Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Engineering 1Unit 117: Digital and Analogue Devices andCircuits
AimThis unit aims to develop the knowledge and skills needed to design and test DC power supplysystems, operational amplifier circuits and digital electronic circuits.Unit abstractThis unit provides learners with a practical understanding of a range of integrated circuitoperational amplifiers and digital devices and circuits. Learners will investigate the design andoperation of DC power supplies. They will then analyse the applications of operationalamplifiers, before designing and testing operational amplifier circuits. Finally, the unit willenable learners to design, construct and test digital electronic circuits.Learning outcomesOn successful completion of this unit a learner will:1 Be able to design, test and evaluate electronic DC power supply systems2 Be able to design and test operational amplifier circuits3 Be able to design, construct and test digital electronic circuits.2 Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in EngineeringUnit content1 Be able to design, test and evaluate electronic DC power supply systemsOperation of DC power supplies: linear regulated power supplies (simple zenerd, seriestransistor and IC regulators); switched mode power supplies; practical circuits in use inmodern equipmentDesign a linear power supply: input voltages; output voltage and current; line and loadregulation; identify devices, passive component values and circuit connectionsTest a linear power supply: from test results, graphs of Vout ~ Vin and Vout ~ Iout line and loadregulation calculated2 Be able to design and test operational amplifier circuitsOperational amplifier as a device: properties of the ideal operational amplifier eg very highgain, infinite input impedance, negligible voltage difference between inputsApplication circuits: comparator inverting amplifier; non-inverting amplifier; bufferamplifier (voltage follower); differential amplifier; summing amplifier; derivation ofrelationship between input and output voltagesDesign: circuits designed to meet given specifications; use of computer simulation softwareto confirm correct operationTests: designed build circuits using prototype board or circuit trainers and test, usingappropriate test equipment, to confirm that they meet the specification; draw up a scheduleof test data with proposed input signals and expected output signals before testing3 Be able to design, construct and test digital electronic circuitsDigital electronic devices: logic families - TTL, CMOS eg 4000 and 74 series; comparisonbetween families (speed, power, input and output current, power supply); interfacingbetween different families; scales of integration (SSI, MSI, LSI, VLSI); programmabledevices (PROM, PAL, PLA)Design combinational circuits: use an appropriate design technique (Karnaugh mapping);solutions using a single type of gate eg NAND only; specifications requiring solutions withno less than four inputs and one output; simulation using computer software to confirmcorrect operationDesign sequential circuits: use appropriate design techniques; specifications with no lessthat seven states eg decade counter; simulation using computer software to confirm correctoperationTest: circuits designed for this outcome should be built using prototype boards or circuittrainers and tested, using appropriate test equipment, to confirm that they meet thespecifications; a schedule of test data with proposed inputs and expected outputs should bedrawn up before testingEdexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Engineering 3Learning outcomes and assessment criteriaLearning outcomesOn successful completion ofthis unit a learner will:Assessment criteria for passThe learner can:LO1 Be able to design, test andevaluate electronic DCpower supply systems1.1 evaluate the operation of different types of DC powersupply1.2 design and test a linear power supply to meet a givenspecificationLO2 Be able to design and testoperational amplifiercircuits2.1 evaluate the operational amplifier as a device2.2 describe different operational amplifier applicationcircuits2.3 design three operational amplifier circuits2.4 test operational amplifier circuitsLO3 Be able to design,construct and test digitalelectronic circuits3.1 compare different digital electronic device families3.2 design and construct combinational and sequentialdigital electronic circuits using logic devices3.3 test digital electronic circuits4 Edexcel BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in EngineeringGuidanceLinksThis unit can be linked to Unit 5: Electrical and Electronic Principles, Unit 39: ElectronicPrinciples, Unit 66: Electrical, Electronic and Digital Principles and Unit 114: OperationalAmplifiers.Essential requirementsLearners will need access to electronic circuit test equipment (CRO, power supply, signalgenerator, multimeter, logic probe), prototype board or digital and analogue circuit trainers andelectronic circuit simulation software.Employer engagement and vocational contextsDelivery of this unit will benefit from centres establishing strong links with employers willingto contribute to the delivery of teaching, work-based placements and/or detailecase studymaterials.