35112 - Autonomous RF Sistems (2nd Cycle)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering for Energy (cod. 8770)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the students know the functioning of the nonlinear circuits that make up the radiofrequency and microwave front-ends. Acquires the knowledge necessary for the analysis and design of these circuits. They know the mechanisms underlying the main non-linearities such as self-polarization, intermodulation and gain saturation and how these can be analyzed using CAD tools that allow them to be accurately characterized.
Finally, the students have the knowledge necessary to achieve the energy autonomy of the front-ends by exploiting the radio waves received and the related environmental advantages due to the absence of batteries. They know and are able to design such low consumption front-ends as those used by the RFID technology and by the low-power wireless sensors.

Course contents

The building blocks of an RF and microwave front end
The different technologies used for their realization: hybrid circuits and monolithic circuits.
The main nonlinearities of RF circuits and their mathematical modeling.
Sinusoidal and multi-tonal stresses
Gain saturation, auto-polarization and intemodulation mechanisms.
The low noise amplifier, the power amplifier; the mixer
The harmonic balancing method and its implementation in the CAD platforms for radiofrequency circuits.
Analysis methods and nonlinear design.
CAD design of a rectifier for the conversion of energy to RF, using the AWR platform.

Teaching methods

power point presentations; sessions to verify the understanding of the topics through group work; lessons given by the students with teach back methods.

Assessment methods

Verification of learning occurs through the presentation of a project of a non-linear circuit which is developed during the second part of the course also through a group activity. An oral test is then taken which aims to deepen the verification of the acquisition of the knowledge required by the course program. The final mark is expressed in thirtieths and takes into account the results obtained in both tests.

Teaching tools

Personal computer, Cadence AWR, CST Microwave studio

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Costanzo

SDGs

Quality education Industry, innovation and infrastructure

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.