circuit e.g. R-S bi-stables, JK bi-stable, 3-stage counter, 3-stage shift-register based on JK or D-type bi-stables, instrument simulation e.g. on/off indicator, logic probe, word generator, logic analyser, records of performance against given design requirement e.g. screen print, digital input/output waveforms (with scales).
Simulate the construction and testing of an analogue circuit with three different types of components.