ID:
504439
Duration (hours):
82
CFU:
9
SSD:
ELETTRONICA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
This course aims to equip students with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills required for designing integrated transceivers for wireless communications. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
(1) Understand and analyze key system performance parameters that define transceiver efficiency.
(2) Compare and evaluate alternative processing architectures for wireless communication systems.
(3) Design essential building blocks of an integrated transceiver, including: Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA), Up and Down Converters, Power Amplifiers, Phase-Locked Loops (PLL), Frequency Synthesizers.
Through a step-by-step approach, students will learn how to design a complete transceiver starting from the specifications of real-world applications such as mobile phones and WiFi.
Additionally, hands-on experience with computer-aided design (CAD) tools in the Laboratory will enable students to implement and optimize single circuit blocks in advanced CMOS technologies, preparing them for the design of full transceiver systems.
(1) Understand and analyze key system performance parameters that define transceiver efficiency.
(2) Compare and evaluate alternative processing architectures for wireless communication systems.
(3) Design essential building blocks of an integrated transceiver, including: Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA), Up and Down Converters, Power Amplifiers, Phase-Locked Loops (PLL), Frequency Synthesizers.
Through a step-by-step approach, students will learn how to design a complete transceiver starting from the specifications of real-world applications such as mobile phones and WiFi.
Additionally, hands-on experience with computer-aided design (CAD) tools in the Laboratory will enable students to implement and optimize single circuit blocks in advanced CMOS technologies, preparing them for the design of full transceiver systems.
Course Prerequisites
Students should have a solid foundation in the following areas before taking this course:
Communication Systems:
- Basic principles of analog and digital modulation
- Fundamentals of antenna theory and electromagnetic wave propagation
Analog Electronics:
- Transistor-level (CMOS) design of amplifiers, including:
- Bias point analysis
- Small- and large-signal effects
- Gain and frequency response evaluation
- Sources and effects of noise in analog circuits
A good grasp of these topics will ensure students can effectively engage with the course material and design complex RF circuits.
Communication Systems:
- Basic principles of analog and digital modulation
- Fundamentals of antenna theory and electromagnetic wave propagation
Analog Electronics:
- Transistor-level (CMOS) design of amplifiers, including:
- Bias point analysis
- Small- and large-signal effects
- Gain and frequency response evaluation
- Sources and effects of noise in analog circuits
A good grasp of these topics will ensure students can effectively engage with the course material and design complex RF circuits.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (50 hours/year)
- Delivered in a traditional lecture format and using multimedia materials (slides), covering theoretical foundations and practical design considerations.
- Emphasis on real-world examples, case studies, and industry-relevant applications.
Exercises (15 hours/year)
- Problem-solving sessions focused on applying theoretical concepts to practical scenarios.
- Step-by-step analysis of transceiver components, including system-level and circuit-level calculations.
- Group discussions to encourage critical thinking and collaborative learning.
Practical Classes (12 hours/year)
- Hands-on sessions using computer-aided design (CAD) tools for RF and analog circuit design.
- Design, simulation, and optimization of key transceiver building blocks in advanced CMOS technologies.
- Guided laboratory experiments to bridge theory and practice, emphasizing measurement techniques and debugging strategies.
- Delivered in a traditional lecture format and using multimedia materials (slides), covering theoretical foundations and practical design considerations.
- Emphasis on real-world examples, case studies, and industry-relevant applications.
Exercises (15 hours/year)
- Problem-solving sessions focused on applying theoretical concepts to practical scenarios.
- Step-by-step analysis of transceiver components, including system-level and circuit-level calculations.
- Group discussions to encourage critical thinking and collaborative learning.
Practical Classes (12 hours/year)
- Hands-on sessions using computer-aided design (CAD) tools for RF and analog circuit design.
- Design, simulation, and optimization of key transceiver building blocks in advanced CMOS technologies.
- Guided laboratory experiments to bridge theory and practice, emphasizing measurement techniques and debugging strategies.
Assessment Methods
The final examination consists of a written test followed by an oral test for eligible students.
The course assessment is based on a final examination, which includes a written test and, for eligible students, an oral test. The written test, conducted in a single session, is divided into two parts. The first part consists of 20 multiple-choice questions designed to assess the students' understanding of the theoretical concepts covered in the course. The second part includes problem-solving exercises focused on the analysis and design of circuits and subsystems used in RF transceivers, evaluating the students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.
The written test is graded on a scale from 0 to 30, and only students who achieve a score of at least 18 are admitted to the oral test. During the oral examination, students are required to present and discuss key concepts from the lectures, demonstrating their ability to explain technical topics in a clear, rigorous, and structured manner. Based on the oral performance, the final mark can be adjusted by ±3 points relative to the written test score.
There are no intermediate assessments during the course
The course assessment is based on a final examination, which includes a written test and, for eligible students, an oral test. The written test, conducted in a single session, is divided into two parts. The first part consists of 20 multiple-choice questions designed to assess the students' understanding of the theoretical concepts covered in the course. The second part includes problem-solving exercises focused on the analysis and design of circuits and subsystems used in RF transceivers, evaluating the students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.
The written test is graded on a scale from 0 to 30, and only students who achieve a score of at least 18 are admitted to the oral test. During the oral examination, students are required to present and discuss key concepts from the lectures, demonstrating their ability to explain technical topics in a clear, rigorous, and structured manner. Based on the oral performance, the final mark can be adjusted by ±3 points relative to the written test score.
There are no intermediate assessments during the course
Texts
B. Razavi. RF Microelectronic circuits. Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
Contents
Modulation and Demodulation
Amplitude Modulation, Quadrature Amplitude modulation and demodulation. Digital constellation and M-QAM. Constant envelope modulations (FSK, PSK). Multiple Access techniques.
RF Transceiver impairments
I-Q mismatch, compression, phase noise. Noise and noise figure. Non-linear distortion, compression desensitization and intermodulation. Examples of specifications for popular wireless standards
Receiver architectures.
Direct conversion and double conversion architectures. The problem of the image. Image-reject downconverters.
Low Noise Amplifier
Common-source LNA. Inductively degenerated amplifier. Common-gate amplifier. Noise-cancelling amplifiers
Mixers
Introduction. Switching mixer: conversion gain and noise figure. Single-balanced and double balanced mixers. Passive mixers.
Oscillators.
Oscillators principles. Large signal operation. Phase noise analysis. Voltage-controlled oscillators
Phase Locked Loop and Frequency synthesizer.
Type-I and Type-II PLL. Phase and frequency detectors. Issues of spurs and phase noise in PLL. Building blocks: charge-pump, crystal oscillator, high-speed dividers. Integer and fractional frequency synthesis
Power amplifiers.
Specifications. Class A,B,C,D,E,F amplifiers. Transmitter architectures for switch-mode amplifiers.
Amplitude Modulation, Quadrature Amplitude modulation and demodulation. Digital constellation and M-QAM. Constant envelope modulations (FSK, PSK). Multiple Access techniques.
RF Transceiver impairments
I-Q mismatch, compression, phase noise. Noise and noise figure. Non-linear distortion, compression desensitization and intermodulation. Examples of specifications for popular wireless standards
Receiver architectures.
Direct conversion and double conversion architectures. The problem of the image. Image-reject downconverters.
Low Noise Amplifier
Common-source LNA. Inductively degenerated amplifier. Common-gate amplifier. Noise-cancelling amplifiers
Mixers
Introduction. Switching mixer: conversion gain and noise figure. Single-balanced and double balanced mixers. Passive mixers.
Oscillators.
Oscillators principles. Large signal operation. Phase noise analysis. Voltage-controlled oscillators
Phase Locked Loop and Frequency synthesizer.
Type-I and Type-II PLL. Phase and frequency detectors. Issues of spurs and phase noise in PLL. Building blocks: charge-pump, crystal oscillator, high-speed dividers. Integer and fractional frequency synthesis
Power amplifiers.
Specifications. Class A,B,C,D,E,F amplifiers. Transmitter architectures for switch-mode amplifiers.
Course Language
English
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