AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module aims to provide basic knowledge on the design and implementation aspects of systems and circuits for radio communication, taking into account the points of view relating to analog design, microwave theory and communication systems.

In particular, the architectures of the transceivers, their building blocks and the aspects related to the realization of circuits both at discrete components and at the integrated circuit level will be examined.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and Laboratory (4 hours)

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

A short review will be given on the modulation theory and wireless standards from the point of view of the design of RF electronic circuits 

The following topics will also be described:

• Heterodyne transceiver architectures, direct conversion and image frequency rejection.
• Resonators and networks for impedance transformation
• Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA)
• Passive and active mixers
• Voltage controlled oscillators (VCO), phase noise mechanisms and various circuit topologies
• Phase Locked Loops (PLL)
• Whole-N and fractional-N frequency synthesizers
• Power amplifiers and linearization techniques

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• B. Razavi, RF Microelectronics (2nd Edition) (Prentice Hall, 2012)
• T.H. Lee, The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits, Second Edition, (Cambridge University Press, 2004)