EEEN2004J Solid State Electronics.

Academic Year 2021/2022

This course aims to provide an introduction to the electrical properties of materials, in particular crystalline semiconductors, and then to use this foundation to develop a basic understanding of the physical operating principles of the common electronic devices.
The topics covered include:
- Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Energy Band Theory
- Definitions of metal, insulator and semiconductor based on existence of energy bands in crystalline material
- Classification of semiconductor materials
- Charge transport in metals and pure and doped semiconductors
- Continuity and Poisson equations
- Principles of semiconductor processing; Moore's Law
- Ideal PN junction: electrostatic behaviour of depletion layer; physical explanation and derivation of static current-voltage characteristic
- Concept of small-signal and large-signal device model
- The Metal-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET): MOS capacitor; formation of inversion layer; the DC analysis for threshold and static draincurrent; small-signal and elementary large-signal models
- The Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT): structure of NPN and PNP bipolars; operating principles; characteristics; applications

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successfully completing this module a student will be able to:
- Describe at a basic level the physical processes underlying electrical transport and conduction (or non-conduction) in a wide range of solid materials, including metals, semiconductors and insulators
- Analyse the basic operation in static and small-signal conditions of a range of commonly-encountered electronic components and devices, in particular the PN junction and transistor devices both FET and bipolar in kind, including formulating appropriate assumptions and developing compact circuit-level static models of such devices.
- Describe the basic processes used in the semiconductor industry for the manufacture of complex semiconductor components, in particular Integrated Circuits (ICs) including gaining an appreciation of the wider business context, quality control, depreciation cycles, capital investment etc.Describe the impact of the exponential evolution of IC technology (Moore's Law) on current and future product development in Electronic and Electrical Engineering.
- Choose and apply an appropriate device model for use in commercial computer-aided design software tools, appreciate some of the limitations of such models and design and execute basic experiments for model parameter extraction

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36

Computer Aided Lab

4

Specified Learning Activities

6

Total

46

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Face to face lectures plus some pop-quiz, homework and lab assignments.
Attendance is also graded.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

EEEN2005J Circuits and Systems


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Additional Information:
This module is delivered overseas.


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: Midterm Examination Unspecified Yes Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20

Continuous Assessment: including class test, attendance and homework Throughout the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

15

Examination: Final Examination 2 hour End of Trimester Exam Yes Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

65


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
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