Unit 1

ELECTRICAL AND
ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
AIM:

To recognize the English technical terms related to electrical and

electronics engineering;

OBJECTIVES:

On successfully completing this unit the student should be able to:

- identify correctly the terms describing the branches of electrical

and electronics engineering;

- recognise the specific terms related to electronic devices;

- characterise the main areas related to electronics;

- identify the types of electronic devices used in the past and at

present in electronics;

- describe the evolution of the main domains: electric power and

machinery, electronics, communications and control and computers;

- assimilate at least 30 terms specific of electric power and

machinery, electronics, communications and control and computers;
KEY TERMS:

electric power and machinery, electronic circuits, control systems, computer design,
superconductors, solid-state electronics, medical imaging systems, robotics, lasers,
radar, consumer electronics, fibre optics, direct current (DC) mode, alternating
current (AC) mode, circuit, device, to amplify electronic signals, to add binary
numbers, to demodulate radio signals, waveforms, digital information, resistors,
capacitors, inductors, vacuum tubes, semi conductive material, electron-beam
lithography, micro-manipulator, ion-beam implantation, chip of silicon, Fourier
analysis, linear systems theory, linear algebra, complex variables, differential
equations, probability theory, automated manufacturing, electrical noise,
interference, Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), microminiaturization,
superconducting material.

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

1.1. INTRODUCTION
The largest and most diverse field of engineering, it is concerned with the
development and design, application, and manufacture of systems and devices that
use electric power and signals. Among the most important subjects in the field in the
late 1980s are electric power and machinery, electronic circuits, control systems,
computer design, superconductors, solid-state electronics, medical imaging systems,
robotics, lasers, radar, consumer electronics, and fibre optics.
Despite its diversity, electrical engineering can be divided into four main branches:
electric power and machinery, electronics, communications and control, and
computers.
1.2. ELECTRIC POWER AND MACHINERY
The field of electric power is concerned with the design and operation of systems for
generating, transmitting, and distributing electric power. Engineers in this field have
brought about several important developments since the late 1970s. One of these is
the ability to transmit power at extremely high voltages in both the direct current (DC)
and alternating current (AC) modes, reducing power losses proportionately. Another
is the real-time control of power generation, transmission, and distribution, using
computers to analyze the data fed back from the power system to a central station and
thereby optimizing the efficiency of the system while it is in operation.
A significant advance in the engineering of electric machinery has been the
introduction of electronic controls that enable AC motors to run at variable speeds by
adjusting the frequency of the current fed into them. DC motors have also been made
to run more efficiently this way.
1.3. ELECTRONICS
Electronic engineering deals with the research, design, integration, and application of
circuits and devices used in the transmission and processing of information.
Information is now generated, transmitted, received, and stored electronically on a
scale unprecedented in history, and there is every indication that the explosive rate of
growth in this field will continue unabated.
Electronic engineers design circuits to perform specific tasks, such as amplifying
electronic signals, adding binary numbers, and demodulating radio signals to recover
the information they carry. Circuits are also used to generate waveforms useful for
synchronization and timing, as in television, and for correcting errors in digital
information, as in telecommunications.
Prior to the 1960s, circuits consisted of separate electronic devices—resistors,
capacitors, inductors, and vacuum tubes—assembled on a chassis and connected by
wires to form a bulky package. Since then, there has been a revolutionary trend
toward integrating electronic devices on a single tiny chip of silicon or some other
semi conductive material. The complex task of manufacturing these chips uses the
most advanced technology, including computers, electron-beam lithography, micro-
manipulators, ion-beam implantation, and ultra clean environments. Much of the
research in electronics is directed toward creating even smaller chips, faster switching
of components, and three-dimensional integrated circuits.
1.4. COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTROL
Engineers in this field are concerned with all aspects of electrical communications,
from fundamental questions such as “What is information?” to the highly practical,
such as design of telephone systems. In designing communication systems, engineers
rely heavily on various branches of advanced mathematics, such as Fourier analysis,
linear systems theory, linear algebra, complex variables, differential equations, and
probability theory.
Engineers work on control systems ranging from the everyday, passenger-actuated, as
those that run an elevator, to the exotic, as systems for keeping spacecraft on course.
Control systems are used extensively in aircraft and ships, in military fire-control
systems, in power transmission and distribution, in automated manufacturing, and in
robotics.
Engineers have been working to bring about two revolutionary changes in the field of
communications and control: Digital systems are replacing analogue ones at the same
time that fibre optics are superseding copper cables. Digital systems offer far greater
immunity to electrical noise. Fibre optics are likewise immune to interference; they
also have tremendous carrying capacity, and are extremely light and inexpensive to
manufacture.
1.5. COMPUTERS
Virtually unknown just a few decades ago, computer engineering is now among the
most rapidly growing fields. The electronics of computers involve engineers in design
and manufacture of memory systems, of central processing units, and of peripheral
devices. Foremost among the avenues now being pursued are the design of Very
Large Scale Integration (VLSI) and new computer architectures. The field of
computer science is closely related to computer engineering; however, the task of
making computers more “intelligent” (artificial intelligence,), through creation of
sophisticated programs or development of higher level machine languages or other
means, is generally regarded as being in the realm of computer science.
One current trend in computer engineering is microminiaturization. Using VLSI,
engineers continue to work to squeeze greater and greater numbers of circuit elements
onto smaller and smaller chips. Another trend is toward increasing the speed of
computer operations through use of parallel processors, superconducting materials,
and the like.

You may want to go back to the key words listed at the beginning of the unit
and check that you are familiar with each one. Give their Romanian equivalents (if
necessary, you can use the glossary provided at the end of the textbook).

EXERCISES

A. READING
The purpose of the following exercises is to develop reading strategies and
reinforce topic related vocabulary, not to check background knowledge.
A.1. Having read the text, answer the following questions (the
specifications in brackets refer to the section in the text where the answer can be
found):
1. What is electrical and electronics engineering concerned with? (1.1)
2. What is the most revolutionary change brought about by electronic engineering?
(1.3.)
3. What are the specific tasks performed by modern electronic circuits? (1.3.)
4. What were circuits like before the 1960s and what is the current trend? (1.3.)
5. What are the two revolutionary changes in the field of communications and
control? (1.4)
6. What is the current trend in computer engineering? (1.5.)
A.2. Fill in the following table with information about electrical and
electronics engineering given in the text. Some of the spaces may remain blank,
as the information is not given.
Table 1.1.
Related areas
Current
modes
Types of
electric motors
Specific tasks
of circuits
Technology
used for
manufacturing
silicon chips
Control
systems

B. VOCABULARY WORK
The purpose of the following exercises is to promote the acquisition of
new lexical items by providing collocations, terms followed by prepositions
lexical sets and translations of the terms considered relevant to the topic.
B.1. Enter in the following table information related to modern electronics :
Chips of silicon
Integrating electronic circuits
VLSI
Carrying capacity
Fibre optics

B.1. Enter the following terms under the appropriate heading in the table
below:
List1.1.
Main branches of Uses of control systems Branches of advanced
electrical engineering mathematics

C. LANGUAGE FOCUS: DEFINING PATTERNS

The purpose of the following exercises is to develop language awareness in terms
of producing accurate definitions.
C.1. The following paragraph defines the term: electrical and electronics
engineering. Read it and try to identify the appropriate elements of the defining
pattern below:
[ Thing to be defined - verb + general class word + wh-word +particular
characteristics ]
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING is the largest and most
diverse field of engineering that is concerned with the development and design,
application, and manufacture of systems and devices that use electric power and
signals.

C.2. Identify which of the mistakes listed below are to be found in the
following definitions. Try to correct them.
1. This is rather an example than a definition.
2. The word to be defined, or another form of it, is used in the definition itself.
3. The general class is omitted from the definition, making it hereby incomplete.
4. The particular characteristics are omitted from the definition, making it hereby
incomplete.

A. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING is concerned with the

development and design, application, and manufacture of systems and devices that
use electric power and signals.
B. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING is the largest and most
diverse field of engineering.
C. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING is something like electric
machinery engineering.
D. ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING is engineering.
C.3. Choose one of the key terms given at the beginning of this unit. Write
its definition without naming the term. Read your definition to you colleague and
ask him/her to identify the word that definition refers to. Ask him/her to identify
any possible mistakes in your definition.
C.4. Rephrase the definition above using a reduced relative clause:
(Identify the changes and do the same with your own definition from the
previous exercise)
D. TRANSLATION
The purpose of this exercise is to develop translating skills.
D.1. Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Înaintea anilor 1960, circuitele erau alcătuite din dispozitive electronice separate -
rezistoare, condensatoare, bobine, tuburi vidate însă tendinţa revoluţionară a ultimelor
decenii constă în integrarea dispozitivelor electronice pe un chip minuscul din siliciu
sau alt material semiconductor.
2. Circuitele electronice sunt utilizate la sincronizare şi temporizare şi deasemenea la
corectarea informaţiilor digitale.
3. Fibra optică este imuna la orice tip de interferenţă, deţinând deasemenea o
capacitate enorma de transmisie, acestea fiind principalele motive pentru care fibra
optică este preferată cablurilor din cupru.
E. SPEAKING
The purpose of these exercises is to develop speaking skills with a focus on
electrical and electronics engineering.
E.1. Talk with one of your colleagues and name at least three electronic
devices that you are familiar with. Describe them and explain how they are used.
You can also choose from the following:
Resistor
Capacitor
Vacuum tube
Inductor
E.2. Describe the most important domains of electrical and electronics
engineering. Speak about:
1. The major applications.
2. Name the three most interesting of all and give reasons.
3. Think of any background information you have on those particular areas of
electronics and share it with your colleagues.