Certificate In Computer & Electronic Engineering

Course details

Electronics is the basis for so much technology in the modern world. On this course you will learn the building blocks of electronic systems. This is a very practical course designed to give the student the skills they need to look for employment in the electronics sector. It is delivered one evening a week (4-8pm) over two academic years. 

Programme Modules

Year 1

• Electronic Principles 1 (5 Credits, Level 7)     
• Applied Electronics (5 Credits, Level 7)          

Year 2

• Digital Electronics 1 (5 Credits, Level 7)     
• Project 1 (5 Credits, Level 7)                     
• Workplace Project (10 Credits, Level 7)        

Syllabus: 

Electronic Principles 1

• UNITS: Basic mechanical and electrical units. 
• BASIC INTRODUCTION: Atomic Theory, The Bohr Model, Electron Flow, Electron flow, Conductors, Insulators, Semiconductors, Hydraulic Analogy conventional current and voltage. Re-enforce this using computer graphics etc. 
• OHM'S LAW: Series and parallel resistors, potential divider and current divider. 
• ELECTROSTATICS AND CAPACITANCE: Electrostatic fields electric flux and flux density. Capacitance and capacitors in d.c. circuits, series and parallel capacitors, RC circuits. 
• MAGNETIC FIELDS AND ELECTROMAGNETISM: Magnetic fields magnetic flux and flux density. Electromagnetic fields, force on a current carrying conductor, motors. 
• ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION: Faraday's laws, Lenz's laws, emf induced on a single straight conductor. Self inductance, factors affecting inductance. 
• LABORATORIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS: The measurement of current and voltage. The demonstration of Ohms Law. The measurement of the internal resistance of a cell. Plotting the RC curve. The measurement of current and voltage in one and two loop with resistive circuits. The measurement of current gain in a transistor. The measurement of current and voltage in circuits with active components. 

Applied Electronics 

• The PN Junction. Diode applications
• Power supplies. 
• Bipolar transistors, operation and characteristics.
• Common emitter amplifiers.
• Circuit modelling using computer applications.
• J Fet's and Mos Fet's operation 
• Operational Amplifier applications.

Digital Electronics 1 

• Binary principles. Binary to decimal conversion. Counting in binary. Maximum range and resolution using n bits. Bit, nibble, byte, word. Adding binary numbers. 
• Logic levels. Using switch circuits used to generate logic levels. Ohms law analysis of switch circuits. Voltage divider theorem. Transistor as an electronic switch. Voltage levels used in TTL logic.
• Logic operations AND, OR, NOT operations discussed under the headings :- truth table, logic decision, boolean expression, data sheets, schematic representation, logic rules, applications. Conversion of written problem into boolean logic. Combinational logic circuits using AND, OR and NOT gates. Standard SOP format. Minterms. Applications for logic circuits. Encoders, Decoders.
• Boolean algebra Derivation of boolean expression from SOP circuit. Examination of equivalent circuits. Simplification of boolean expressions using boolean algebra. Deriving boolean expressions from truth tables. Deriving a truth table from a logic circuit. Analysing how a signal propagates through a logic circuit. Minimisation of boolean expressions using Karnaugh maps. Adapting SOP expressions to gererate active low outputs.
• Circuit testing Deriving complete truth tables of convergent logic circuits. Circuit excitation. Test coverage. Tracing logic signals using voltmeter, oscilloscope. 
• Interfacing Electrical properties of TTL logic gates (voltages and currents). Interpretation of data sheets (current sourcing and sinking, propagation delays). Logic gates driving LEDs, low voltage light bulbs, power transistors, relays. Switch and resistor circuits required to generate logic input levels.
• Binary codes Hexidecimal, Sign and magnitude, two's complement, BCD, ASCII. 
• Laboratory programme: Use of test equipment, Testing of logic gate on proto board, Testing of logic circuit on protoboard, Good prototype building and testing practices, Generating pulses using 555 timer, Osciloscope testing of 14 stage counter, 4 stage ripple counter, Counter and decoder circuit on protoboard, Designing and building a logic circuit application, Designing and building a four variable logic circuit.

Project 1 

• Recognition of electronic symbols, production of simple schematics
• Development of circuit layout diagrams
• Circuit Building using discrete components & i.c.s.
• Development of firmware using graphical programming tools
• Testing & debugging, hardware & firmware
• Developing competence in the use of a dvm & oscilloscope

Workplace Project

The period of Work Placement will form an integral part of the course and will consist of a specified minimum period in a workplace as listed in the Work Placement Guidelines document.  Work placement will be managed by a committee consisting of the head of department; programme co-ordinator and the academic supervisor. Each work placement will be supervised by an academic supervisor and an industry supervisor.  The student will be invited to find a suitable placement and obtain ratification from the academic supervisor. Assistance will be given to students who have difficulties in securing an appropriate placement. Placement will normally be obtained with industry relevant to the core qualification of the programme.

• ]When a suitable training place has been obtained, the academic supervisor will agree:
• An industry supervisor within the placement company to whom the student will be responsible.
• A training programme which takes into account the aims of industrial placement as stated above.

During the placement period the student will be visited on at least one occasion by the academic supervisor. During this visit, assessment will be made of the student's progress within the agreed programme and any necessary alterations, modifications or adjustments will be made after consultation with the student and industry supervisor