NEEC-6663
Microwave and RF Wireless Systems (EM 735)
Note: The following provides a suggested course description,
objectives, and an outline. These may be modified pending discussion with
the Faculty Chairs, proposing faculty, and other curriculum
reviewers.
Course Description: This course will focus on RF
portions of modern wireless telecommunications and data transmission
systems. RF subsystems, including modulators, phase-locked loops, and
related components, are predominantly analog in nature, in contrast to the
extensive use of digital technology elsewhere in wireless systems.
Course Objectives: Appreciate the social, economic,
and safety aspects of modern wireless systems, including cellular
telephones, wireless local area networks, GPS, DBS, PCS, and RFID systems.
Analyze and design wireless systems, including considerations such as
noise effects, propagation and fading effects, receiver selectivity and
filtering, bit error rates, and networking issues. Design key components
for wireless systems, including mixers, synthesizers, demodulators, and
antennas.
Course Outline by Topical Areas:
| Introduction to Wireless Systems
|
|
Wireless Systems and Markets (cellular,
PCS, GPS, DBS, WLAN) |
|
Design and Performance Issues (radiation
hazards, allowable powers) |
|
Cellular Telephone Systems and Standards
(AMPS, IS-54, IS-95) |
| Noise in Microwave Systems
|
|
Thermal Noise (gaussian bandlimited noise,
pdf, white noise) |
|
Basic Threshold Detection (error function)
|
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Noise Temperature and Noise Figure
(cascaded networks) |
|
Noise Figure of Passive Networks (noise
figure of couplers) |
|
Dynamic Range and Intermodulation
Distortion (saturation, third order intercept) |
| Antennas for Wireless Systems
|
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Antenna System Parameters (directivity,
gain, efficiency) |
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The Friis Equation (radio links)
|
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Antenna Noise Temperature (G/T)
|
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Basic Practical Antennas (dipoles, loops)
|
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Propagation (space loss, attenuation)
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Fading (multipath, Rayleigh fading)
|
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Mixer Characteristics (conversion loss,
noise figure) |
|
Diode Mixers (small signal model, large
signal model) |
|
FET Mixers (active, passive, Gilbert cell)
|
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Other Mixer Circuits (balanced, image
rejection) |
| Transistor Oscillators and Frequency
Synthesizers |
|
Radio Frequency Oscillators (FET, crystal,
voltage-controlled) |
|
Microwave Oscillators (IMPATT, Gunn,
dielectric resonator) |
|
Synthesis Methods (direct, digital
look-up, phase-locked loops) |
|
Phase Locked Loops (phase detectors,
linearization, first and second order loops) |
|
Amplitude Modulation (SSB, DSB, envelope
detection) |
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Binary Digital Modulation (ASK, FSK, PSK)
|
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Error Probabilities for Binary Modulation
(ASK, FSK, PSK) |
|
Effect of Rayleigh Fading on Bit Error
Rates |
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M-ary Digital Modulation (QPSK, QAM)
|
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Receiver Architectures (superheterodyne)
|
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Dynamic Range (minimum detectable signal,
AGC) |
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Frequency Conversion and Filtering (image
rejection, spurs, spur-free range) |
|
Examples of Practical Receivers (AMPS)
|
| Multiple Access Techniques
|
|
Spread Spectrum (dss and fh)
|
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