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From concept to implementation, Electronic Circuit Design provides clear and
concise guidance on the overall design process of electronic systems with an
emphasis on analog and mixed signal blocks. The texts numerous design examples
include modern components, device data sheets, and associated application, while
a detailed discussion reveals how to effectively use these tools in the design
process. The author encourages the use of simplified design calculations over
rigorous mathematical treatments. This book offers in-depth insight into the
essential steps and approximation procedures adopted in designing electronic
systems, following data sheet information for basic electronic components.

Electronics is probably one of the few subjects where the �knowledge halflife�
of a professional is very short. Today it is probably only 3 to 4 years.
Designing electronic systems today requires a unique combination of (1) fundamentals;
(2) research and development directions in the latest semiconductors
and passive components; (3) nitty-gritty aspects within the �mixed
signal world;� (4) access to component manufacturers� data sheets, design
guidelines, and development environments; and, most importantly, (5) a
timely and practical approach to overall aspects of a design project.
Classen�s rule��the usefulness of a product is proportional to log
(technology)��reminds us that engineers have to add a lot of technology
and engineering teamwork to get more user-friendliness into electronics.
With portability and miniaturization becoming buzzwords in electronics,
design engineers have to concentrate on many additional aspects in the core
of a design. Some of these are power supply design, packaging, thermal
design, and reliability. In the new millennium, with very large-scale integrated
(VLSI) circuits and system-on-a-chip (SOC) technologies maturing,
designers have many options when designing electronic systems.
My own career of more than 32 years in different environments such as
aviation, telecommunications, and power electronics, with a long midcareer
in research and development, has given me the opportunity to look at the
world of electronics in a broader perspective. A budding electronics engineer
with a degree-level qualification takes a few years to appreciate the
breadth of the subject while learning the depth in limited specialized areas.
The breadth and depth of the subject together are necessary to produce a
commercially viable product or system, giving consideration to time to market
(TTM).
This work attempts to address several areas of analog and mixed signal
design, including power supply design, signal conditioning, essentials of
data conversion, and signal processing, while summarizing a large amount
of information from theory texts, application notes, design bulletins, research
papers, and technology magazine articles. In a few chapters I had the assistance
of experts in different subject areas, as chapter authors.
Because of page limitations, I had to summarize a large amount of useful
subject matter extracted from more than 500 technical publications. I suggest
that readers refer to the cited references for more details. I would also appreciate
your assistance in notifying me of any errors found in the book.
Nihal Kularatna
Auckland
New Zealand