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General Information[]

This course addresses the design of radio-frequency links in the component view to enable eventual full-duplex, multi-access wireless network.  The analysis will reside mostly in the signal (SIMULINK) level instead of the circuit implementation, although the nonideal circuit characteristics will be reflected in the signal representation.  Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standards will be introduced.  Existing standard protocols will be selectively introduced including FM, TV broadcast, Bluetooth, Z-wave, Zigbee and Wi-fi to enable intuitive understanding of RF system tradeoffs.

Prerequisites[]

ECE 2200/ENGRD 2220 and ECE 3030.

Topics Covered[]

  • Review of Maxwell equations and the concept of lumped and distributive elements. 
  • Review of the transmission lines, impedance and Smith chart. 
  • History of radio and radar development. 
  • Functional modules in RF transceivers. 
  • Free space and channel modeling for signals and noises. 
  • Matrix representation in signal chains and ideal RF transceiver designs. 
  • Noise: characteristics, noise figure, mixing and images. 
  • Nonlinearity in RF modules: intermodulation and harmonics. 
  • Noise and nonlinearity interplay: desensitization, jamming and dynamic range. 
  • RF architecture to improve linearity 
  • Frequency strategy: superherterodyne, homodyne and side bands. 
  • Phase noises in oscillators and their effects on frequency strategy. 
  • Commercial wireless network overview: cellular, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, TV, RFID and UWB. 

Workload[]

  • Homework: Weekly assignments. Total of 10 homework assignments per semester. Collaboration with students is encouraged
  • Exams: Two preliminary exams and a comprehensive final.
  • Four credit version of the class only:
    • Design Projects: The last two labs will involve design of a radio or radar transceiver from the components in the previous labs. Lab 7 will be a signal model in Simulink (more practices in Simulink signal and noise analysis will be included in homeworks as well), and a test plan for the experimental system. Lab 8 will be prototype construction from Mini-Circuits components on an RF test bed, or from software-defined radio modules. 
  • Grading:
    • Students taking 3 credits: Homework (20%); first prelim exam (20%); second prelim exam (25%); final exam (35%)
    • Students taking 4 credits with the lab option: Homework (15%); first prelim exam (15%); second prelim exam (20%); lab: (20%); final exam (30%).

Past Offerings[]

Semester Time Professor Median Grade
Fall 2016 MWF 11:15-12:05 Edwin Kan N/A
Fall 2017 MWF 11:15-12:05 Edwin Kan N/A
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