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:

1. Introduction to Wireless Systems
   1. wireless systems and markets (cellular, pcs, wlan, paging, rfid, wll)
   2. design and performance issues (radiation hazards, allowable power levels)
   3. wireless system standards (ISM bands, IS-49, IS-54, GSM, 802.11, HIPEs)
   4. issues of integration and chip sets for wireless systems (example of fm radio)
2. Noise in Microwave Systems
   1. review of random processes (autocorrelation, probability distribution function)
   2. thermal noise (gaussian processes, power spectral density)
   3. noise in systems (noise temperature, noise figure, cascaded blocks)
3. Antennas for Wireless Systems
   1. antenna parameters (directivity, gain, efficiency)
   2. Friis equation (radio links and received power)
   3. antenna noise temperature (G/T)
   4. small antennas (types of antennas, loading, efficiency)
4. Mixers
   1. mixer characteristics (loss, noise, intermod, integration)
   2. diode mixer (small signal and large signal models)
   3. types of mixers (single-ended, balanced, image reject)
   4. FET mixers (active, passive, gilbert cell)
5. Modulation Techniques
   1. amplitude modulation (SSB, DSB, envelope detection, S/N ratio)
   2. digital modulation (ASK, FSK, PSK, coherent & noncoherent detection, error rates)
   3. multilevel modulation (QAM, QPSK, probability of error)
   4. filtering (filters, spurs, spur-free range)
6. Receiver Design
   1. dynamic range (minimum detectable signal, automatic gain control)
   2. frequency conversion (heterodyne, image rejection, filtering)
   3. receiver architectures and design examples (complete system characterization)
   4. filtering (filters, spurs, spur-free range)
7. Frequency Synthesizers
   1. voltage controlled oscillators
   2. synthesis methods (direct, digital look-up, phase locked loops)
   3. phase locked loops (phase detectors, linearization, first and second order loops)
8. Multiple Access Techniques
   1. tdma
   2. fdma
   3. spread spectrum (dss and fh)
   4. cdma

Text:
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, couples, mixers, amplifiers, oscillators, probability and random variables.

Grading:

Midterm exam	25%
Individual Project	30%
Final exam	30%
Homework	15%

Individual Project:
Each student will be required to complete an individual project related to wireless systems. Possible topics include: transceiver design examples, performance analysis of an existing wireless system, in-depth report on a key component in wireless systems, experimental demonstrations of wireless subsystems (such as a phase locked loop, or modulation scheme), and similar. Project topics will be chosen in the first few weeks of the course, and approved by the instructor. Each student will present an oral.

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

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

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

Microwave Engineering, by D.M. Pozar, Addison-Wesley, 1990.

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