The technical systems we develop today are complicated. The challenges vehicle manufacturers are facing involve a combination of the fields of electronics, mechanics, control engineering, telecommunications, computer engineering, and software programming in order to realise the required functionality. This multi-disciplinary field of engineering is called mechatronics, and one of the key disciplines in this field is electronic engineering. Consequently, knowledge of the basic laws and principles of electronic engineering is mandatory for anyone who wants to work in the field of mechatronics.

This book therefore explains the fundamentals of electrical engineering with an emphasis on mechatronic systems. Starting with basic laws, the main focus is on circuit analysis, including DC and AC circuits, transient effects, filters and oscillating circuits. Basic circuit elements are introduced as well as more complex semiconductor devices like operational amplifiers, biopolar junction transistors and MOSFET field-effect transistors. Finally, a short introduction to the important field of circuit simulation completes the book. The latest vehicles are classic examples of mechatronic systems. Automotive applications are therefore used throughout the book as examples to demonstrate the application of the discussed topics in a mechatronic environment.