EEE3090F: Class Test 1

5 th March 2018
Memo
Time: 60 minutes
Marks: 30 marks
This test paper consists of 10 pages. Answer all the questions on the question paper
provided. You may use the flip side of the paper as well.
See instructions and formulas on the last page.

Student Details (print in block-capitals)

First name: _____________________________________________

Surname: ______________________________________________

Student ID: _____________________________________________

Stream (ECE, EE, ME): ___________________________________

DO NOT WRITE HERE

Question No. Grade

Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Q6
TOTAL
Page 1 of 10
Question 1 [6 marks]

1.1 State four properties of an ideal op-amp

[2]

Answer 1.1

Any of the three below:

There is infinite input impedance (1)
There is infinite gain (1)
There is zero output impedance (1)
The op-amp can output perfectly up to its supply voltages (1)
Infinite bandwidth
There is infinite slew rate (1)

1.2 Suppose a long cable is used to supply a constant voltage to a circuit board. There are random voltage spikes
that occur on this line, for unknown reasons.

1.2.1 What component be used to reduce the effect of these spikes? [1]

Answer 1.2.1

Capacitor

1.2.2 How should this component be connected? [1]

Answer 1.2.2

The capacitor should be connected between supply and ground.

1.2.3 Why does this work? [2]

Answer 1.2.3

The capacitor offers a low impedance path for high frequency components. Thus, high frequency components flow
through the capacitor to ground.

Page 2 of 10
Question 2 [3 marks]

2.1 The 1N4733A Zener diode has a specified Zener voltage of 5.1V at 49mA, and a standard Zener voltage tolerance of
± 5 %. What does the ‘voltage tolerance of ± 5 %’ mean? [1]

Answer 2.1

This means that the Zener voltage is not perfectly 5.1 V. The specific Zener chosen can be in the range from 4.845 V to
5.355V.

2.2 A first order filter has a roll off of -6dB/octave. What does this mean? Support your answer with a diagram.

[2]

Answer 2.2

If a filter has a gain of x dB at frequency f1. Then for frequency 2f1, the gain of the filter will be x – 6dB

Page 3 of 10
Question 3 [5 marks]

Consider the following circuit

5.7V

Assume that at time t < 0 s, the switch is not connected to either position 1 or position 2. Furthermore, the capacitor
in the circuit is completely discharged. Then, at t = 0, the switch is moved to position 1. At t = 8s, the switch is moved
to position 2 for 1 second and then back to position 1 for the another 6 seconds.

Plot the voltage at node A of the circuit from t = 0 s to t = 15 s on the grid shown below. Label the x-axis and the y-axis
[5]

Charging time, time constant: RC = (1000)*(0.001) = 1s reaches 0.63 *5 = 3.15 V

Discharging time, time constant: RC = (5000)*(0.001) = 5s

For one second of discharging, the output voltage drops to:

Vo = 5V (e-1/5)

= 5 * 0.8187

= 4.09V

Page 4 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Question 4 [5 marks]

Design an op-amp circuit to prove Vout = - [4*V1 + 1/3*V2]. Draw the circuit diagram with all component values.
Show all your calculations.

[5]

Answer 4

Page 6 of 10
Question 5 [4 marks]

In the circuit shown below, the following are given:

• The LED requires 50 mA of current to turn on. VLED = 2.1V

• Vin changes between 0V and 3.3V
• Vcc = 12V
• Parameter values of the BJT: β = 150, VBE = 0.7 V, VCE(sat) = 0.26V

Calculate values for RB and RC to turn on the LED when Vin = 3.3V and turn off when Vin = 0V. In your design, use 5
times the minimum base current as safety to ensure that the BJT is deep into the saturation region. [4]

Answer 5

Calculate value of Rc to put the transistor into saturation mode

Rc = (Vcc – VLED – VCE(sat))/Ic

= (12 – 2.1 – 0.26)/0.05

= 192.8 Ω [1]

Calculate the minimum base current to put the BJT into saturation

IB(min) = Ic/β

= 50 mA / 150

= 333 µA [1]

Set the base current to be 5 times this value (safety margin): IB = 1.67mA. [1]

Calculate RB

RB = (Vin – VBE)/IB

= (3.3 – 0.7)/0.00167

= 1.56 KΩ [1]

Page 7 of 10
Question 6 [7 marks]

Consider the following two circuits

Circuit 1 Circuit 2

6.1. What are the names of these circuits? [1]

Answer 6.1

Circuit 1: passive low pass filter

Circuit 2: active low pass filter

6.2 State two properties that are different between circuit 2 and circuit 1, when they are used as a building block in a
larger circuit.

[2]

Answer 6.2

Circuit 2 offers amplification of the signal in the passband.

Circuit 1 has loading problems, where circuit 2 offers low output impedance.

Page 8 of 10
6.3 Derive the transfer function (Vout/ Vin) for circuit 2 in terms of frequency f, R1, R1 and C. [4]

Circuit 2

Answer 6.3

Page 9 of 10
Formulas and Instructions

−𝑡𝑡
� �
𝑉𝑉 = 𝑉𝑉0 �1 − 𝑒𝑒 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 �

−𝑡𝑡
� �
𝑉𝑉 = 𝑉𝑉0 𝑒𝑒 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅

1
𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 =
2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋

Instructions:
Write on this question book only – you may use the flip side if necessary.
Unless stated otherwise in a particular question, assume the following:

• The forward voltage drop across a diode is 0.7V, unless it is otherwise stated
• The forward voltage drop across the base-emitter junction of a BJT is 0.7V
• Ground in all cases means 0 V.

- End of script -

Page 10 of 10