Lecturer: Francesco Svelto  

Course name: RF Microelectronics
Course code: 502951
Degree course: Ingegneria Elettronica
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/01
University credits: CFU 9
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

This course is aimed at introducing students to the design of integrated transceivers for wireless communications. At the end, attendees will have gained knowledge of fundamental parameters describing system performances, insights into alternative processing architectures and ability to design the following building blocks: low noise amplifiers, up and down converters, power amplifier, phase locked loop, phase detector, filter, voltage controlled oscillator, frequency synthesizer. As an example, the design of a complete transceiver will be described starting from the specifications of a telecommunication application, such as GSM, W-CDMA, WLAN. Based on computer aided design experience carried out in the Laboratory, the student will be able to finalize the design of single blocks integrated in most advanced CMOS nodes and will be ready for the design of complete transceivers.

Course programme

Basic concepts for transcievrs
Non–linearities, inter-symbol interference, phase noise in oscillators, sensitivity and dynamic range, image rejection.

Modulation
Choice of digital schemes for optimum power and spectral efficiency in wireless systems.

Transceiver architectures
Super-heterodynedirect conversion, low-IF.

Design of CMOS integrated blocks
low-noise amplifier; up and down-coverters; voltage controller oscillators; phase detector; charge pump filter; phase locked loop; frequency synthesizer; power amplifiers.

Application example
Design of a CMOS transceiver for applications of commercial interest.

Course entry requirements

Basic knowledge of Elettronica I e II.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 54
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 12
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 22

Suggested reading materials

B. Razavi. RF Microelectronic circuits. Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.

T. Lee. The design of CMOS Radio-Frequancy Integrated Circuits. Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Testing and exams

At the end of the course, the student will prepare a report regarding the design carried out in the Laboratory. The examination includes a excercises to be solved by the student, followed by an oral discussion on the course program. No inter-mediate examination is foreseen.