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.
 Unit 2

CAREERS IN ELECTRONICS
 AIM:

To recognize the English technical terms related to areas of employment in

the field of electronics;

OBJECTIVES:

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

- identify correctly the terms defining main areas of employment in

the field of electronics;

- recognise the specific terms related to the tasks performed by

electronics engineers;

- characterise the various career opportunities in electronics and

analyse each in points of advantages, disadvantages and other implications;

- identify the types of devices used in each branch of electronics;

- describe the recent developments in this field and the immediate

repercussions on the number of career opportunities;
- assimilate at least 30 terms specific of main areas of employment,
and specific activities performed by engineers in the field of electronics;

KEY TERMS:

career opportunities, design, to plan, to manufacture, to install, avionics, service

engineer, radio, radar, automatic flight path plotting equipment, local area networks
(LANs), maintenance, software support, defence industry, early warning system,
detection system, weapons guidance, industrial electronics, transducer, automation,
control panels, leisure electronic items, hi-fi equipment, television sets, compact disc
players, video recorders, satellite receivers, circuit boards, assembly line, trouble-
shooters, communications networks, microwave towers, exchange, maximum switching
capability, maintenance technician, medical equipment, industrial robot, testing and
fault-finding equipment, diagnostic tests, service technician, R&D department.
CAREERS IN ELECTRONICS
2.1. INTRODUCTION
We are now in the midst of the technical revolution which started with the introduction of
the microchip in the 1970s. More and more electronic goods are being sold, especially
computers, radio telephones, and leisure products. At the present time, new applications
for electronics are being found. Most domestic appliances now have some form of
electronic control. Petrol at the filling station and cash at the bank is dispensed by
electronic means.
Electronically-controlled pumps measure out drugs for the chronically ill. Electronic
ignition and fuel management become standard on cars.
All of this means that career opportunities in electronics are growing. More engineers are
necessary to design, plan, manufacture and install. For today’s college and university
graduates in electronics, the future is bright.
2.2. AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT
2.2.1. Avionics
Aircraft electronic equipment has to be maintained to a very high standard with rigorous
checks at set intervals. Service engineers are required to maintain on-board equipment
such as radio, radar, and automatic flight path plotting equipment. Air traffic control
equipment is maintained on the ground.
2.2.2. Computing
This is an area where competition between companies is considerable and technology is
moving quickly. With increasing numbers of computers used in the office, the home, and
as part of industrial and communications equipment, there is a growing need for
engineers to design these as well as service them. On the software side, there is always a
demand for programmers to design software for business use and leisure. Almost every
large business organization, like banks and insurance companies, runs several local area
networks (LANs). These require network managers and maintenance and software
support.
2.2.3. Defence
The reduction in political tension in recent years has meant cuts in the defence industry.
Nevertheless, many countries are still developing sophisticated defence systems both for
home use and for export. These systems require not only engineers to design them, but
highly-skilled operators to man them and maintain them. Thus the armed services recruit
and train numbers of electronics technicians and engineers. The major fields of defence
electronics are: early warning systems, e.g. radar; detection systems; ranging, using radar
and computers; weapons guidance, using computers; and communications.
2.2.4. Industrial electronics
Industrial electronics started with transducers which allowed remote monitoring of
processes, especially which involved high temperatures or dangerous substances. Further
developments allowed processes in a whole range of industries -from food and drink
production to garbage recycling- to be fully automated.
The development of robotics has led to widespread application in the car industry in
particular. Everything from assembling to spraying the completed car can now be done
without human assistance. Tedious and unpleasant jobs have disappeared. Automation
has led to savings for the manufacturer but has also contributed to unemployment.
Electronics engineers are required to design and service industrial circuits, including
control panels.
2.2.5. Leisure products
Society expects a wide range of leisure electronic items. This can be gauged by sales of
radio, hi-fi equipment, television sets, compact disc players, video recorders, satellite
receivers, etc. engineers and technicians are required not only to design and manufacture
these, but also to maintain them.
2.2.6. Telecommunications and broadcasting
People today expect to be able to get in touch with each other at any time and in any
place. The communication of speech, text, and other data by cable and radio is a growing
field of employment. Cell phones are an area of recent expansion. Engineers are
employed to manufacture, plan, install, commission, and maintain telecommunication
equipment. National and local radio and television stations employ broadcasting and
sound engineers.
2.2.7. Medical equipment
Recent years have seen a sharp increase in equipment for patient care. This ranges from
body scanners to electronic stethoscopes. While the operation of this equipment is the
responsibility of the medical team, engineers are often required to work with medical
experts in the design of such equipment, in the installation of larger equipment, and in
maintenance.
2.3. MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing includes making anything from individual components or printed circuit
boards to complete pieces of equipment such as televisions. In the case of the latter, it is
usual to break down the equipment into modules and manufacture these separately. For
instance, television sets are manufactured in this way with each set consisting of up to
seven individual modules. When the modules come off the assembly line, they are passed
to groups of testers and trouble-shooters to check for faults. The various modules are then
assembled to produce the complete unit. The disadvantage of this kind of work is the
monotony and the time pressure of assembly line work.
2.4. PLANNING
Firms with large communications networks require planners. For instance,
telecommunications network providers need to know where to place exchanges for
maximum switching capability, and microwave towers for minimum interference. They
also need to know the sizes of cables to handle traffic growth. Rapidly springing up
everywhere from a number of different suppliers are the radio mobile, cellular, and
paging networks. All these require careful planning and field surveys to prevent mutual
interference. Job opportunities will grow in this sector.
2.5. INSTALLATION
There is a wide range of installation work required, for example, installing exchanges,
LANs, and medical equipment. Such work involves cabling and may require some
knowledge of mechanical engineering if special racks and even entire rooms have to be
constructed to accommodate equipment. Installation work usually involves travel which
can be overseas depending on the product involved.
2.6. COMMISSIONING
Once equipment is installed, it needs to be commissioned, i.e. put into operation.
Problems often emerge at this stage, which have to be ironed out. This work is usually
done by engineers with long experience in the type of equipment being commissioned.
2.7. MAINTENANCE
As electronic equipment has become more complex, so maintenance technicians have
become more specialized. For instance, technicians who used to service both radio and
television may now specialize in either radio and audio equipment or television sets and
video recorders. Similarly, technicians now specialize in servicing computers,
telecommunications equipment, medical equipment, industrial robots, and so on. Testing
and fault-finding equipment has become more sophisticated. Oscilloscopes are
commonplace on workbenches, and programmable analysers are available for carrying
out a full range of diagnostic tests on particular types of equipment. These save a great
deal of time and they can make the work of the service technician less challenging.
Service technicians are always in demand.
2.8. SALES
Sales staff too require specialist knowledge- not so much of how the equipment works,
but what it is capable of and the differences between similar types of equipment. They
also have to know the advantages of their company’s products over those of their rivals.
Although selling ability is more important than technical expertise, it is not unusual for
service technicians to transfer to sales. Most salespeople work on a commission basis in
addition they usually have use of a company car. They can earn high salaries and are
crucial to the success of a company. Selling usually involves a great deal of travel and
can be stressful.
2.9. TEACHING
Colleges and universities employ substantial numbers of graduates in electronics.
Colleges prefer teaching staff that also have experience in industry or business.
Universities look for teaching staff with research experience. Salaries in education tend to
be lower than in industry. Technicians are also employed in educational institutes in
laboratories and workshops to assist with research and to provide maintenance.
2.10. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Large companies run their own R&D departments. Exciting opportunities exist for
creative engineers in the design and testing of new products. Such opportunities are
limited. Most R&D work is carried out at the company’s headquarters. Many companies
are multinationals, so the R&D work may not be done in the country where the product is
assembled.

EXERCISES
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
A. READING
necessary, you can use the glossary provided at the end of the textbook).
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 job descriptions above, discuss each area of
employment with your partner using the information provided in the text.
Table 2.1.

Type of employment Advantages Disadvantages

Manufacturing
Planning
Installation
Commissioning
Maintenance
Sales
Teaching
Research & Development

A.2. Name the areas of employment in the field of engineering and describe
each in one sentence, making reference to the particular segments of electronics
related to each.
A.3. Fill in the following table with information about the areas of
employment given in the text. Some of the spaces may remain blank, as the
information is not given.
 Table 2.2
Domain
Activities of
electronics
engineers
Equipment
Development
Applications

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. Match each of the terms in column A with a word in column B:
A B

design proiectare
manufacture fabricare
to install a instala
avionics echipament de ghidaj automat
radio aparatura de radiolocaţie
Radar suport soft
automatic flight path plotting equipment întreţinere
maintenance ghidaj al rachetelor
software support aparatură radar
defence industry sisteme de monitorizare
early warning systems dispozitive electronice industriale
detection systems panou de control
weapons guidance traductoare
industrial electronics automatizare
transducer sisteme de detectare rapidă
 automation aeronautica
control panels industria de apărare

B.2. Enter the following terms under the appropriate heading in the table
below:
List 2.1.
radar, automatic flight path plotting equipment, local area networks (LANs),
maintenance, software support, early warning systems, detection systems, weapons
guidance, industrial electronics, transducers, automation, control panels, hi-fi equipment,
television sets, compact disc players, video recorders, satellite receivers, circuit boards,
trouble-shooters, , microwave towers, exchanges, maximum switching capability,
maintenance technician, medical equipment, industrial robots, testing and fault-finding
equipment, diagnostic tests, service technician.
Table 2.3.
Electronics for the defence Leisure electronic items Communications networks
industry

C. LANGUAGE FOCUS: DESCRIBING

The purpose of the following exercises is to develop language awareness in terms of
describing a process, procedure, or producing a general description of a device.
C.1.Choose two of the areas of employment in the text and describe the
recent developments in that specific domain.
C.2.Identify the tenses of the verbs used in the descriptions in the text and
explain why those tenses are primarily used when describing.
D. TRANSLATION
The purpose of this exercise is to develop translating skills.
D.1. Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Diminuarea tensiunilor de ordin politic înregistrată în ultimii ani a însemnat o scădere
drastică a investiţiilor in industria de apărare.
2. Domeniul acesta înregistrează o concurenţă pronunţată între companiile producătoare
fapt care a condus la dezvoltarea rapidă a tehnologiei specifice.
3. Echipamentul electronic al aeronavelor necesită verificări riguroase la intervale scurte
şi presupune deasemenea un standard excepţional din punctul de vedere al calităţii.
E. SPEAKING
The purpose of these exercises is to develop speaking skills with a focus on areas of
employment in the field of engineering.
E.1. Write a short description of your career plans, using information of your
own and from this text. Present it to the class.

Unit 3

ELECTRONICS
 AIM:

To recognize the English technical terms related to the development in the

field of electronics;

OBJECTIVES:

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

- identify correctly the terms defining the main domains related to

electronics;
- recognise the specific terms related to the basic electronic devices;

- describe the evolution and advances in the field of electronics;

- identify the types of devices used to provide each function;

- describe each revolutionary step in the history of electronics;

- assimilate at least 30 terms specific of electronic devices;

KEY TERMS:

applied physics, electronic circuits, flow of electrons, generation, transmission,

reception, and storage of information, audio signals, radio receiver, amplification of
weak signals, generation of radio waves, extraction of information, demodulation,
modulation, transmitter, superimposition, semiconductor materials, electrical contacts,
the transistor, power consumption, reliability, integrated circuit, microcomputer, audio
and video equipment, communications satellite, direct-recording methods digitalization
of audio signals, amplitude, digital storage, medical electronics, ultrahigh definition
television, very-high-speed computer, superconducting circuit, Josephson junction.

ELECTRONICS
3.1. INTRODUCTION
Electronics, field of engineering and applied physics dealing with the design and
application of devices, usually electronic circuits, the operation of which depends on the
flow of electrons for the generation, transmission, reception, and storage of information.
The information can consist of voice or music (audio signals) in a radio receiver, a
picture on a television screen, or numbers and other data in a computer.
Electronic circuits provide different functions to process this information, including
amplification of weak signals to a usable level; generation of radio waves; extraction of
information, such as the recovery of an audio signal from a radio wave (demodulation);
control, such as the superimposition of an audio signal onto radio waves (modulation);
and logic operations, such as the electronic processes taking place in computers.
3.2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The introduction of vacuum tubes at the beginning of the 20th century was the starting
point of the rapid growth of modern electronics. With vacuum tubes the manipulation of
signals became possible, which could not be done with the early telegraph and telephone
circuit or with the early transmitters using high-voltage sparks to create radio waves. For
example, with vacuum tubes weak radio and audio signals could be amplified, and audio
signals, such as music or voice, could be superimposed on radio waves. The development
of a large variety of tubes designed for specialized functions made possible the swift
progress of radio communication technology before World War II and the development
of early computers during and shortly after the war.
The transistor, invented in 1948, has now almost completely replaced the vacuum tube in
most of its applications. Incorporating an arrangement of semiconductor materials and
electrical contacts, the transistor provides the same functions as the vacuum tube but at
reduced cost, weight, and power consumption and with higher reliability. Subsequent
advances in semiconductor technology, in part attributable to the intensity of research
associated with the space-exploration effort, led to the development of the integrated
circuit. Integrated circuits may contain hundreds of thousands of transistors on a small
piece of material and allow the construction of complex electronic circuits, such as those
in microcomputers, audio and video equipment, and communications satellites.
3.3. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The development of integrated circuits has revolutionized the fields of communications,
information handling, and computing. Integrated circuits reduce the size of devices and
lower manufacturing and system costs, while at the same time providing high speed and
increased reliability. Digital watches, hand-held computers, and electronic games are
systems based on microprocessors. Other developments include the digitalization of
audio signals, where the frequency and amplitude of an audio signal are coded digitally
by appropriate sampling techniques, that is, techniques for measuring the amplitude of
the signal at very short intervals. Digitally recorded music shows fidelity that is not
possible using direct-recording methods. Digital playback devices of this nature have
already entered the home market. Digital storage could also form the basis of home video
systems and may significantly alter library storage systems, because much more
information can be stored on a disk for replay on a television screen than can be
contained in a book.
 Medical electronics has progressed from computerized axial tomography, or the use of
CAT or CT scanners to systems that can discriminate more and more of the organs of the
human body. Devices that can view blood vessels and the respiratory system have been
developed as well. Ultrahigh definition television also promises to substitute for many
photographic processes, because it eliminates the need for silver.
Today's research to increase the speed and capacity of computers concentrates mainly on
the improvement of integrated circuit technology and the development of even faster
switching components. Very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits that contain several
hundred thousand components on a single chip have been developed. Very-high-speed
computers are being developed in which semiconductors may be replaced by
superconducting circuits using Josephson junctions ( Josephson Effect) and operating at
temperatures near absolute zero.

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.2. Re-read paragraph 3.1.and fill in the missing information in the table
below. Some cells will remain empty, as the information is not given in the text.
Table 3.1.
Information
manipulation
Types of
information
Information
processing
Electronic
devices
 A.2. 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 was the starting point of the rapid growth of modern electronics? (3.2)
2. By what means could audio signals be superimposed on radio waves? (3.2)
3. What electronic device has almost completely replaced the vacuum tube? (3.2)
4. What has the development of integrated circuits brought about? (3.3)
5. What has recently happened in the field of medical electronics? (3.3)
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. Match each of the terms in column A with the terms in column B:
A B
modulation electronic processes
logic operations superimposition
very-high-speed computers medical electronics
vacuum tubes recovery
demodulation reduced cost, weight, power consumption
advanced semiconductor technology manipulation of signals
digitalization integrated circuits
transistor VLSI
computerized axial tomography sampling techniques
a single chip superconducting circuits

B.2. Fill in the following table with the missing information:

Table 3.2.
Type of electronic device Function Application
 C. LANGUAGE FOCUS: PRESENT PERFECT VS: PAST SIMPLE
The purpose of the following exercises is to develop language awareness in terms of
present perfect vs. past simple.
C.1. Identify which of the two tenses mentioned above are used in the
following sentences.
1. Medical electronics has progressed from computerized axial tomography, or the use of
CAT or CT scanners to systems that can discriminate more and more of the organs of the
human body.
2. Subsequent advances in semiconductor technology, in part attributable to the intensity
of research associated with the space-exploration effort, led to the development of the
integrated circuit.
3. The introduction of vacuum tubes at the beginning of the 20th century was the starting
point of the rapid growth of modern electronics.
4. The development of integrated circuits has revolutionized the fields of
communications, information handling, and computing.
5. The transistor, invented in 1948, has now almost completely replaced the vacuum tube
in most of its applications.
C.2. Write each verb phrase in the under the appropriate heading:
Table 3.3.
PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE
( aux.vb. HAVE/S + lex.vb. V3 ) ( lex.vb. V2 )

C.4. Group the following adverbs according to their inherent meaning

(moment in the past vs. time span) and write them under the appropriate heading:
List 3.1.
yesterday, recently, two decades ago, for two decades, in the 19th century, lately, ever,
never, 10 years ago, since 1987, already, by now, on August 3rd 1995, last year, last
September, for a long time.
Table 3.4.
PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE

D. TRANSLATION
The purpose of this exercise is to develop translating skills.
1. Stocarea, receptarea, transmisia şi generarea de informaţie este realizată prin
intermediul circuitelor electronice.
2. Circuitele electronice îndeplinesc funcţii diferite precum amplificarea semnalelor
slabe, recuperarea semnalelor audio de pe o undă radio sau suprapunerea unui semnal
audio pe o undă radio.
3. Progresele ulterioare în tehnologia semiconductoarelor au condus la fabricarea
circuitelor integrate, dispozitive ce conţin sute de mii de tranzistori.

E. SPEAKING
The purpose of these exercises is to develop speaking skills with a focus on the major
steps in the development of electronics and applications of electronics technology.
E.1. Present to your colleagues the major steps in the development of
electronics.
E.2. Talk with one of your colleagues and name at least three of the latest
developments in this field that you are familiar with. Provide information about the
changes they brought about in the field of electronics. Try to remember when each
of them took place.