Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.

The Required Stuff

Course Title: Electronic Circuits1

Course Description (from UBC's Academic Calendar): Analysis and design of electronic
circuits; biasing of and small-signal models for transistors; frequency response of amplifiers;
feedback and stability aspects of amplifier design; OP-AMPs; active filters; oscillators; IC
specification and selection.

Pre-/Co-Requisites: Either (a) one of EECE 251, ELEC 201, EECE 263, ELEC 203 and one
of EECE 253, ELEC 202; or (b) one of EECE 252, ELEC 204.

Course Structure: A Mixture of In-Person and On-Line Lectures (We Will Start the Term On-
Line Using Zoom).

Methods used to Assess Achievement of Stated Learning Outcomes or Objectives: Marked

Mini Projects and Tests.

Location of Course Updates, Information, Resources, Etc.: CANVAS.

1 Credit will only be given for one of EECE 356, ELEC 301, and EECE 374.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.2

Statement Pertaining To The Potential Restrictions To International Students’ Online Learning

Experiences As A Result Of Remote Learning:

During this pandemic, the shift to online learning has greatly altered teaching and studying at
UBC, including changes to health and safety considerations. Keep in mind that some UBC courses
might cover topics that are censored or considered illegal by non-Canadian governments. This may
include, but is not limited to, human rights, representative government, defamation, obscenity,
gender or sexuality, and historical or current geopolitical controversies. If you are a student living
abroad, you will be subject to the laws of your local jurisdiction, and your local authorities might
limit your access to course material or take punitive action against you. UBC is strongly committed
to academic freedom, but has no control over foreign authorities (please visit
http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=3,33,86,0 for an articulation of the values of
the University conveyed in the Senate Statement on Academic Freedom). Thus, we recognize that
students will have legitimate reason to exercise caution in studying certain subjects. If you have
concerns regarding your personal situation, consider postponing taking a course with manifest
risks, until you are back on campus or reach out to your academic advisor to find substitute
courses.

For further information and support, please visit:

http://academic.ubc.ca/supportresources/freedom-expression
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.3

UBC Respectful Environment Statement

The University of British Columbia envisions a climate in which students, faculty and
staff are provided with the best possible conditions for learning, researching and working,
including an environment that is dedicated to excellence, equity and mutual respect. The
University of British Columbia strives to realize this vision by establishing employment and
educational practices that respect the dignity of individuals and make it possible for everyone
to live, work, and study in a positive and supportive environment, free from harmful
behaviours such as bullying and harassment.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.4

Vaccine Etiquette and Health considerations:

The University is taking guidance from the BC Public Health Office. The information in
this syllabus is based on the current public health orders. Should this information change we
will adapt accordingly.
Masks are required in all classrooms, and indoor public spaces as per the current
Provincial Health Order. For our in-person meetings in this class, it is important that all of us
feel as comfortable as possible engaging in class activities while sharing an indoor space. For
the purposes of this order, the term “masks” refers to medical and non-medical masks that cover
our noses and mouths. You may be asked to remove your mask briefly for an ID check for an
exam, but otherwise, your mask should cover your nose and mouth. Please do not eat in class. If
you need to drink water/coffee/tea/etc, please keep your mask on between sips. Please note that
there are some people who cannot wear a mask. These individuals are equally welcome in our
class. [Note to instructors: UBC is still assessing how compliance with masking policies
(understanding that some individuals have medical exemptions) will be managed.]
An individual’s vaccine status is a matter of personal privacy. It is not appropriate to ask
an individual about their vaccine status, nor is it appropriate to make group or classroom
policies based on vaccine status.
Students feeling unwell should stay home in an effort to prevent the transmission of
viruses in general.
Students are encouraged to sit in the same place or section of the room throughout the term
if possible to minimize the number of close contacts you have with others.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.5

If I, the Instructor, Become Unwell:

If I, the instructor, become unwell, and I unable to attend the class in person, I will send
a broadcast email message to the class describing how we will proceed until I am recovered.
This may include solutions such as cancelling the class for the day, having a TA take my
place for the day and/or several days, moving the lectures online, etc.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.6

THE MARKING AND OTHER STUFF

Marking: Mini Projects (15% each) = 60%

~ Triweekly Tests1 (10% each) = 40%
Total = 100%

A. You must attend the tests. If you miss one, for a medical or other acceptable reason, then the
percentage for that test will be transferred to the total for your other tests, there are no make-
up tests planned. The fourth test will be held during the “Final Exam” slot scheduled for
ELEC 301 but will not have any additional weight as compared to the other 3 tests and
will not be eligible for deferred standing should you miss it.
B. You must meet the prerequisite of ELEC 301 or have received prior approval to take the
course without the prerequisite. Students who do not meet a prerequisite of the course, or
have not received prior approval to take it without the prerequisite, should drop the course by
the Friday, January 22nd, Add/Drop Deadline or they may be dropped from the course after
the Add/Drop Deadline with a "W" standing and a financial penalty.
C. The instructor reserves the right to adjust a student's course mark up (or down) based on
positive (or negative) contributions to the class, class participation, professional behaviour,
etc.

1 There will be four tests that will be held on a nearly triweekly basis beginning with the first test that will follow submission of the first
mini project. The test dates are posted on CANVAS.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.7

Projects: Mini projects are done individually on a computer using one of the circuit
simulators listed below. You must pass (get > 50% on) the mini projects, on
average, in order to pass the course. The due dates for the mini projects are
posted on CANVAS. There will be four mini projects.

Tests: To be held online and with automatic proctoring. You must pass (get > 50% on)
the tests, on average, in order to pass the course. The dates of the tests are
posted on CANVAS. There will be four tests.

Lecturer: Dr. Nick Jaeger (office: Kaiser 3040; email: nickj@ece.ubc.ca).

Office Hours: Posted on CANVAS.

Main Text: Course notes (these are posted on CANVAS).

Reference: A. Sedra and K. Smith, "Microelectronic Circuits," 5th or later Eds., Oxford
University Press, New York.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.8

Software: There are numerous free SPICE circuit simulators available 1. Examples of these
simulators include:

Altium Designer (available through the ECE Department, not so easy to use)

CircuitMaker Student Edition (intuitive, easy to use, but no longer supported by the
developer)

LTspice (relatively intuitive and relatively easy to use, lots of online support)

Micro-Cap Evaluation/Student Edition (relatively intuitive and relatively easy to

use)

Multisim Student Edition (bundled with Sedra and Smith and also available
through the ECE Department)

OrCAD PSpice Demo (bundled with Sedra and Smith, not so easy to use though
useful web tutorials for earlier versions exist).

1 Each student may select the circuit simulator that they are most comfortable/familiar with for the purposes of doing their projects.
Nevertheless, while some of the TAs and others in the Department may have experience with Multisym and Altium Designer, the Instructor
will only provide support to students using either CircuitMaker Student Edition or LTspice.
Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.9

MATERIAL TO BE COVERED - THE COURSE CONTENT

• Frequency Responses of Amplifiers

• Open-Circuit/Short-Circuit Time Constants

• Biassing of Transistors

• Small Signal Models for Transistors

• Differential Amplifiers

• Basic Op Amp Design

• Non-Ideal Characteristics of Op Amps

• Feedback Amplifiers

• Stability of Amplifiers

• Active Filters and Oscillators

 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.10

THE EXPECTATIONS/OUTCOMES - THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO AT THE END OF THIS
COURSE

___•Use the 1/3 Rule to Bias a Transistor (1/4 rule for Cascode)

___•Calculate the Small Signal Model Parameters for a Transistor Amplifier

___•Calculate the Small Signal Gain and the Frequency Response of a Transistor Amplifier

___•Identify the Common Emitter, Common Collector, and Common Base Configurations of
a Bipolar Junction Transistor Amplifier

___•Calculate the Input and Output Impedances, as well as the Small Signal Gains, of
Various Single and Multi-Transistor Amplifiers

___•Bias a Differential Amplifier and Derive the Small Signal Model

___•Calculate the Gain and Frequency Response of a Differential Amplifier

 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.11

THE EXPECTATIONS/OUTCOMES - THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO AT THE END OF THIS
COURSE (CONTINUED)

___•Recognize and be Able to Analyse the Various Stages of an Operational Amplifier

___•Be Aware of Some of the Limitations and Non-Ideal Characteristics of an Operational

Amplifier

___•Calculate the Common Mode Rejection Ratio of a Differential Amplifier or an

Operational Amplifier

___•Calculate the Small Signal Gain and Frequency Response of a Simple Open Loop
Operational Amplifier

___•Recognize the Four Basic Feedback Topologies

___•Be Aware of the Uses of Feedback in Electronic Circuits

___•Calculate the "Amount of Feedback" Applied to an Amplifier

 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.12

THE EXPECTATIONS/OUTCOMES - THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO AT THE END OF THIS
COURSE (CONTINUED)

___•Apply Feedback to Various Types of Amplifier to Achieve Calculated Improvements

___•Use Bode Plots to Determine the Phase and Gain Margins of an Amplifier

___•Use Feedback to Shift the Poles of an Amplifier and Achieve Stability

___•Find the Transfer Function for a Butterworth or Chebyshev Filter

___•Design Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass, and Notch Active Filters
Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.13

WHERE ELEC 301 FITS IN

 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.14

GETTING ALONG IN ELEC 301

CLASS HAPPENS IN CLASS: Class happens in class; not on a website, not in a newsgroup, and not
by email. Course notes will be posted on CANVAS prior to the related lectures. Announcements
will be made at the beginning of class. Students are responsible for being aware of all
announcements.

HANDING IN MINI PROJECTS: Mini projects must be uploaded to CANVAS prior to 11:59 pm on
the assigned due date (note: Mini Projects may be handed in before the due date). Mini
projects time-stamped after they are due will be marked as though they had been handed in on the
following “teaching day”. Late mini projects will lose 20% per teaching day late for the first 2
teaching days and will not be accepted after that (the end of a teaching day is 11:59 pm on that
day). Mini Project reports should be prepared following the CRITERIA (INSTRUCTIONS) FOR
UPLOADED MINI PROJECTS. This sheet can be found on CANVAS. Any handwriting, e.g.,
equations and/or text, included in a mini project report must be clearly legible and unambiguous at
the time of submission for any credit to be given. “After-the-fact” explanations or clarifications of
unclear or ambiguous material will not be considered, also, the markers reserve the right to deduct
points for poor presentation. You must submit a legible, properly filled-out, initialled and signed
ELEC 301 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SHEET prior to the submission of your
Mini Project 1 report1. This sheet can be found on CANVAS.

1 Without a legible, properly filled-out, initialled and signed ELEC 301 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SHEETon file, none of
your mini project marks will be recorded.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.15

DO THE PROBLEM SETS: The problem sets are well coordinated with the material, so it is important
to keep up with them as the material is covered. Not all problem solutions will be presented.
There comes a point at which a student must start to develop confidence in their work; there are no
solutions sets handed out in life. This course is a good place to start to build that confidence.
Nevertheless, any question related to any problem will be answered during office hours (or,
sometimes, during class), provided that an honest attempt to solve the problem has been made by
the student.

EMAILING THE INSTRUCTOR: In any email sent to the instructor, you must include ELEC301S22
(followed by a space) at the beginning of the subject line (in order to be identified by my filter, this
must be included exactly as shown) or you may not receive a reply 1. For example, the subject line
might look thus:

SUBJECT: ELEC301S22 Request for an Appointment.

Email to the instructor must be solicited by the instructor, be used to arrange for a meeting with the
instructor, or be sent to advise the instructor of a critical matter (e.g., sickness during a test). Email
should not be used for matters that can be dealt with during regular class time or during office
hours (e.g., questions regarding course material, how to solve problems, announcements or material
covered in previous announcements, etc.).

1 After Friday, January 21st, 2022, email messages that do not have the correct identifier in the subject line may not receive a response.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.16

OPTIMIZE YOUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

THINK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS (AMONGST OTHERS):

• Has the material currently being covered been put in the proper context for you?
• Do you understand how the material currently being covered fits into the course?
• Are the teaching materials provided aiding in your learning?
• When studying alone, can you follow the notes provided?
• Are you following the lectures or do you feel that the lecture material is going over your
head?
• Can you hear the instructor clearly?
• Are the instructor's answers to questions helping you understand the material?
• Are the overheads/screen presentations clear and legible?

PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS: It’ll save you time later, honest!

PARTICIPATE IN CLASS: Ask questions and seek clarification. If you need clarification, odds are
others do too!

MAKE GOOD USE OF THE AVAILABLE OFFICE HOURS: I want you to come. You get brownie
points for doing so!
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.17

EVERYTHING ELSE

Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The UBC Centre for Accessibility determines students' eligibility for accommodations in
accordance with Policy 73: Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.
Academic accommodations are governed by the policies, rules, and regulations provided by
the UBC Centre for Accessibility.

Link to the UBC Centre for Accessibility web site:

https://students.ubc.ca/about-student-services/centre-for-accessibility
Link to the Academic accommodations for students with disabilities web site:
https://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/academic-learning-resources/academic-accommodations-
disabilities
Link to the Exam accommodations: guidelines and expectations web site:
https://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/academic-learning-resources/academic-accommodations-
disabilities/exam-accommodations-guidelines-expectations
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.18

Academic Concessions

Students seeking academic concessions from the Instructor arising from incidents preceding
the start of term are required to discuss their request for such concessions with the Instructor within
1 week of the start the term. The Instructor may not comply with the request, especially if the
academic standards and integrity of the course could be compromised. Students who feel that their
request for academic concessions from the Instructor has not been dealt with to their satisfaction
are encouraged to take their request to an Academic Advisor in Engineering Student Services.
Students with conflicting responsibilities have a duty to arrange their course schedules so as
to avoid as much as possible any conflicts with course requirements. Students with conflicting
responsibilities that are known to exist at the start of term are required to discuss their request for
academic concessions with the Instructor within 1 week of the start the term. Students with
conflicting responsibilities that arise during the term are required to discuss their request for
academic concessions with the Instructor within 3 days (72 hours) of the conflicting responsibility
arising. The Instructor may not comply with the request, especially if the academic standards and
integrity of the course could be compromised. Students who feel that their request for academic
concessions from the Instructor has not been dealt with to their satisfaction are encouraged to take
their request to an Academic Advisor in Engineering Student Services.
Students who, because of unforeseen events, are absent during the term and are unable to
attend/complete tests or other graded work, should notify the Instructor or Engineering Student
Services according to the following instructions for Missing a Test, Failure to Submit a Project on
Time or in Accordance with the Instructions Provided, or Self-Declarations for Academic
Concessions given below:
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.19

Missing a Test - Students seeking an academic concession from the Instructor due to absence from
a test for any reason must notify the Instructor within 1 day (24 hours) of the missed test. A
concession will only be granted if the reason for the absence is acceptable. The only concession
that may be granted is to move the weight of the missed test to the other tests. Documentation
supporting the request for a concession will be requested in most cases. For example, in the case of
illness, a signed Doctor's note that unequivocally states that the Doctor has determined that the
student is (was) ill and unable to sit the midterm may be required (Doctors' notes that are not
unequivocal may not be considered, especially in the case of a note obtained after the test in
question has taken place). Engineering Student Services will be consulted in unusual/non-standard
cases and the case may be referred to an Academic Advisor for resolution.
Failure to Submit a Project on Time or in Accordance with the Instructions Provided - Students
seeking an academic concession due to their failure to submit a project on time or in accordance
with the instructions provided for any reason must notify the Instructor within 1 day (24 hours) of
their failure to properly submit the project. A concession will only be granted if the reason for the
failure is acceptable. Documentation supporting the request for a concession will be requested in
most cases. Engineering Student Services will be consulted in unusual/non-standard cases and the
case may be referred to an Academic Advisor for resolution.
Self-Declarations for Academic Concessions – One legitimate “self-declaration” for a medical or
other acceptable reason will be accepted by the instructor per student per course. The self-declaring
student will be required to provide a written request for an academic concession and should clearly
state the grounds for the concession (the student should be aware that such self-declarations are
governed by UBC's Policy on Academic Concessions and are also subject to UBC's Policy on
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.20

Academic Misconduct, see below) by filling out the Engineering Student Services request for an
academic concession form at the link:
https://academicservices.engineering.ubc.ca/form-request-for-academic-concession-in-term-work/
Any subsequent request for an academic concession will be forwarded to Engineering Student
Services.

Link to the governing Calendar entry on Academic Concessions:

http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=3,329,0,0
Link to the ESS Request for an Academic Concession Form:
https://academicservices.engineering.ubc.ca/form-request-for-academic-concession-in-term-work/
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.21

Academic Integrity

The academic enterprise is founded on honesty, civility, and integrity. As members of this
enterprise, all students are expected to know, understand, and follow the codes of conduct
regarding academic integrity. At the most basic level, this means submitting only original work
done by you and acknowledging all sources of information or ideas and attributing them to others
as required. This also means you should not cheat, copy, or mislead others about what is your
work. Violations of academic integrity (i.e., academic misconduct, see below) lead to the
breakdown of the academic enterprise, and therefore serious consequences arise and harsh
sanctions are imposed. For example, incidences of plagiarism or cheating may result in a mark of
zero on the assignment or exam and more serious consequences may apply if the matter is referred
to the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline. Careful records are kept in order to
monitor and prevent recurrences.

Academic Honesty and Standards:

Academic honesty is essential to the continued functioning of the University of British
Columbia as an institution of higher learning and research. All UBC students are expected to
behave as honest and responsible members of an academic community. Breach of those
expectations or failure to follow the appropriate policies, principles, rules, and guidelines of the
University with respect to academic honesty may result in disciplinary action.
It is the student's obligation to inform himself or herself of the applicable standards for
academic honesty. Students must be aware that standards at the University of British Columbia
may be different from those in secondary schools or at other institutions. If a student is in any
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.22

doubt as to the standard of academic honesty in a particular course or assignment, then the student
must consult with the instructor as soon as possible, and in no case should a student submit an
assignment if the student is not clear on the relevant standard of academic honesty.
If an allegation is made against a student, the Registrar may place the student on academic
hold until the President has made his or her final decision. When a student is placed on academic
hold, the student is blocked from all activity in the Student Service Centre.

Link to the governing Calendar entry on Academic Honesty and Standards:

http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=3,286,0,0

Academic Misconduct:
Students are responsible for informing themselves of the guidelines of acceptable and non-
acceptable conduct for graded assignments established by their instructors for specific courses and
of the examples of academic misconduct set out below. Academic misconduct that is subject to
disciplinary measures includes, but is not limited to, engaging in, attempting to engage in, or
assisting others to engage, in any of the actions described below.
1. Cheating, which may include, but is not limited to:
a) falsification of any material subject to academic evaluation, including research data;
b) use of or participation in unauthorized collaborative work;
c) use or possession in an examination of any materials (including devices) other than those
permitted by the examiner;
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.23

d) use, possession, or facilitation of unauthorized means to complete an examination (e.g.,

receiving unauthorized assistance from another person, or providing that assistance); and
e) dishonest practices that breach rules governing examinations or submissions for
academic evaluation (see the Student Conduct during Examinations).
2. Plagiarism, which is intellectual theft, occurs where an individual submits or presents the oral
or written work of another person as his or her own. Scholarship quite properly rests upon
examining and referring to the thoughts and writings of others. However, when another
person's words (i.e. phrases, sentences, or paragraphs), ideas, or entire works are used, the
author must be acknowledged in the text, in footnotes, in endnotes, or in another accepted
form of academic citation. Where direct quotations are made, they must be clearly delineated
(for example, within quotation marks or separately indented). Failure to provide proper
attribution is plagiarism because it represents someone else's work as one's own. Plagiarism
should not occur in submitted drafts or final works. A student who seeks assistance from a
tutor or other scholastic aids must ensure that the work submitted is the student's own.
Students are responsible for ensuring that any work submitted does not constitute plagiarism.
Students who are in any doubt as to what constitutes plagiarism should consult their instructor
before handing in any assignments.
3. Submitting the same, or substantially the same, essay, presentation, or assignment more than
once (whether the earlier submission was at this or another institution) unless prior approval
has been obtained from the instructor(s) to whom the assignment is to be submitted.
4. Impersonating a candidate at an examination or other evaluation, facilitating the
impersonation of a candidate, or availing oneself of the results of an impersonation.
 Electrical and Computer Engineering — ELEC 301 Introductory Material — P 1.24

5. Submitting false records or information, orally or in writing, or failing to provide relevant

information when requested.
6. Falsifying or submitting false documents, transcripts, or other academic credentials.
7. Failing to comply with any disciplinary measure imposed for academic misconduct.

Link to the governing Calendar entry on Academic Misconduct:

http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/?tree=3,54,111,959