104/105 Electronics for Non-Electronic Engineers (with Digital Electronics)

Electronics For Whom Intended  This course is ideal for individuals whose primary formal training is not in the field of electronic engineering. Individuals with training in electronics have found course 104/105 to be an excellent refresher. Electrical controls and electronics are incorporated in almost every technical activity, and all technical personnel have to deal, at least to some extent, with some aspects of electrical engineering. A basic understanding of electronics is essential to better perform their main function.

Objectives  To help participants to understand the concepts and terminology of electronics. It is not an in-depth electronics course but rather a course aimed at individuals who require an intensive review of basic principals, without the assumption of any prior knowledge of the topic. The course is fast-paced and as non-mathematical as possible.

Brief Course Description  The course covers basic concepts of electrical theory, starting with the simple DC circuit and Ohm's Law. It describes the basic components encountered in electrical circuits, such as resistors, capacitors, inductors etc. The course discusses behavior of inductors and gives examples of circuit theory, including LCR circuits and filters, also transient RL circuit analysis. Resonant circuits and their applications are covered. The basic theory of transformers and their various types: power, current, potential and transformers used in measurement systems are discussed, as are rectifier and filter circuits.

Sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal waveforms are discussed as they apply to electrical technology. Instrumentation is covered next, including measuring devices such as ohmmeters and voltmeters, before covering polyphase circuits used in power distribution.

Moving from electricity to basic electronics, we cover the theory of solid state electronics including semiconductor physics, diodes, transistors, FETs, thyristors and photoelectric devices. The course presents amplifiers, including the various applications of power amplifiers, negative feedback etc. This leads to the study of oscillators.

The course then delves into digital electronics, discussing numbering systems and binary arithmetic and then examining primitive logic functions and Boolean algebra. An introduction to digital troubleshooting is followed by presentations on state diagrams, tables and machines, and on analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. Integrated circuits are discussed, along with memory and IC applications. The course concludes by looking at hybrid circuits.

An appendix provides material for further study in related mathematics, including vectors, phasors, RMS and scientific and engineering notation. Additional material regarding Electro-Static Discharge is also provided.

Related Courses  TTi course 103, Introduction the Electronic Theory, is good for newcomers to electricity and electronics. TTi's open Course 104-3 omits the material on digital electronics. Course 105, Understanding Digital Electronics covers digital electronics in greater depth and with additional topics. The above courses, or any TTi course, may be presented on-site, at your facility.

Diploma Programs  This course is required for TTi’s Electronic Design Specialist (EDS)Electronic Telecommunications Specialist (ETS), and Mechanical Design Specialist (MDS) Diploma Programs. It may be used to satisfy the 104 requirement of the Dynamic Test Specialist (DTS), Instrumentation Test Specialist (ITS) or Metrology/Calibration Specialist (MCS) diploma programs. It may be used as an optional course for any other TTi Specialist Diploma Program.

Text  Each student will receive 180 days access to the on-line electronic course workbook. Renewals and printed textbooks are available for an additional fee.

Course Hours, Certificate and CEUs  Class hours/days for on-site courses can vary from 14-35 hours over 2-5 days as requested by our clients. Upon successful course completion, each participant receives a certificate of completion and one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for every ten class hours.

OnDemand Internet course 104/105 features over sixteen hours of video as well as more in-depth reading material.  All chapters of course 104-105 are also available as OnDemand Internet Short Topics. See the course outline below for details.

Click for a printable course outline (pdf).


Course Outline

Chapter 0 - Introduction

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Review of a typical electronic circuit
  • Schematic Diagram of a Radio Receiver
  • Electronic Symbols and Abbreviations
  • Path of Signals through Circuit
  • Block Diagram

Chapter 1 - Electrical Fundamentals Review

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$150.00
  • Electrostatic Field and Potentials
  • Charge
  • Conductors, Insulators
  • Current, Voltage
  • Ohm’s Law
  • EMF
  • Resistors
  • Network Theorems
  • Alternating Current
  • Non-Sinusoidal Waveforms
  • Square Waves
  • Harmonics
  • Analog vs. Digital Waveforms
  • Examples

Chapter 2 - Capacitors and Inductors

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Capacitance
  • Capacitors in DC Circuits
  • Capacitors in Parallel
  • Capacitors in Series
  • Typical Inductors
  • Inductance
  • The Right-Hand Rule
  • Inductance Examples
  • Mutual Inductance
  • Inductors in Series
  • Inductors in Parallel

Chapter 3 - Transient R-C and R-L Circuits

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • RC Time Constant
  • RL Time Constant

Chapter 4 - Reactances in Series and Parallel

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$100.00
  • Inductive and Capacitive Reactance
  • Phasor Diagrams
  • Impedances in Series or Parallel
  • Parallel Reactance
  • Examples

Chapter 5 - Series and Parallel Resonance

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Q of a Series Circuit
  • Bandwidth of Series R-L-C Circuit
  • Parallel Resonance
  • Filters

Chapter 6 - Transformers

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Construction
  • Equivalent Circuit
  • Turns Ratio
  • Power Relationships, Efficiency
  • Impedance Matching
  • Loosely coupled, Single and Double Tuned Transformers

Chapter 7 - Instrumentation Errors

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$100.00
  • Average and RMS Values of Common Waveforms
  • Decibels
  • Log vs. Linear Scales
  • Precision and Accuracy
  • Errors
  • Output Impedance, Loading
  • Power Transfer, Impedance Matching
  • How to use Meters
    • Meter Errors

Chapter 8 - Laboratory/Workshop Safety

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Safety Guidelines
  • Grounds

Chapter 9 - Analog and Digital Meters and Oscilloscopes

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$100.00
  • Measurement of Resistance
    • Ohmmeters
    • Digital Electronic Meters
  • Oscilloscopes
    • Oscilloscope Probes
    • Measurements:
      • Current
      • Time and Frequency
      • Phase Measurements
    • Oscilloscope Errors
  • Digital Oscilloscopes
  • Testing with a Function Generator

Chapter 10 - Electrical Power Circuits and Transmission Systems

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Alternating Current
  • Single-Phase Electric Power and Electric Motors
  • Three-phase Power Systems
  • Power Transmission

Chapter 11 - Semiconductor Physics

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • N-type and P-type Doping
  • Diffusion
  • Current Flow

Chapter 12 - Diodes

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Alloy Junction Diode
  • Planar Technology (Diffusing)
  • P-N Junction Behavior
  • Junction Barrier
  • Biasing
  • Diode types
    • Rectifier, Signal, Zener, Tuned
  • Voltage Regulator
  • Tunnel diodes

Chapter 13 - Transistors and Biasing

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • NPN and PNP Transistors
  • Amplifier Gain
  • Common Base, Emitter, Collector Circuits

Chapter 14 - Field Effect Transistors (FETs)

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • JFET
  • Channel Depletion
  • MOSFET
  • N-channel Enhancement and Depletion
  • Transfer Characteristics

Chapter 15 - Thyristors

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Operation of SCR
  • I-V Characteristics of a Typical SCR
  • Dimmers

Chapter 16 - Photo-electric Devices

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Photo-voltaic Cells/Solar Cells
  • Photo Conductive Diodes
  • Photo-transistors
  • PIN Diodes
  • High Gain Light Detector
  • LASCR
  • LED

Chapter 17 - Rectifiers and Filters

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Power Supply with a Regulator
  • Half and Full Wave Rectifiers
  • Bridge Rectifier
  • Filters
  • Capacitive Load
  • Power Supply Loading
  • Filter Choke

Chapter 18 - Introduction to Amplifiers

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Radio Frequency (RF) Amplifiers
  • Quality of Amplifier:
    • Gain and Output Range
    • Bandwidth (BW)
    • Efficiency
    • Efficiency by Class
    • Noise
  • Basic Power Amplifier
  • Tuned Amplifiers
  • Differential Amplifiers
  • Operational Amplifiers (Op-amp)
  • Preamplifiers
  • Musical Instrument Amplifiers

Chapter 19 - Amplifier Fundamentals and Considerations

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • How Transistors Amplify
  • Transistor voltage, Power Gain and Operating Point
  • Base Bias Adjustment
  • Operating Point Stabilization
  • Bypass Capacitor
  • Signal Clipping
  • Classes
  • Coupling Methods
  • Resistive-Capacitance (RC) Coupling
  • Direct Coupling
  • Frequency Response
  • Distortion
  • Slewing Rate

Chapter 20 - Tuned Amplifiers

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Tuned Intermediate-Frequency (IF) Amplifiers
  • AM and FM IF Bandwidths
  • IF Amplifier Stage
  • Detector and AGC Circuit
  • RF Amplifiers
  • Sensitivity

Chapter 21 - Oscillators

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Kinds of Oscillators
  • Configurations
  • Transistor Hartley, Colpitts or Clapp Oscillator
  • Crystal Oscillator
    • Colpitts Crystal Oscillator
  • RC Oscillators

Chapter 22 - Feedback

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Types of Negative Feedback
  • Voltage Shunt Feedback
  • Input Impedance
  • Voltage Series

Chapter 23 - Differential Amplifiers

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • One Input
  • Two Inputs
  • Common Mode Rejection

Chapter 24 - Operational Amplifiers

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Characteristics
  • Mini-DIP Integrated Circuit
  • External Feedback
  • Op Amp Circuits: Inverting or Noninverting Amplifier
  • Follower
  • Summing Amplifier
  • Gain and Frequency Response
  • Basic Cautions

Chapter 25 - Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Conversion

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Analog-to-Digital Conversion
  • Digital-to-Analog Conversion
    • Output Waveform of DAC
    • Percentage Resolution
  • Motor Control

Chapter 26 - Numbering Systems and Binary Arithmetic

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Binary
  • Decimal
  • Octal
  • Hexadecimal
  • Binary Addition and Subtraction
  • Signed Binary Numbers
  • Binary Multiplication

Chapter 27 - Primitive Logic Functions

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • NOT, AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, XNOR

Chapter 28 - Boolean Algebra and Karnaugh Maps

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Constants and Variables
  • Truth Tables
  • Algebraic Representation of Logic Circuits
  • Circuits from Boolean Expressions
  • DeMorgan's Theorems
  • Universality of NAND gates and NOR gates
  • Karnaugh Maps

Chapter 29 - Introduction to Digital Troubleshooting

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Classification of Faults
    • Intermittent versus Permanent
    • External versus Internal
    • Parametric versus Logic
    • Static versus Dynamic
  • Test Equipment
  • Static and Dynamic Measurements
  • Fault Localization, Fault Isolation
  • Testing for Dynamic Faults

Chapter 30 - State Diagrams, Tables and Machines

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Coin-Operated Vending Machine
  • State Diagram for Controller
  • State Table for Controller
  • State Machines-Moore, Mealy
  • State Assignment
  • Binary Encoded State Assignment
  • Minimized Boolean Equations

Chapter 31 - Memory

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Memory Technology
  • General Memory Operations
  • Memory Considerations
  • ROM · RAM · Static RAM (SRAM)· Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
  • Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)
  • Magnetic and Optical Memories
  • Digital System Application

Chapter 32 - Circuit Board Technology

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Subtractive Process
  • Additive Process
  • Single-sided Boards
  • Surface Mount Technology
  • Double-sided Boards
  • Multilayer Boards
  • Backplanes and Motherboards

Chapter 33 - Integrated Circuits

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Fabrication Process
  • Packaging Process
  • Noise Immunity
  • Power Dissipation
  • Propagation Delay
  • Speed-Power Product

Chapter 34 - Hybrid Circuits

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$50.00
  • Hybrid Substrates
  • Thick-Film Process
  • Thin-Film Process
  • Assembly Process
  • Packaging Process

Appendix A - Glossary of Terms

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Appendix B - Mathematical Fundamentals

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00
  • Basic Math Operations
  • Math Reference
    • Mathematical Symbols 
    • Conversions 
    • Useful Constants
    • Trigonometric Ratios
  • Scientific and Engineering Notation
  • Greek Letter Symbols
  • Radians
  • Trigonometry
  • Vectors
  • Angular Frequency
  • Linear and Angular Velocity
  • Phase Difference
  • Complex Algebra
    • Converting from Rectangular to Polar Form
  • Average (Mean) and rms Values •
  • Phasors, Impedance •
    • General AC Vectors 
    • Ohm’s Law •
  • Scientific and Engineering Notation Practice

Appendix C1 - Electrical Fundamentals—Background and Examples

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Appendix C3 - Transient R-C and R-L Circuits—Examples

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Appendix C4 - Reactive AC Circuits—Examples

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Appendix C28 - More about Boolean Algebra

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Appendix C33 - Integrated Circuit Technology

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Appendix D - Electrostatic Discharge

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Appendix E - Integrated Circuit Applications

Purchase Options
OnDemand Short Topics$25.00

Summary, Discussion

Final Review

Award of Certificates for Successful Completion

Click for a printable course outline (pdf).

Revised 6/21/2018