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Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#31

Post by induction »

I actually learned a great deal from just reading Sedra and Smith's book on microelectronics. You don't need much more than algebra and trig to comprehend what is going on in this book.

There is some sloppiness in the book, but the first 5-10 chapters, with enough struggling, get you to think in terms of the basic models that you learn about early on. Once you understand how things break down conceptually, mapping theory to reality becomes a more manageable fight as you cross reference theory while looking at existing designs.

Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#32

Post by wyc »

induction wrote: post #31

I actually learned a great deal from just reading Sedra and Smith's book on microelectronics. You don't need much more than algebra and trig to comprehend what is going on in this book. There is some sloppiness in the book, but the first 5-10 chapters, with enough struggling, get you to think in terms of the basic models that you learn about early on. Once you understand how things break down conceptually, mapping th…

I would caution against starting on this text because it's typically at the upperclassman/graduate level, containing details about transistor models and amplifier design that you don't need to know unless you're considering a career in microelectronics design. It also assumes a lot of background so you might find yourself moving at a snail's pace. Otherwise, I thought it was a great text heavy on theory.

Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#33

Post by sabot »

maho wrote: post #12

Related question, sorry for hijacking this thread: Are there any simulator-games out there? Like: "Here are available components in your components box, now draw a circuit that lights an LED without distroying it, regardless how the 5V input voltage is connected. Max component count: 4" Something in the spirit of Euler-project, but with electronics.

It's half of your question, but a good basic electronic logic simulator is http://www.cburch.com/logisim/

A digital electronics book could be paired with it for exercises. Or heck build your own microcontroller or something.

A similar method is to instead of using a game to simulate circuits in software, use an FPGA to simulate a circuit in hardware. A cool book I've used to here, http://www.amazon.com/FPGA-Prototyping-VHDL-Examples-Spartan...

It will take you step by step from creating simple shift registers to displaying an image over VGA (which you implement yourself).

Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#34

Post by induction »

wyc wrote: post #32
induction wrote: post #31

I actually learned a great deal from just reading Sedra and Smith's book on microelectronics. You don't need much more than algebra and trig to comprehend what is going on in this book. There is some sloppiness in the book, but the first 5-10 chapters, with enough struggling, get you to think in terms of the basic models that you learn about early on. Once you understand how things break down conceptually, mapping th…

I would caution against starting on this text because it's typically at the upperclassman/graduate level, containing details about transistor models and amplifier design that you don't need to know unless you're considering a career in microelectronics design. It also assumes a lot of background so you might find yourself moving at a snail's pace. Otherwise, I thought it was a great text heavy on theory.

I agree with your warning, but would advise the reader to struggle with this book and embrace the struggle.

The text helped me with a lot of hobbyist discrete circuit design. The reason is because, in the book, they have little "model" transformations of active circuit components. Breaking things down into models that can be studied with KVL and KCL, as well as simple approximations and rules for dealing with the various modes of transistors, makes the subject accessible. (At least, to me anyway.)

I guess, to add a little bit to the suggestion: buy a used, outdated copy of this book, and try to work through a chapter every 2 months or so. Having a solutions manual on hand helps a lot also.

Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#36

Post by cottonseed »

gamache wrote: post #20
smcl wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually started looking at this the other day on Open Courseware - as I'd set myself a resolution this year to put together a little embedded\SBC system and needed to understand electronics in more detail[0]. It's a little bit intimidating. For example in the first few sentences he started referring to Maxwell's equations in very familiar terms (something like "we all know about Maxwell's equations already...") wh…

For example in the first few sentences he started referring to Maxwell's equations in very familiar terms (something like "we all know about Maxwell's equations already...") This, incidentally, is exactly like going to MIT.

While I don't disagree, 8.02 (Electricity and Magnetism), which basically spends the semester teaching Maxwell's equations, is a prereq for 6.002.

Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#38

Post by Cyph0n »

induction wrote: post #31

I actually learned a great deal from just reading Sedra and Smith's book on microelectronics. You don't need much more than algebra and trig to comprehend what is going on in this book. There is some sloppiness in the book, but the first 5-10 chapters, with enough struggling, get you to think in terms of the basic models that you learn about early on. Once you understand how things break down conceptually, mapping th…

As already mentioned, Sedra is quite heavy on theory. I would recommend Rezavi instead. It's tone is much more casual and backs most of the theory with practical applications. Even so, it is quit rigorous and does not lack in examples both solved and not.

Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#39

Post by Cyph0n »

induction wrote: post #31

I actually learned a great deal from just reading Sedra and Smith's book on microelectronics. You don't need much more than algebra and trig to comprehend what is going on in this book. There is some sloppiness in the book, but the first 5-10 chapters, with enough struggling, get you to think in terms of the basic models that you learn about early on. Once you understand how things break down conceptually, mapping th…

As already mentioned, Sedra is quite heavy on theory. I would recommend Rezavi instead. It's tone is much more casual and backs most of the theory with practical applications. Even so, it is quit rigorous and does not lack in examples both solved and not.

Re: Ask HN: What are some nice electronics courses that blend theory and practice?

#40

Post by Cyph0n »

As already mentioned, Sedra is quite heavy on theory. I would recommend Rezavi instead. It's tone is much more casual and backs most of the theory with practical applications. Even so, it is quit rigorous and does not lack in examples both solved and not.
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