Physics for Electronics

EE-Mi-218

Always wanted to understand how microelectronic devices are made and how they interact with their surroundings? Always wanted to be the first to learn about cutting-edge applications conditioned by the developments in microelectronics – just think of emerging space instrumentation? Always wanted to acquire hands-on experience with sophisticated lab equipment? The “Physics for Electronics” minor will offer you answers and opportunities to grow in these directions.

More information?

Download here the minor’s leaflet.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

EC’s: 30

Language: English

Maximum number of participants: 50

Non-selection minor:
Selection minor:

Education periods: Q1 and Q2

For whom?

The minor is targeted to students from the Electrical Engineering (EE), Aerospace Engineering (AE), Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Applied Physics (AP) BSc programmes with a strong interest in the physical layer of microelectronics.

What will you learn

During this minor you will learn the fundamentals of the microelectronic technology and you will build competence in up-to-date implementations and applications. As a corollary, you will test the technology in a challenging design project during which you will develop in a team of 4 or 5 students a system that is conditional for any 5G or automotive radar application.

Via this minor you will acquire competences in:

the analysis and design of passive, high-frequency components, the basics of microfabrication, the solid-state physics underpinning the active electronic devices and on the interaction between different signal domains; additionally, non-EE students will be trained in the analysis of linear circuits, as a prerequisite to understanding complex electric networks
bridging the physical layer to state-of-the-art applications area, with a special emphasis on imaging and radio astronomy – the latter will also allow you developing basic python software modules for modelling astrophysical configurations.

Course overview

The courses are tailored according to two tracks for students with an EE or a non-EE background:

EE3345TU “Introduction to Physics of Electronics” – a basic homologation course
EE3355TU “Linear Circuits” – for non-EE students, only
EE3360TU “Transmission Lines”
EE3365TU “Basics of Microfabrication” – mandatory for EE students, optional (supplementary) for non-EE students
EE3370TU “Electronics for Imaging”
EE3375TU “Basics of Solid-State Physics”
EE3350TU “Introduction to Radio Astronomy”
EE3380TU “Transduction Effects”
Project: EE3385TU “5G and AutoRadar”

More information about the courses can be found in this year’s online study guide

Education methods

Lectures & (practical) instructions in both quarters + design project in the second quarter

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is not. We set a limit at 50 students that accounts for some logistic restrictions dictated, primarily, by the project – based on our experience of the previous year this number offered us a very generous margin. Should the 50 students mark be exceeded, we shall examine if, and how we can accommodate the supplementary students.

Due to its non-selection type, registration for this minor in Osiris will start on the 3rd of May.
: No, in principle you should be able to enrol via Osiris. In some cases you may experience some difficulties due to some administration issues in Osiris → in those cases, please contact the EE programme’s coordinator at programmesupport-eemcs@tudelft.nl and not the EE-Mi-218 coordinator (the EE-Mi-218 coordinator cannot help you with enrolment procedures).
: In principle yes, but your preknowledge will have to be assessed and your admittance must be approved via a special procedure.
: Basic training provided in any of the EE, AP, AE or 3M BSc programmes sufficiently prepare you for the minor.
: Absolutely, but it will count for supplementary ECTS. In any case, you must attend EE3355TU “Linear Circuits” that is mandatory for you.
: Yes, of course.
: There is quite substantial material available on the minor’s Brightspace platform. Since the Brightspace platform for 2021-2022 will only become available shortly before the start of the academic year, please contact the EE-Mi-218 coordinator at i.e.lager@tudelft.nl for enrolling you in this year’s platform.
: At this moment, this is not yet clear → our expectation is that it may still contain a sizeable online component?
: Again, it is too soon to give a definite answer. We should very much like to offer you an onsite project. Should that not be possible, we already developed some tools allowing you to remotely interact with the laboratory measurement equipment.
: The vast majority of the bibliographic resources are available online, via Brightspace. Should some courses require specific textbooks, those are provided by the ETV.
: The project, in its present implementation, offers a framework and a number of tools (e.g., for remotely operating the measurement equipment in the lab). Its concrete realisation is strongly depending on the level of pandemic-related restrictions that will be in place at the moment when the project will be effectuated. Your suggestions are extremely relevant → please forward your suggestions to the project responsible instructor, Marco Spirito (m.spirito@tudelft.nl).
: Most advanced mechanical engineering systems, with robots or aerospace vehicles as typical examples, involve cutting edge electronic components. A deep knowledge on the capabilities and the operation of these devices will significantly help you in your mechanical engineering work.