Electrical Engineering 130 — Integrated-Circuit Devices (4 Units)

Course Overview

Summary

EE130 aims to explain the physics which governs semiconductors, including bipolar junction transistors, MOS transistors, and other FETs. There is heavy emphasis on MOSFETs, and it covers band diagrams, electron behavior, and a number of different effects that can take place within the MOSFET in different regions of operation.

From the course catalog: The course is designed to provide electronic device knowledge to students who may pursue IC design, semiconductor fabrication, or research and development of electronic devices, MEMS, or optoelectronics.

Prerequisites

  • EE16B
  • Physics 7B is also strongly recommended

Topics Covered

  • Semiconductor electronics
  • PN junctions
  • Metal-Semiconductor contacts
  • MOS capacitors
  • MOSFETs
  • Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs)

Workload

Course Work

Varies across instructors - 2 Midterms - Final project - Final exam - Occasional quizzes - Weekly problem sets

Time Commitment

There are 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week. Expect to spend at least a few hours per week on problem sets and a total of about 20 hours on the final project.

Choosing the Course

When to take

Although the only listed requirement is EE16B, it is highly recommended to take this course after taking EE105 (Microelectronics and Circuits) as 105 will provide a basic introduction of what to expect and a familiarity for semiconductor physics jargon. The course is usually offered every semester and the course load can be considered lighter than most upper-division EE courses, making it a good candidate for an EE elective whenever one is needed.

What's next?

  • EE143: Microfabrication Technology
  • EE230B: Integrated-Circuit Devices (Grad level equivalent of EE130)
  • EE231: Solid State Devices

Usefulness for Research or Internships

Understanding semiconductor physics is the bread and butter of semiconductor and IC design. EE130 is essential if you want to work in IC design. Although content learned in this course may not be directly applied in the field, knowing it is imperative for the research and development of semiconductors which builds off of this introductory content.

Additional Comments/Tips

As there is limited information about this course, it is highly recommended (as with all courses that are tailored to a specific field) to talk to the professor who is scheduled to teach the course and directly discuss with him or her what the course will entail. Although we provide course guides, these only scratch the surface of what the course can really offer, and the professor can give you a better idea of what to expect.

Taking this course concurrently with EE143 (Introduction to Microfabrication) may help in following the physics-related portion of EE143, as much of that content overlaps.

Websites of Past Offerings:

Last edited: Summer 2020