Zhang Y. The Tao of Microelectronics

Bristol: IOP Publishing, 2014. — 118 p. — ISBN: 978-1627054522.Microelectronics is a challenging course to many undergraduate students and is often described as very messy. Before taking this course, all the students have learned circuit analysis, where basically all the problems can be solved by applying Kirchhoff's laws. In addition, most engineering students have also learned engineering mechanics: statics and dynamics, where Newton's laws and related principles can be applied in solving all the problems. However, microelectronics is not as clean as these courses. There are hundreds of equations for different circuits, and it is impossible to remember which equation should be applied to which circuit. One of the common pitfalls in learning this course is over-focusing at the equation level and ignoring the ideas (Tao) behind it. Unfortunately, these ideas are not summarized and emphasized in most microelectronics textbooks, though they cover various electronic circuits comprehensively. Therefore, most undergraduate students feel at a loss when they start to learn this topic. This book tries to illustrate the major ideas and the basic analysis techniques, so that students can derive the right equations easily when facing an electronic circuit.Preface.

Overview.
Basic circuit elements.
Diode—rectifier.
Transistor—varistor.
Transistor—transconductance.
Generic amplifier.pn-junction diode.
Energy band.
Drift current.
Diffusion current.
pn-junction.
Diode current and models.BJT amplifier circuits.
Vacuum tubes.
Introduction to the BJT.
Bias circuits.
Small signal models.
Basic amplifier circuits.
Amplifiers with feedback.MOSFET amplifier circuits.
Introduction to MOSFETs.
Small signal models.
Basic amplifier circuits.
First order RC filters.
Low frequency response of CS amplifier.
High frequency response of CS amplifier.Differential amplifiers.
Ideal differential amplifiers.
Basic differential amplifiers.
Current mirrors.
Differential amplifiers with active load.
Multistage amplifiers.Operational amplifiers.
Introduction to op-amps.
Op-amps with negative feedback.
Active filters.
Op-amps with positive feedback.
Oscillators.