Electric Circuits in Computer Engineering Laboratory
Electric circuits are fundamental to computer engineering, providing the foundation upon which digital
systems and computer hardware are built. Laboratory work in this area offers hands-on experience in
assembling, testing, and analyzing electrical and electronic circuits. These labs enable students to
compare theoretical analysis and circuit simulation with experimental results.
Core Skills and Equipment
Students in electric circuits labs learn to use basic electrical engineering instruments, including digital
multimeters, DC power supplies, function generators, and oscilloscopes. They develop prototyping skills
by implementing experiments at the component level on breadboards. These practical skills are essential
for designing, building, and troubleshooting circuits and systems.
Fundamental Circuit Analysis
Labs typically begin with the construction of series and parallel resistive networks, where students learn
and verify Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws. These fundamental laws govern the behavior of current
and voltage in electrical circuits, providing a basis for more complex circuit analysis. Students then
progress to building resistor-capacitor (RC) networks excited by time-varying sources like pulses, square
waves, and sinusoidal signals. They learn to calculate time constants, steady-state responses, and
investigate the filtering properties of these circuits.
Operational Amplifiers and Advanced Circuit Design
Students are introduced to integrated circuits through operational amplifiers, building inverting
amplifiers and examining waveforms for different signal inputs. Advanced labs focus on designing and
building more complex circuits, such as amplifiers and electronic systems that meet specific design
criteria. These labs emphasize design skills, requiring students to create circuits that satisfy customer or
user specifications, moving beyond basic construction and analysis.
Simulation and CAD Tools
In addition to physical implementation, students learn to simulate circuits using software such as Mentor
Graphics, P-SPICE, and MultiSim. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools are used for schematic entry, PCB
design, and component connection management. Simulation helps in testing and validating circuit
designs before physical construction, saving time and resources. The integration of CAD and simulation
tools prepares students for modern electronic design practices.
Experiments and Applications
Experiments in electronic circuits labs cover spectral analysis techniques, sampling, distortion
measurements, and signal-to-noise ratio analysis. Students apply analog components to develop, build,
and test instrumentation circuits. They also use time and frequency domain techniques to analyze and
design signals and systems. These experiments provide a practical understanding of circuit behavior and
their applications in real-world systems.
