ECE 697C Microwave and RF Wireless Systems

Instructor:

Professor D. Pozar

POZAR@ECS.UMASS.EDU

Marcus 8B

 

Summary of Course:

This course will focus on the 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 Outline:

I. Introduction to Wireless Systems

A. Wireless Systems and Markets (cellular, PCS, GPS, DBS, WLAN)

B. Design and Performance Issues (radiation hazards, allowable powers)

C. Cellular Telephone Systems and Standards (AMPS, IS-54, IS-95)

II. Noise in Microwave Systems

A. Thermal Noise (gaussian bandlimited noise, pdf, white noise)

B. Basic Threshold Detection (error function)

C. Noise Temperature and Noise Figure (cascaded networks)

D. Noise Figure of Passive Networks (noise figure of couplers)

E. Dynamic Range and Intermodulation Distortion (saturation, third order intercept)

III. Antennas for Wireless Systems

A. Antenna System Parameters (directivity, gain, efficiency)

B. The Friis Equation (radio links)

C. Antenna Noise Temperature (G/T)

D. Basic Practical Antennas (dipoles, loops)

E. Propagation (space loss, attenuation)

F. Fading (multipath, Rayleigh fading)

IV. Mixers

A. Mixer Characteristics (conversion loss, noise figure)

B. Diode Mixers (small signal model, large signal model)

C. FET Mixers (active, passive, Gilbert cell)

D. Other Mixer Circuits (balanced, image rejection)

V. Modulation Techniques

A. Amplitude Modulation (SSB, DSB, envelope detection)

B. Binary Digital Modulation (ASK, FSK, PSK)

C. Error Probabilities for Binary Modulation (ASK, FSK, PSK)

D. Effect of Rayleigh Fading on Bit Error Rates

E. M-ary Digital Modulation (QPSK, QAM)

VI. Receiver Design

A. Receiver Architectures (superheterodyne)

B. Dynamic Range (minimum detectable signal, AGC)

C. Frequency Conversion and Filtering (image rejection, spurs, spur-free range)

D. Examples of Practical Receivers (AMPS)

VII. Frequency Synthesizers

A. voltage controlled oscillators

B. synthesis methods (direct, digital look-up, phase locked loops)

C. phase locked loops (phase detectors, linearization, first and second order loops)

VIII. Multiple Access Techniques

A. tdma

B. fdma

C. spread spectrum (dss and fh)

D. cdma

Text:

There is no assigned text for this course, but a set of notes entitled, Microwave and RF Design of Wireless Systems, by D. M. Pozar, is available from the bookstore. A suggested text (not required) that covers much of the material at a superficial level is RF and Microwave Circuit Design for Wireless Communications, edited by L. E. Larson, Artech House.

Prerequisites:

Familiarity with the topics of noise and noise figure in microwave systems, S-parameters, microwave filters, couplers, mixers, amplifiers, oscillators, probability, and random variables. Most of this material is covered in ECE 584-585 - if you have not had this sequence, you will have to study these topics on your own.

Grading:

Midterm exam 35%

Final exam 40%

Homework 25%

 

Other References:

Wireless Personal Communications, by R. Schneiderman, IEEE Press, 1994. (a good overview of wireless markets and regulatory issues)

Personal Communications Systems Applications, by F. J. Ricci, Prentice Hall, 1997 (a survey of modern wireless systems)

The Science of Radio, by P. J. Nahin, APS Press, 1996. (an excellent engineering-oriented discussion of commercial radio development)

Digital PLL Frequency Synthesizers - Theory and Design, by U. Rohde, Prentice-Hall, 1983.

Digital Communications, by J. G. Proakis, McGraw-Hill, 1983.

Microwave Engineering, by D. M. Pozar, John Wiley and Sons, 1998

Wireless Digital Communications - Modulation and Spread Spectrum, by K. Feher, Prentice-Hall, 1995.

Wireless Communications - Principles and Practice, by T. S. Rappaport, Prentice-Hall, 1996 (an excellent in-depth description of cellular phone systems)

Course Objectives:

1. Appreciate the social, economic, and safety aspects of modern wireless systems, including cellular telephones, wireless local area networks, GPS, DBS, PCS, and RFID systems.

2. 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.

3. Design key components for wireless systems, including mixers, synthesizers, demodulators, and antennas.

4. Use library, Internet, and other resources to find information necessary for solving homework problems.

Relationship of Course Objectives to ABET Outcomes: