This course presents core concepts essential in understanding RF technology and presents circuit-level designers with the foundation needed to work effectively with high frequency electronics. Participants gain analytical, graphical ( Smith Chart ), and computer-aided techniques to analyze and optimize RF circuits in practical situations. This course reviews traditional circuit definitions based on voltages and current and transitions to power-flow concepts and scattering parameters (S-parameters) used in the wireless domain.
Outline
Introduction to RF Circuits
• Linear circuit analysis in RF systems • Frequency range of coverage: 100-3000 MHz • Log conversion, dB and dBm scales • Complex numbers in rectangular and polar form • Component Qs • Importance of Impedance Matching • Normalization • RF component related issues
RF/MW Fundamentals
• Complex impedance and admittance systems • Resonance effects • One-port impedance and admittance • Series and parallel circuit conversions • Lumped vs. distributed element representation • Signal transmission/reflection and directional couplers • Key parameters : Gamma, mismatch loss, return loss, SWR • Impedance transformation and matching • Illustrative exercise
Transmission Lines
• Transmission line types: coaxial, microstrip, stripline, waveguide • Characteristic impedance and electrical length • Input impedance of loaded transmission line
The Smith Chart and Its Applications
• Polar Gamma vs. Rectangular Z plots • Impedance and Admittance Smith Charts • Normalized Smith Charts • Lumped series/parallel element manipulations • Constant Q circles • Expanded and compressed Smith Charts • Impedance and admittance transformations • Transmission line manipulations • Illustrative examples
Scattering Parameters
• Review of one-port parameters • Two-port Z-, Y-, and T-parameters • Cascade connections and de-embedding • S-parameters of commonly used two-ports • Generalized S-parameters • Mixed-mode S-parameters • Illustrative examples
