Electronic Engineering

Introduction -

Electronics Engineering is one of the fastest growing fields of Engineering. In India , it is often known as Electronics and Communications Engineering and sometimes it is also clubbed with Electrical Engineering. Electronics Engineering uses the scientific knowledge of the behavior and effects of electrons to develop components, devices, systems or equipments which use electricity to function properly e.g. transistors, integrated circuits, electron tubes, and printed circuit board etc.

Today we have infinite amount of electronic products which have reduced human effort. By pressing just one button, all the daily chores like washing, cooking, cleaning etc are completed with ease. We thrive in the comforts of electronics like Television, Refrigerator, Air Conditioners, Music System, DVD players and computers etc. Electronics play a big role in improving productivity in oil, energy, agriculture and various sectors of economy. The use of electronics is essential in other sectors such as transportation and mines etc.

There is a wave of new electronic instruments in the health care industry which are accurate and reliable. Now checking of Blood Pressure, various chemical tests and checking of Diabetes level etc. can be done at home with the help of electronic instruments. All this is possible because of the loads of labor put in by the Electronics Engineers. Even difficult and life threatening surgeries have become easy due to the new inventions done in the electronic industry. 

An electronics engineer works in a team with other specialist to design, fabricate, produce, test and supervise the manufacture of complex products and systems e.g. electronic equipment and components for a number of industries, including hospitals, computer industry, electronic data processing systems for communications and defense etc. They work with microprocessors, fiber optics, television, radio and telecommunications etc.

A student requires the right kind of attitude to excel in the field of Electronics Engineering. As much as good knowledge of Physics, Chemistry and Maths is necessary, it is also essential to have an eye for details. One must also have a passion for Electronics and have a creative mind-set.

Educational Requirement:    A student has to pass the 10^th standard board examination with high percentage of marks to be eligible for a Diploma course. But if the student really dreams for a bright career in Electronic Engineering then the need is go for a Bachelor’s degree –B.E/B.Tech. The eligibility criterion for a B.E./B.Tech is class 12^th Board Examination with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as compulsory subjects. A bachelor’s degree is required if you want to do an advanced course which is M.E./M.Tech. A person can also aim for a PhD to do research on matters related with Electronic Engineering. There is also a provision of Distance Education which helps in attaining a bachelor’s degree through Associate Examination of the Institute of Engineers (AMIE).

Selection: - The admission to the Electronic Engineering course is very competitive. A student should pass IIT-JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) to attain admission in one of the prestigious IITs. This highly competitive test checks student’s ability in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. For other reputed institutions like NIT, one has to succeed in AIEEE (All India Engineering/Pharmacy/Architecture). Also, there is state level and national level examinations as some institutions opt for their own entrance examinations.

Duration: - The B.E./B.Tech (bachelor’s degree) is a 4 year course in Electronic Engineering. This is recognized by the government of India . The person can proceed further for an M.E./M.Tech course which is of 2 years. The duration for the Diploma course in Electronic Engineering is 3 years in a polytechnic Institute.

                                     

Different Branches

There are many different branches of Electronics Engineering. A person pursuing electronics engineering should decide which field would be suitable for him and then the person must opt for that field. The different branches of Electronics Engineering are: -

1. Telecommunications Engineering - Telecommunications Engineering is transmission of information across a channel. It deals with systems, T.V.Radar, satellites and navigation etc. The telecommunication engineers design the transmitters and receivers which receive this information. The information is encoded in a carrier wave in order to shift the information to a carrier frequency which is appropriate for transmission. This is called modulation. The choice of modulation affects not only the cost but also the performance of a system and it is the responsibility of the Engineer to balance it carefully.

2. Signal Processing - Signal processing Engineer manipulates signals to send information. Signals are of two types: Analog and Digital. Analog signal varies continuously according to the information.  Digital signals vary according to a series of separate values, representing the information. Analog signal processing may involve the amplification and filtering of audio signals for audio equipment or the modulation or demodulation of signals. Digital signals may involve the error detection, error checking and error detection of digital signal.

3. Control Engineering – Control Engineering deals with appropriate management of various control systems of cars as well as airplanes. Control Engineers use feedback when they design control systems. For example while designing the control system the engineers take feedback about the speed of a vehicle and then they adjust the engine’s power output accordingly.

4. Computer Engineering – Computer Engineering is the designing of computers and computer systems. It can be designing of new hardware, PDA or using computer to control an industrial plant. Computer Engineer may also work on Desktop Computers which have certain devices including DVD players and video games consoles.

5. Instrumentation Engineering – Instrumentation Engineering is the designing of devices to measure physical quantities such as pressure, flow and temperature. The devices are like the radar guns which use Doppler Effect to measure the speed of oncoming vehicles.  It is essential to have a good understanding of physics and even Electromagnetic Theory.

                          

Career Options for Electronic Engineers: -

Electronics Engineering is a continuously changing and wide branch of Engineering. It has tremendous scope for job seekers. This is an age of technology and there is an overflowing demand for new and improved products. An Electronics Engineer can enter on junior posts in Government Department by direct recruitment through advertisement in newspapers. Selection to government jobs is done through the competitive examinations conducted by the Union and State Public Service Commission. It annually organizes Engineering Service Examination (Telecommunication and Electronics Engineering group) for hundreds of vacancies in Central Engineering services. State Public Services conducts its own examinations for State level positions for Electronics Engineering.

Electronics Engineers may find themselves at the helm of opportunities in the government as well as private sectors like All India Radio, MTNL, BSNL, National Physical Laboratories, Civil Aviation Department etc. There is requirement of electronics engineers in businesses for communication equipment, computers and military tools, development of robots and other types of automation. Electronics Engineers can even start their own business by manufacturing electronic parts, components and goods. They can start a repair shop of television receivers, recording equipments and amplifiers.

Electronics Engineers are very essential for health care in hospitals. They handle installation and maintenance of equipments and systems for instrumentation. They also control the automation of systems of assembly line in various industries. Trained and skilled Electronics Engineering can become software professionals in IT market. If a person has a passion for teaching and research, it is best to opt for MBA in IT.

Salary - The salary of an Electronic Engineer depend upon the organization, demand in the market, a person’s qualification, his experience and ability. In India, a BE/B.Tech graduate candidate in Electronics Engineering can receive an initial salary of approx. Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 per month. So with a fire within, one can make a mark in Electronics Engineering field and fly in the skies of Electronics Industry.

Top Ranking Institutes for Electronics Engineering in India –

1. BITS, Pilani
2. IIT Roorkee
3. IIT Kharagpur
4. National Institute of Technology, Suratkal
5. National Institute of Technology, Trichy
6. Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
7. Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
8. Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (DIT), New Delhi
9. Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad
10.  National Institute of Technology, Warangal

  Top Ranking Institutes for Electronics Engineering of the world –

1. University College, London
2. Watumull Institute of Electronics Engineering and Computer Technology.
3. Grantham University
4. DeVry University
5. Cleveland institute of technology
6. Bristol University
7. University of Birmingham
8. University of Leeds
9. Singapore Polytechnic
10. California State University, Sacramento

Top Indian Firms for Electronics Engineers

  Some of the top firms in India which can be a good career option for Electronics engineers are: -

1. Bharat Electronics Limited
2. Videocon
3. Bharati Airtel
4. Electronics Corporation of India Limited
5. Reliance Communications
6. BSNL

Top global Firms for Electronics Engineers

Some of the top Global firms which can be a good career option for Electronics engineers are: -

1. Sony
2. ST Microelectronics
3. Samsung
4. Panasonic
5. Texas Instruments
6. Phillips