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Lab work modification: TBD

Objectives:

Learn the concept of analog signal processing via direct empirical experience - regardless whether one has learned the theory of circuit analysis or not. Specifically:

• empirical learning of frequency-domain filtering.
• empirical learning of the concept and feature of second-order response: damped and oscillatory behavior.

If one has learned circuit analysis theory, this lab will reinforce and provide an empirical context for deeper understanding. If one has not, this lab will serve as a useful phenomenological introduction that will help learn the theory later. In fact, it is highly desirable in the latter case that one will learn the essence of the phenomena via intuition, and obtain a basic grasp of the background theory even without extensive mathematics.


Outcomes:

• Build passive and active RC circuits for AC signals, and study how the circuits "process" the signals: causing changes to signal amplitude and phase as a function of frequency, and change of the waveform for non-sinusoidal signals.

• Specifically, each circuit has a certain range of frequency to allow the signal pass through: a concept known as filtering. Gain conceptual understanding of high-pass, low-pass, and band-pass filter.
  

• Compare passive and active RC filters, and explore their differences with the concept of order-of-circuit-response.

Additional benefits: For those who are taking or will be taking advanced circuit analysis: this is a continuation of what we learn in Lab. V: more about the Laplace transform method, concept of poles and responses for 2 poles vs. one pole in Lab. V. This should also help reinforce your familiarity with things like Bode plots and you will also learn about Nyquist plot.

Overview:

This Lab is the last and the culmination of the course. Hence it will have a different and fun approach: it is about empirical learning. If you have learned the background stuff of the Lab, great, you get to see theory in action. If you have not, great, you get a chance to really learn some concepts via experimentation, without any preconceived notion.

Hence, don't fret and just enjoy. This is all about doing the experiments, observe, and learn. Remember that the essence of scientific/engineering learning is all about empirical study. That's where our knowledge come from. A theory is only created to help us organize and structure our empirical knowledge. While other Labs that we did were to support what you learn in ECE2202, this Lab, for a change, is to put the horse before the carriage: you will directly experience the concepts so that you can learn ECE2202.

The Lab will provide guidance and let you experiment things on your own. This is NOT about "Did I do what the Lab tells me to do? Did I get the right answers?" It is about "what do I see and what can I infer?" Thus, just dive in, fiddling the knobs of your instruments, tinkering, open your eyes, your mind, observe, think, infer, and construct your own perception and intuitive understanding. Then, refer to circuit analysis theory to see if that would help you more insight and deeper understanding.

Part Introduction and Background  The meaning and the context of Lab 6 circuits. Second-order filters for communication applications

Part A: High-pass filter circuit, low-frequency noise or interference blocking

Part B: Low-pass filter circuit, low-frequency noise or interference blocking

Part C: Band-pass filter, and used with demodulator for demonstration of communication signal receiving

Nyquist 3D of band-pass filter

Lab work


Part 1: Introduction and Background

Step 1





Step 2





Step 3






Step 4



 
Step 5








Additional demonstration









Addendum

Circuit explanation



For circuit parts, click the below to expand

 

Continue to page 2 for Part A