Autumn Semester

Components of Assessment	Method(s)	Percentage Weighting
Examination	2-hour unseen paper	80%
Lab assignment	Written report	20%
Part-time Students:	2-hour unseen examination paper	100%

RF component design techniques and relevant topics will be covered and digital broadcasting will be used as an example of RF design and radio propagation.

EE3.RFE – RF Electronics or equivalent study.

To provide detailed information on RF electronics through a systems approach, and hence to provide engineers for industry with an all round ability in the field.

Students will understand the design and performance of circuits and sub-systems used in RF communications.

[1-6] RF circuit and packaging technologies (CF)

• characteristics and performance of coaxial, microstrip and co-planar transmission lines
• behaviour of coupled transmission lines
• design of coupled-line components
• aspects of RF packaging, including MCMs

[7-9] RF and Microwave Filters (CF)

• requirements for filters for RF wireless applications
• filter synthesis
• Practical implementation of RF filters

[10-13] Advanced fabrication technologies for RF (CF)

•  thick-film RF and microwave hybrid circuits 
•  LTCC technology
• MMIC technologies

[14-18] Introduction to RF measurements (CF)

• network analysers: measurement techniques and error analysis
• spectrum analysers
• on-wafer measurements

[19-27] Extended case study of digital broadcasting (TB)

• brief introduction to encoding, QAM and COFD M
• noise analysis 
•  high-power transmission techniques for broadcasting, solid state and tube amplifiers
•  basic antenna theory, with TV transmitting and receiving antennas
• terrestrial propagation of UHF signals 
• satellite broadcasting

[28] RF spectrum management (TB)

• A brief introduction to the frequency spectrums 

[29-30] Brief introduction to selected wireless systems (TB) 

• Passive and Active RFID
• Bluetooth
• Ultra Wideband (UWB)

Lectures: 30hrs (comprising ten 3-hour lectures)

Edwards, T.C. and Steer, M.B. Foundations of Interconnect and Microstrip Design, Wiley 2000 (0.471-60701-0) A

Chang, K., Bahl, I. and Nair, V. RF and Microwave Circuit and Component Design for Wireless Systems, Wiley 2002 (0-471-19773-4) B

Pitt, K.E.G (ed), Handbook of Thick Film Technology, Electrochemical Publicaions 2005 (0.901150 42 8) B

Bryant, G.H, Principles of Microwave Measurements, Peter Peregrinus 1988 (0-86341-135-5) B

Kraus, J.D, and Marhefka, R.J. Antennas, McGraw-Hill 2002 (0-07-112240-0) C

Hutson, G., Shepherd, P. and Brice, J. Colour Television, McGraw-Hill 1990 (0-07-084199-3) C

Kinayman, N. and Aksun, I. Modern Microwave Circuits, Artech House 2005 (1-58053-725-1) C

Laverghetta, T.S. Techniques Microwave Materials & Fabrication Techniques, Artech House 2000 (1-58053-064-8) B

Collins, G. Digital Television Transmission, Wiley 2000 (1-58053-064-8) B

Saunders, S., Aragon-Zavala, A. Antennas and Propagation for Wireless Communication Systems, Wiley 2007 (978-0-470-84879-1) B

Allen, B., Dohler, M., Okin, E.E., Malik, W.Q., Brown, A.K., Edwards, D.J. Ultra-wideband Antennas and Propagation for Communications, Radar and Imaging, Wiley 2007 (0-470-03255-3) C

30th July 2009