RF & Microwave Circuits for

Wireless Communications
•  Welcome!
•  Agenda today:
–  Introductions
–  Overview of this course, what’s in it for you
–  Review of syllabus, key details
–  Keysight certification option
–  And on to the technical material
 Introductions
•  First: an apology. I didn’t plan to have such a
weird start to the semester…
–  My thanks to Heidi for setting up the
teleconference
–  My thanks to you for your understanding
•  My contact details:
pfay@nd.edu, 631-5693
Office: 261 Fitzpatrick Hall
•  Email is the best way to reach me, or
just drop by my office any time
 Course Overview
•  Course focuses on high-frequency circuits for
wireless communications
–  What functions are needed for systems
–  How to design circuits for these functions
–  How to measure them
•  Do they do what we want?
•  Do they do other things too? Maybe things we don’t
want?
–  Augmented with labs: you’ll measure circuits,
design your own, build your own, and test them
 Functions Needed
•  Develop a “big picture” understanding of the
processing done on signals in wireless
communication systems
•  We’ll focus completely on the high-frequency, analog
parts; baseband and DSP-based processing won’t be
discussed (but it is important)
•  But “block diagram” type thinking is not enough—lots
of critical details
–  Limitations on block diagrams, what else must be
considered, how to really make something that actually
works
 Circuit Design
•  Take functions and do detailed designs – convert
transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc., plus
interconnects & wiring, into something useful
–  What is the same and what is different from “regular old”
circuit design?
–  Develop models for components appropriate for high
frequencies
–  Develop a detailed understanding of interconnects and how
to design them—this is probably the biggest change in
design
•  Approaches: hand calculation, computer-aided
–  Multiple levels of sophistication: circuit-model based,
electromagnetics-based, nonlinear approaches
 Measurement Techniques
•  Measurement takes on added importance in RF/
microwave circuits
•  Design tools are pretty good, but…
–  Most modern circuit designs are digital; “on/off” behavior
makes design & validation much simpler; simple frequency
dependence
–  Most RF/microwave designs are dominated by analog;
details and small effects matter a lot
•  Example: an amplifier. Gain, input and output resistances are
just the starting point. Useful, but leaves a lot out…
•  Why? an example: huge range in signals present. Your phone
sees the signal from another phone just a few feet away, and
has to be able to also see the signal from a base station up to
10 miles away. These signals are many orders of magnitude
different in amplitude, and both signals have to be properly
processed
 Measurement Techniques (cont).
–  So we need measurement capabilities to capture
both “big picture” and nuances in circuit function
–  A complication: frequencies are high
•  Circuit probing (e.g. oscilloscopes) don’t work well
•  Adding the probe changes the circuit (details matter…),
and changes the performance. Sometimes (usually) a lot
•  Need to accurately measure extremely high frequency
6 GHz signals, often at very low amplitudes.
probes: –  Result: different techniques
Weird •  Workhorse tools become vector network analyzer,
looking;
spectrum analyzer; mostly work in frequency domain
discontinued
•  Often must analyze circuits “from the outside”—and infer
from that what is going on inside
•  Lab is well-equipped; you’ll get first-hand experience
 Lab Component
–  The lab work cuts across these topics
–  Focus mostly on measurement techniques &
design; some circuit construction
•  Hands-on; work in small groups (usually 2)
•  Make sure you’re registered for both lecture and lab
(undergrads: 40458 and 41458; grads 60558 and 61558)
–  The lab is your chance to get real hands-on
experience with RF/microwave test &
measurement hardware, as well as industrial-
strength CAD software
•  About $300k worth of toys (not counting the software; a
single license for that is $250k)—take advantage of it
 Syllabus EE 40458/60558 RF and Microwave Circuits for Instructor: Patrick Fay
Wireless Communications 261 Fitzpatrick Hall
631-5693
pfay@nd.edu
http://www.nd.edu/~hscdlab

•  Hardcopies available Text: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th. ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
Supplementary reading:

with Heidi
Guillermo Gonzalez, Microwave Transistor Amplifiers, 2nd. ed., Prentice-Hall, 1997.
Class notes, handouts. Additional material is also available on the course web page at
http://www.nd.edu/~hscdlab
Prerequisites: EE 30348, EE 30358 or consent of instructor

•  Walk through a few key

Catalog Description: (2-3-3)
This course is an introduction to RF and microwave circuit design and analysis techniques, with
particular emphasis on applications for modern wireless communication and sensing systems. An
integrated laboratory experience provides hands-on exposure to specialized high-frequency

parts—this course is
measurement techniques. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of circuit design and
analysis principles as applied to modern RF & microwave circuits, as well as gain familiarity with
design techniques for both hand analysis and computer-aided design. A design project will be
designed, built, and tested using the computer-aided techniques and instrumentation in the lab.

not necessarily “normal” Course Outline:

• Review of electromagnetics; Maxwell's equations, plane wave solutions, transmission lines.
Introduction to ADS microwave CAD software
• Types of transmission lines and their properties; coaxial lines, rectangular waveguides, microstrip.
• Network analysis; scattering matrix, transmission matrix formulations. Flow graphs, Mason's rule.
• Matching networks: lumped element designs and limitations, single and double-stub tuned designs.
Quarter-wavelength transformers, multisection matching transformers.
• Active microwave circuit design, characteristics of microwave diodes and transistors. Linear and
nonlinear behavior and models.
• Amplifier design; gain and stability, design for noise figure.
• Noise in microwave circuits; dynamic range and noise sources, equivalent noise temperature,
system noise figure considerations.
Laboratory and Design Project: (approx. 11 laboratory sessions)
1. High frequency performance of circuit components
2. Measurement basics; reflectometry, spectrum analysis
3. Scalar network analyzer measurements
4. Vector network analyzer operation and error correction
5. Scattering parameter measurements of active devices
6. Matching network design, fabrication, and characterization
7. Project design, characterization, and analysis
8. Nonlinear and noise characterization of active circuits
Homework:
Homework will be assigned and collected (approximately) weekly.
Examinations:
1 in-class midterm examination, cumulative final exam
Grading: Homework 20 %
Mid-term exam 25 %
Laboratory (includes design project) 25 %
Final exam 30 %
 Text Book EE 40458/60558 RF and Microwave Circuits for Instructor: Pa
Wireless Communications 261 Fitzpa

Key point #1: be pfay

http://www.nd.edu
careful about text Text: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th. ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2012.

book editions.
Supplementary reading:
Guillermo Gonzalez, Microwave Transistor Amplifiers, 2nd. ed., Prentice-Hall, 1997.
Class notes, handouts. Additional material is also available on the course web page at
•  We will use Pozar’s Prerequisites:
http://www.nd.edu/~hscdlab
EE 30348, EE 30358 or consent of instructor
4 edition, 2012
th Catalog Description: (2-3-3)
This course is an introduction to RF and microwave circuit design and analysis techniques, w

•  Older ones are organizedparticular

differently,
integrated are missing
emphasis on applications for modern wireless communication and sensing system
laboratory experience provides hands-on exposure to specialized high-frequency

material measurement techniques. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of circuit desig
analysis principles as applied to modern RF & microwave circuits, as well as gain familiarit
design techniques for both hand analysis and computer-aided design. A design project will b
•  International versions are notbuilt,
designed,
Course Outline:
the same.
and tested Do nottechniques
using the computer-aided useand instrumentation in the la
them—we have found many sneaky changes
• Review of electromagnetics; Maxwell's equations, plane wave solutions, transmission line
Introduction to ADS microwave CAD software
•  There are two versions of•• Types
Pozar—a
Network “thin” and “thick”
of transmission lines and their properties; coaxial lines, rectangular waveguides, mi
analysis; scattering matrix, transmission matrix formulations. Flow graphs, Mas

version. Both are OK—only difference transformers,is portability

• Matching networks: lumped element designs and limitations, single and double-stub tune
Quarter-wavelength multisection matching transformers.
• Active microwave circuit design, characteristics of microwave diodes and transistors. Lin
•  Gonzales’ book is an excellent resource,
nonlinear behavior and models. provides
• Amplifier design; gain and stability, design for noise figure.
good alternative approaches• Noise in if Pozar
microwave circuits;is unclear
dynamic
system noise figure considerations.
range and noise sources, equivalent noise temperatu

Laboratory and Design Project: (approx. 11 laboratory sessions)

1. High frequency performance of circuit components
2. Measurement basics; reflectometry, spectrum analysis
3. Scalar network analyzer measurements
 pfay
http://www.nd.edu
Text: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th. ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
Supplementary reading:
Guillermo Gonzalez, Microwave Transistor Amplifiers, 2nd. ed., Prentice-Hall, 1997.
Class notes, handouts. Additional material is also available on the course web page at
http://www.nd.edu/~hscdlab
Prerequisites: EE 30348, EE 30358 or consent of instructor

Course Outline
Catalog Description: (2-3-3)
This course is an introduction to RF and microwave circuit design and analysis techniques, w
particular emphasis on applications for modern wireless communication and sensing system
integrated laboratory experience provides hands-on exposure to specialized high-frequency
measurement techniques. Students will develop an enhanced understanding of circuit desig
analysis principles as applied to modern RF & microwave circuits, as well as gain familiarit
design techniques for both hand analysis and computer-aided design. A design project will b
Have a look…that designed, built, and tested using the computer-aided techniques and instrumentation in the la
Course Outline:
way you won’t be • Review of electromagnetics; Maxwell's equations, plane wave solutions, transmission line
Introduction to ADS microwave CAD software
surprised about what • Types of transmission lines and their properties; coaxial lines, rectangular waveguides, mi
• Network analysis; scattering matrix, transmission matrix formulations. Flow graphs, Mas

we’re doing or where • Matching networks: lumped element designs and limitations, single and double-stub tune
Quarter-wavelength transformers, multisection matching transformers.
• Active microwave circuit design, characteristics of microwave diodes and transistors. Lin
we’re going next nonlinear behavior and models.
• Amplifier design; gain and stability, design for noise figure.
• This is not “text • Noise in microwave circuits; dynamic range and noise sources, equivalent noise temperatu
system noise figure considerations.
book order”—we’ll Laboratory and Design Project: (approx. 11 laboratory sessions)
1. High frequency performance of circuit components

jump around 2. Measurement basics; reflectometry, spectrum analysis

3. Scalar network analyzer measurements
4. Vector network analyzer operation and error correction
• Don’t worry (too much) about the electromagnetics
5. Scattering parameter measurements of active devices
6. Matching network design, fabrication, and characterization
part; we’ll focus on designs and circuits much more
7. Project design, characterization, and analysis
8. Nonlinear and noise characterization of active circuits
Homework:
Homework will be assigned and collected (approximately) weekly.
Examinations:
1 in-class midterm examination, cumulative final exam
Grading: Homework 20 %
Mid-term exam 25 %
Laboratory (includes design project) 25 %
Final exam 30 %
 analysis principles as applied to modern RF & microwave circuits, as well as gain familiarit
design techniques for both hand analysis and computer-aided design. A design project will b
designed, built, and tested using the computer-aided techniques and instrumentation in the la
Course Outline:
• Review of electromagnetics; Maxwell's equations, plane wave solutions, transmission line
Introduction to ADS microwave CAD software
• Types of transmission lines and their properties; coaxial lines, rectangular waveguides, mi
• Network analysis; scattering matrix, transmission matrix formulations. Flow graphs, Mas
• Matching networks: lumped element designs and limitations, single and double-stub tune

Labs and Design Project Quarter-wavelength transformers, multisection matching transformers.

• Active microwave circuit design, characteristics of microwave diodes and transistors. Lin
nonlinear behavior and models.
• Amplifier design; gain and stability, design for noise figure.
• Noise in microwave circuits; dynamic range and noise sources, equivalent noise temperatu
Key point #2: the lab system noise figure considerations.
Laboratory and Design Project: (approx. 11 laboratory sessions)
is a big part of this 1. High frequency performance of circuit components
2. Measurement basics; reflectometry, spectrum analysis

course 3. Scalar network analyzer measurements

4. Vector network analyzer operation and error correction
5. Scattering parameter measurements of active devices
•  Labs are a mix of 6. Matching network design, fabrication, and characterization
7. Project design, characterization, and analysis
“normal” labs where 8. Nonlinear and noise characterization of active circuits
Homework:

you follow a procedure to learn a technique and

Homework will be assigned and collected (approximately) weekly.
Examinations:

“design” labs that are much more open-ended

1 in-class midterm examination, cumulative final exam
Grading: Homework 20 %
Mid-term exam 25 %
•  The course web page has guide sheets for each lab,
Laboratory (includes design project)
Final exam
25 %
30 %
and a tentative schedule
•  Read the guides before the lab. It’ll make your time
in the lab a lot more productive and fun
•  Schedule is subject to revision—but we always find a
way to make it work
 Quarter-wavelength transformers, multisection matching transformers.
• Active microwave circuit design, characteristics of microwave diodes and transistors. Lin
nonlinear behavior and models.
• Amplifier design; gain and stability, design for noise figure.
• Noise in microwave circuits; dynamic range and noise sources, equivalent noise temperatu
system noise figure considerations.
Laboratory and Design Project: (approx. 11 laboratory sessions)
1. High frequency performance of circuit components
2. Measurement basics; reflectometry, spectrum analysis

Grades & Stuff 3. Scalar network analyzer measurements

4. Vector network analyzer operation and error correction
5. Scattering parameter measurements of active devices
6. Matching network design, fabrication, and characterization

Key point #3: the lab

7. Project design, characterization, and analysis
8. Nonlinear and noise characterization of active circuits
Homework:
is a big part of this Homework will be assigned and collected (approximately) weekly.
Examinations:
course, and so is the 1 in-class midterm examination, cumulative final exam
Grading: Homework 20 %

homework Mid-term exam

Laboratory (includes design project)
25 %
25 %

•  Homework is 20%
Final exam 30 %

of your grade
•  Labs are 25% of the total grade
•  This weighting reflects where the learning really takes
place—you’ll learn these techniques best doing them
•  Net result: do the homework, and do the labs
•  One more detail: for grad. students only, this year this course is a
“qualifying exam” course. Students in the grad version will get
extra homework problems. These give you the extra depth you
need for the qual exam. Courtesy of Prof. Chisum. Enjoy?
 More Important Stuff
Course web site has
EE 40458/60558 RF and Microwave Circuits for Instructor: Patrick Fay
some useful stuff on Wireless Communications 261 Fitzpatrick Hall
it 631-5693
pfay@nd.edu
•  Homeworks will http://www.nd.edu/~hscdlab

be
Text: posted
David M. Pozar,there
Supplementary reading:
Microwave Engineering, 4th. ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2012.

(with
Guillermosolutions)
Gonzalez, Microwave Transistor Amplifiers, 2nd. ed., Prentice-Hall, 1997.
Class notes, handouts. Additional material is also available on the course web page at
•  Lab procedures and write-ups, files that are helpful
http://www.nd.edu/~hscdlab
Prerequisites: EE 30348, EE 30358 or consent of instructor
for the
Catalog lab (2-3-3)
Description: and computer work (design model files,
This course is an introduction to RF and microwave circuit design and analysis techniques, with
etc.). Lookonon
particular emphasis the “lab”
applications for modernpage
wireless communication and sensing systems. An

•  Other aids: copy ofwillthe syllabus, lab policy sheet,

integrated laboratory experience provides hands-on exposure to specialized high-frequency
measurement techniques. Students develop an enhanced understanding of circuit design and
Smith charts,for bothold tests.
hand analysis Look ondesign.
and computer-aided theA “homework”
analysis principles as applied to modern RF & microwave circuits, as well as gain familiarity with
design techniques design project will be
page
designed, built, and tested using the computer-aided techniques and instrumentation in the lab.
Course Outline:
• Review of electromagnetics; Maxwell's equations, plane wave solutions, transmission lines.
Introduction to ADS microwave CAD software
• Types of transmission lines and their properties; coaxial lines, rectangular waveguides, microstrip.
• Network analysis; scattering matrix, transmission matrix formulations. Flow graphs, Mason's rule.
• Matching networks: lumped element designs and limitations, single and double-stub tuned designs.
 Keysight Certification Option
•  Students that do well in this class can also receive Keysight
Technologies’ “Ready for Industry” certification
•  This is entirely optional, but if you’re considering an RF/microwave
career, it might help in interviews
•  Main emphasis is on experience/competence with test & measurement
gear and techniques, and design/simulation tools and techniques
•  The course more than satisfies the “level 1” requirements
•  More details are online—but don’t focus on their requirements. I take
care of the details for you
 Questions on Administrative
Stuff?
•  On to technical discussion…
RF and Microwave Circuits for
Wireless Communications
•  Modern wireless communications relies on high-
performance, high-frequency circuits
•  Lots of other applications do too…
–  Radar
–  Medical therapies (RF-induced hyperthermia treatments for
cardiac arrhythmia)
–  Imaging for avionics, security (airport scanners, theft prevention
at warehouses)
–  Digital circuits
•  Our job: figure out how to make circuits that do what is
needed
 RF and Microwave Design
•  So what’s the big deal? How is this any different from
“regular old” circuit design?
•  Key issue: at high frequencies, some fundamental
(maybe even forgotten) assumptions in “regular old”
circuit design fall apart
–  Normally, circuit layout is not so important; at RF/microwaves,
layout is very important
–  RF/microwave: basically short-hand for “high frequency”—RF is
~10 MHz – 1 GHz; microwave is 1 GHz and up
•  Where does this come from? Finite speed of light
•  “Regular old” circuit design assumes that changes in
signals propagate instantly. But we know really this isn’t
possible—nothing, not even signals, moves faster than
light. So why does this break at high frequencies?
 What’s Different about
Microwave Circuits?
•  As frequency increases,
size of “components”
becomes comparable to
wavelength
•  Provides both complication
as well as opportunity for
design
•  “Applied electromagnetic
engineering”
•  Another way: we were just
lucky before that all of our
components were much
smaller than a wavelength
 Conclusion: “nodes” aren’t
nodes anymore…
•  Wires, interconnections matter—a lot
•  Shape of the circuit matters—a lot
–  Makes for funny-looking circuits
–  Opens up many design opportunities
–  “Distributed” circuit concepts—explicitly use wave
propagation to do things that “shouldn’t work”
•  Many technologies can be used
–  CMOS, BJTs, more exotic III-V electronics,
vacuum tubes (honest!), magnetic devices
–  Classic engineering—use what is available, just
make it work (and on time and under budget)
 Board-level
•  A few examples…GaAs FET amp
 Board-level
•  A few examples…Coupler & splitter,
plus a few other things…

•  I have a bunch of examples—they are

much easier to see in person
 And on chip:
14-27 GHz Low Noise Amp
43-46 GHz Medium Power
Amplifier
17.5-41 GHz Broadband amp
Distributed Amp - DC-35 GHz
 “Counter-intuitive” Circuit
Layout – Improved Performance
 IEEE MICROWAVE AND WIRELESS COMPONENTS LETTERS, VOL. 21, NO. 7, JULY 2011

What
mplification isTHz
at 0.67 the (frequency) limit?
0 nm InP HEMTs
368 IEEE MICROWAVE AND WIRELESS COMPONENTS LETTERS, VOL. 21, NO. 7, JULY 2011

Low Noise Amplification at 0.67 THz

ng, Member, IEEE, V. Radisic, Senior Member, IEEE, S. Sarkozy,
ou, M. Lange, R. Lai, Fellow, IEEE, andUsing 30Member,
X. B. Mei, nm InPIEEE HEMTs
370 William. R. Deal, Senior Member, IEEE, K. Leong, Member,IEEE
IEEE, V. Radisic,
MICROWAVE AND Senior Member,
WIRELESS IEEE, S.LETTERS,
COMPONENTS Sarkozy,VOL. 21, NO. 7, JULY 2011
B. Gorospe, J. Lee, P. H. Liu, W. Yoshida, J. Zhou, M. Lange, R. Lai, Fellow, IEEE, and X. B. Mei, Member, IEEE

7 THz is
Electron Abstract—In this letter, low noise amplification at 0.67 THz is
achieve a demonstrated for the first time. A packaged InP High Electron
n 7 dB at Mobility Transistor (HEMT) amplifier is reported to achieve a
noise figure of 13 dB with an associated gain greater than 7 dB at
a 5 stage 670 GHz using a high InP HEMT transistors in a 5 stage
on is also coplanar waveguide integrated circuit. A 10-stage version is also
reported to reach a peak gain of 30 dB. These results indicate
indicate that InP HEMT integrated circuits can be useful at frequencies
equencies approaching a terahertz.
Index Terms—Coplanar waveguide (CPW), high electron
mobility transistor (HEMT), low noise amplifier (LNA), mil-
electron limeter-wave (MM-Wave), monolithic microwave integrated
NA), mil- circuit (MMIC), sub-millimeter wave.
Fig. 1. Microphotograph of 670 GHz LNA in split block housing.
ntegrated
I. INTRODUCTION
Fig. 1. Microphotograph of 670 GHz LNA in split block housing. Fig. 6. Measured
to accommodate dc biasingon-wafer
circuitry-Parameters
bonded at ofthe10-stage
top andLNA.

I N the last few years, the development of Terahertz bottom of the circuit. In particular, sections of InP substrate
Everything still “works” to 670 GHz…and transistors over 1 THz have
transistor technologies [1] has pushed operating frequen- have been removed at the corners of the substrate to prevent
overmoding in the waveguide cavity containing the on-chip
Fig. 5.ciesMeasured
of amplifiers well
(solid) andinto the sub-millimeter
simulated wave
(dash) response range. The
of 1000 CPW line 13 dB NF. An iterated 10-stage shows 30 dB peak gain of 30 dB
been demonstrated. Maxwell’s equations are just fine…
to accommodate
first with
measured dc
demonstrations biasing
on-wafer TRL circuitry
of sub-millimeter
calibration. bonded at the top
amplification were un- dipole andused to couple the signal to the integrated circuit.
at 660 GHz measured on wafer, for a realized gain per stage of
rtz bottom of the circuit.
dertaken In particular,
at the 340 GHz sections
atmospheric window of HEMT
using InP InP substrate
[2] and MHEMT [3] technologies. Amplification has now been 3 dB. II. We
THZproject
INP HEMTthe Thigh-gain
ECHNOLOGYdesign should show improved
frequen- have been removed at the corners of the substrate
demonstrated above 500 GHz with a cascode amplifier reported
to prevent
CriticalNF
forwhen packaged
realizing amplifiersand
at thefully
targetcharacterized.
design frequency
nge. The overmoding
by thein [4], inwhich
thereached
University waveguide
of Virginia.
a packaged cavity
These containing
gain ofprobes
10 dB atcover the on-chip
the entire
550 GHz. of 0.67 THz is a transistor with sufficiently high gain at the
were un- dipole used
WR1.5 In thistoletter,
couple
waveguide the signal
band with
the operating anto
range the integrated
insertion
is pushed toloss
670of 7-8circuit.
GHz. dBre-for each
We design frequency. To achieve the A target operating frequency,
CKNOWLEDGMENT
port a packaged low noise amplifier (LNA) with peak gain of 8 we use an InP HEMT epitaxial profile with a composite In-
 Not just amplifiers -
detectors(example: 94 GHz)
 Not Just Circuits - Integrated
Antennas
In-Package and On-Wafer
Antenna Designs
•  Compact, efficient designs for imaging,
phased arrays
•  Cavity-backed dipoles demonstrated
at Ka band for in-package integrated
antennas
•  High directional gain (10 dB) obtained;
6 dB improvement over theoretical
optimum for planar dipole
•  At W-band and above, design scalable
for on-wafer integration

Z. Sun et al., IEEE Antennas and Wireless Prop. Lett., vol. 5, pp. 459-461, 2006.
 Radiation Performance
In-Package Ka-band Antenna Performance
E-plane H-plane

• 3D electromagnetic simulations indicate similar

performance possible through W-band
 New System Concepts
Imaging:
•  Focal plane array, pupil-plane arrays
•  Direct detection: “rectification” of mm-wave
incident radiation, producing DC output
•  High integration level for parallel
receiver chains (MMIC)
•  High instantaneous detection
bandwidth; fc > 800 GHz
•  No bias required
•  Lower 1/f noise than competing technologies
– Reduced/eliminated LNA requirements
– Reduction in cost, size & weight
•  Insensitive to temperature - no active control required; for many applications, no
cooling required
βv=4200 V/W
 Integrated Pixels
•  Low NEP enables passive focal plane
array
•  Monolithic antenna/detector integration
demonstrated
•  Versions with & without impedance
matching tested to > 600 GHz
•  > 20,000 V/W possible with
optimization
 Why Millimeter-wave/THz
Imaging?
Avionics: Security:

Visible,
clear day

A little
foggy Medical:

W-band
image in
fog
 A Focal Plane Array…

•  80x64 pixel
array
•  Integrated
into camera
 Up Next—Some Definitions
•  Our focus is communications systems—so a few
definitions
•  All wireless systems work by broadcasting a signal,
which propagates as electromagnetic waves before
being picked up and reconverted into useful signals
•  We’re going to focus on electronics for the transmit
and receive side; generating the data, etc., is
somebody else’s problem
–  In modern systems, nearly always digital signal processing;
more code than circuit design
 Frequency Bands
•  Important to have a handle on what bands are used
for what purposes; cell phones ≠ satellite uplinks ≠
GPS ≠ …
•  And there are things that are not communications that
we have to worry about too—radar, microwave ovens
(i.e., kW transmitters at 2.45 GHz)
•  To keep all of this straight, “standardized” band
designations have been developed—sort of
 Frequency Bands
One pretty common set of labels:
Frequency (Hz)
3⋅101 3⋅103 3⋅105 3⋅107 3⋅109 3⋅1011 3⋅1014 3⋅1016 >3⋅1024

EHF (extremely
low/voice freq.)

HF (high freq.)
SLF/VF (super

LF (low freq.)
ELF (extremely

MF (medium

SHF (super
VLF (very

high freq.)
high freq.)
low freq.)

UHF (ultra
VHF (very

high freq.)
high freq.)
low freq.)

freq.)

Ultraviolet light

X-rays, Gamma
THz radiation

rays, Cosmic
Visible light
Infrared

rays
microwaves;
audio frequencies RF: AM/FM radio, millimeter,
VHF television submillimeterwaves

107 106 105 104 103 102 10 1 10-1 10-2 10-3 3⋅10-5 10-6 4⋅10-7 10-8 <10-16

Wavelength (m)

But these categories are too broad for many uses

 Frequency Bands
a.) L 0.39 GHz
2 GHz
IEEE letter band
1.55 GHz 5.2 GHz
S
C
4 GHz 8 GHz designations
3.9 GHz
12.4 GHz
X 6.2 GHz
10.9 GHz 18 GHz
Ku 12 GHz
27 GHz
K 15.35 GHz
Band Designation

26 GHz
17.25 GHz 36 GHz
K†
K1 24.5 GHz

Ka 40 GHz
33 GHz
50 GHz
Q 36 GHz
46 GHz
V 75 GHz

E
For applications, often 56 GHz 90 GHz

use these letter-based

60 GHz
W 110 GHz

D bands—but some of 170 GHz

them are a bit vague

140 GHz
G 325 GHz
220 GHz
Y
00.1 11 10
2 100
3

Frequency (GHz)

b.) A 0.25 GHz

 E
60 GHz
W 110 GHz
170 GHz
D
140 GHz
G

Frequency Bands
325 GHz
220 GHz
Y
00.1 11 10
2 100
3

And of course they don’t agree

Frequency (GHz)with other “standard”
designations:
b.) A 0.25 GHz

B 0.1 GHz
C 0.5 GHz
1 GHz
US military
D
standard bands
Band Designation

E 2 GHz 3 GHz

F
G 4 GHz 6 GHz
H
I 8 GHz 10 GHz

J 20 GHz

K
L 40 GHz 60 GHz
140 GHz
M
N 100 GHz

0 1 2 3
0.1 1 Frequency (GHz)
10 100
Frequency (GHz)

Bottom line: standards aren’t really—context matters.

 Administrative Wrap-Up
•  Be sure you’re registered for the course and lab
(40458 and 41458)
•  No class on Thursday
•  No lab this week, no lab next week
•  Thursday lab is too crowded—would Tuesday work?
•  Plan is to have class again (by Zoom) on Tuesday
(this time, from Brazil). After this, back to “normal.”
•  Question: would it be possible to “stretch” classes by
10 minutes (2:00-2:50 ! 2:00-3:00)? If we do this,
we can recover from my stupid travel schedule
without make-up classes. I will follow up with email—
if this is a problem, be sure to let me know