Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MNE5012

 
TITLE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Microelectronics and Nanoelectronics

 
DESCRIPTION This study unit covers integrated circuit level design issues, analysis and testing of radio frequency systems and applications. Specific circuit topics include noise modeling, low noise amplifiers, voltage controlled oscillators and mixers. In addition, technology considerations in sub-micron mixed signal and radio frequency integrated circuit design are also discussed.

Study-unit Aims:

The unit aims at introducing techniques for the design of basic radio frequency circuits, such as low noise amplifiers, voltage controlled oscillators and mixers, in both CMOS and bipolar technologies.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

• understand and analyse fundamental radio frequency integrated circuits including low noise amplifiers, voltage controlled oscillators and mixers;
• understand constraints and issues in sub-micron technologies that affect radio frequency integrated circuit design.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

• analyse and model radio frequency circuits with particular focus on their noise performance and linearity;
• design, simulate and optimize fundamental radio frequency integrated circuits up to layout level;
• use specialised equipment such as a network analyser and a spectrum analyser in order to test and characteristise radio frequency integrated circuits.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Behzad R., RF Microelectronics, Prentice-Hall, 1998, ISBN: 0-13-887571-5
Lee T.H., “The Design of CMOS Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits”, Cambridge University Press, 2004, ISB 0521835398
John Rogers and Calvin Plett, “Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design”, ISBN 1-58053-502-x

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE MNE5014

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 20%
Examination (3 Hours) SEM2 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Owen Casha

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit