Electronics and Signal Processing

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

Note: the teaching schedule shows 10 half-days. The course requires 6 to 8 half-days a week (detailed schedule will become available before the start of the course). Lectures at the start of each chapter and two exams will scheduled at fixed dates. All other sessions (lab exercises (= circuit construction)) can be chosen by students among any of the 10 available half-days each week. During all these sessions the lecturer will be present for support. Regular exercises can be done on location or at home.

During the lab course the following topics will be treated:

• Getting familiar with the basic principles and analysis techniques in AC- and DC-circuits:
  - Network theorems, and replacement networks
  - Complex transfer functions and bode plots of different filters and resonant circuits
• Explain and build Diode Circuits: Single- and full-wave rectifiers
• Explain and build operational amplifier circuits and circuits with negative feedback:
  - Non-inverting amplifiers
  - Buffer amplifiers
  - Sum and difference amplifiers
  - Instrumentation amplifier
  - Integrator
  - Differentiators
• Explain and build active filters: Butterworth filter
• Design, build and investigate Control systems:
  - An analog P controller with a floating ball experiment
  - A digital PID controller
• Design, build and investigate modulation and demodulation techniques:
  - Amplitude (de) modulation
  - Synchronous detector; Examining a lock-in detector

Study materials

Syllabus

• https://natuurkundepracticumamsterdam.github.io/ESP/intro.html

Practical training material

• NI Elvis II electronics board and components (provided)

Software

• Multisim 14, Tailor  and LabVIEW 2023 (provided)

Objectives

• Mastering basic concepts of electronics.
• Mastering skills in problem solving and problem anticipating methods in complex electronic circuits (measurement systems).
• To get familiar with different relevant measurement, control and signal processing techniques used in experimental research groups.
• To investigate techniques such as lock-in amplifier, PID control systems and various filters using both hardware-based and software-based solutions.
• Through a number of design and building exercises students patience and persistence will be tested.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Self-study
• Supervision/feedback meeting

Each topic will be introduced by one or two lectures, followed by exercises and simulations to understand the behaviour of electronic circuits. All required materials are available from a website. At the end of each topic a number of lab exercises follow where students have to show they mastered the concepts and can apply to to varies electronic circuits.

Learning activities

Attendance

Additional requirements for this course:

Students' scheduling of lab sessions must be communicated to the course coordinator beforehand. 

Assessment

• Test 1 covers Measuring systems, DC circuits and AC circuits
• Test 2 covers Diodes, OpAmp circuits and Control Systems
• Lab journal 1 covers the lab exercises of DC and AC circuits
• Lab journal 2 covers the lab exercises of Diodes and OpAmp circuits
• Lab journal 3 covers the lab exercises of Control systems and Modulation and demodulation
• Lab work 2 is graded on commitment, insight, creativity and structure of the lab work and covers Diodes and OpAm circuits
• Lab work 3 is graded on commitment, insight, creativity and structure of the lab work and covers Control systems and  and Modulation and demodulation

Inspection of assessed work

All assessed work will be discussed with students in the lab.

Assignments

Students will be assessed individually on all assignments shown under Assessment.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

It is a labour-intensive course: 6-8 half-day sessions a week.

Contact information

Coordinator

• G.J. Kuik