ECE 764 - Design of Microwave Circuits
Prerequisites:
ECE 502 - Electrical Engineering Lab II; ECE 526 - Electronics II; ECE 557 - EM Theory
Course Description:
This course combines lectures and laboratory work to introduce you to the field of wireless circuits and systems operating at microwave through millimeter wave frequencies. We will be covering topics such as antennas, microstrip circuits, S-parameters, and frequency synthesizer design. These topics are essential knowledge for anyone working in the area of communication circuit design at the frequencies most often used today and in the future.
Primary Objectives:
To familiarize you with typical circuits and antenna systems found in RF
communications equipment at microwave frequencies.
To
introduce you to common performance measures and test equipment used in
microwave circuit laboratories.
To help you gain a solid foundation for specifying and designing
communications equipment at the system level.
The course will include a sequence of projects in which you will
design, build and test antennas and microwave circuits. The semester
goal is to create a working FMCW radar operating at low powers. Such a
device could be used for security or automotive applications, and would
make an excellent open-house project as well!
A companion course (EECE662) offered in the Spring semesters covers the
design of RF circuits at these lower frequencies, for those interested
in a more in-depth and complete knowledge of RF circuits. In addition,
EECE765 offers an introduction to designing RF integrated circuits.
Class Notes:
Common Antenna - Characteristics
Noise
Figure Measurement
Homework and Projects:
Work in this course centers around the design, construction, testing, and documention of real-world antenna systems and microwave circuits. Traditional homework assignments are replaced with a series of labs , design projects and writeups.
Final Exam:
Demonstration (in the DUR atrium and/or outside) and documentation of CWFM radar will constitute your "final exam".