Objectives

This objective indicates that students need to learn about the essential principles that govern how oscillations occur in electronic circuits, specifically focusing on the Barkhausen Criteria. The Barkhausen Criteria are two conditions that must be satisfied for sustained oscillations: the gain of the loop must be at least one (which ensures the signal is amplified enough to maintain oscillation) and the total phase shift around the loop must be zero degrees or an integer multiple of 360 degrees (which ensures that the feedback reinforces the input signal).

This objective emphasizes the need for students to apply theoretical knowledge by designing and building a Wien Bridge oscillator. The Wien Bridge oscillator is a type of electronic oscillator that generates a sine wave. Students are expected to learn how to select components (resistors and capacitors) to achieve a desired oscillation frequency and then assemble the circuit correctly, ensuring it functions as intended.

The aim here is for students to check not only if the oscillator is working but also to quantify the frequency of the generated waveform. After building the circuit, they will use measurement tools (like an oscilloscope) to visualize the output wave and confirm that it is indeed a sine wave at the specified frequency. This validation step is crucial for understanding if the design meets its intended performance criteria.

In this objective, students will delve into the design and construction of LC oscillators like Hartley or Colpitts. These oscillators rely on inductors (L) and capacitors (C) to generate oscillations. Students will learn how to assemble circuits that use specific values of inductors and capacitors to reach the desired frequency. This hands-on experience will deepen their understanding of resonant circuits and their applications.

This objective entails that after constructing the LC oscillator, students must observe its output, specifically looking for a sinusoidal waveform. They will be required to use tools like oscilloscopes to confirm the output waveform is a sine wave and to measure its frequency. This demonstration is crucial because it showcases the practical application of design and construction in real circuits.

Students will learn about BJT current mirrors, which are circuits designed to create a copy or 'mirror' of a current flowing in one part of a circuit by replicating it elsewhere. This involves understanding how transistors operate together in a current mirror configuration to maintain steady output current despite changes in load conditions.

This objective involves hands-on construction of a simple BJT current mirror that reflects an input current to an output current. Students will assess how the output current behaves under different load conditions, learning about current stabilization and its significance in circuit design.

Here, students will create V-I (voltage-current) characteristic plots for the output of a current mirror. By measuring the output current at different output voltages, they will visualize how the current mirror maintains a constant current across varying output voltages, illustrating its effectiveness and limitations.

This measurement will provide insights into how well the current mirror can maintain a constant output current despite changes in output voltage. The output resistance gives an indication of the current mirror's performance, which is essential for applications that require stability in output.

This optional objective allows students to explore advanced types of current mirrors (Wilson and Widlar types), which build upon the basic simple current mirror design. They will compare performance aspects such as current matching accuracy and output resistance to demonstrate the improvements achieved with these advanced configurations.