6.331 Advanced Circuit Techniques (H)
(4.8--16.1--10.2)
How your radio really works
Prerequisites: 6.012, 6.301, 6.302, 30 hours/week
Overall Rating: 6.6/7.0
Difficulty: 6.6/7.0
Lecturer: J. Roberge
Lecturer's Rating: 6.1/7.0
Response Rate: 12 out of 12
Term Evaluated: Spring 96


Professor's Comments:

This class covers circuit design from an advanced point of view.  6.331
extensively uses examples to teach the material.  Students should enjoy
the material and be prepared to keep up with the work load.  This class
should be taken by those who want a career in circuit and/or feedback
system design.  6.331 is not a required EE subject.

Students should always start a design problem assuming that it can be
done.  The first design attempt should be close to the final design.
Students should not design in a hurry and then try to beat the project
to death in the lab.

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Students take 6.331 to learn about advanced circuit techniques including
output stages, A/D, D/A converters, power converters, PLL's, sample &
holds, etc--in general, a whirlwind hardcore tour of the major classes
of analog circuits.  There is a great balance between theory and
application.  Students feel that they can really use the knowledge
gained from this class.  As one student comments, ``This stuff is
useful!''  The class provides much hands-on experience.

6.331 is very intense and highly advanced.  It is the pinnacle of analog
design courses.  One remark was, ``Empowering --> you finally feel you
could do something with your education.''  However, students warn that
the class requires enormous amounts of time.

Prof. J. Roberge was an excellent teacher.  One student commented, ``He
is what we all wanted to become in our basements as kids.''  The
lectures were well-paced for the volume of information relayed during
class, although some students felt that the amount of information
covered was too excessive.  Prof Roberge was enthusiastic about the
material and made the class fun.  An outline would have been useful for
the times Prof. Roberge wandered off the topic.

Recitation instructor K. Lundberg was unexpectedly good and organized.
He was described as a believer in the ``throw them in the deep end to
make them learn how to swim'' methodology.  Some students felt that he
presented too much information in recitation.

The problem sets are challenging and relevant, but no solutions are
available.  They challenge students to think hard, but are usually not
grungy. They are quite long and rough at times. Bibles are not used,
largely because no one can find one.  Students collaborate on problem
sets because it would otherwise be nearly impossible to finish them.

The labs are very ambitious and many students cannot not finish them by
their due dates.  Fortunately, the staff does not mind late work.  As
was mentioned, ``The labs are the backbone of the class -- they are
very, very difficult, but they allow one to be creative.  It is a very
rewarding experience to see your lab almost work.''  Students tinker
with a desk full of parts in order to design a real circuit.

The class text is illuminating, although class notes would also be
helpful.

Grading is determined by five problem sets (30\%), three labs (30\%),
and several design problems (40\%).  There are no quizzes or exams.

A warning to future students is not to take any other class with 6.331.
This is a love it or leave it class; if you don't love analog circuit
design, leave this class alone. 6.301, 6.302, and 6.331 make a great
sequence for students seriously interested in analog design.


``A 15 [unit] H-level class, stop joking around.''

``I've never burned so many transistors in my life.

``Not even a bible could save you!''

``This class was the end of the analog rainbow at MIT.  I finally found
the Bipolar pot of gold!'' 

``Have a schedule -- a blank one.''