• Students know about the requirements and challenges of wireless communication frontends and can name and describe them
• They are familiar with modern wireless standards and modulation schemes and can name and describe them
• They know most important transceiver architectures and performance metrics for RF frontend systems
• They are able to design and simulate important RF circuit building blocks like basic low-noise amplifiers, mixers, oscillators and passive microwave components

None

• Introduction to RF communications systems
  • Structure of a wireless communication link
  • Modulation schemes and communication standards
  • Wireless propagation mechanisms
• Wireless Transceiver Architectures
  • Basic and Modern Heterodyne Receivers
  • Direct Conversion Receivers
  • Image Reject Receivers
  • Low-IF Receivers
  • Heterodyne Transmitters
  • Direct Conversion Transmitters
• Basic Concepts in RF CMOS IC Design
• RF Design Metrics (IIP2/3, Noise Figure, Sensitivity, Dynamic Range)
• Important RF building blocks
  • CMOS Low-Noise Amplifiers
  • CMOS Mixers
  • Oscillators
  • RF Power amplifiers

Lecture material as provided in the course (required)
Recommended reading as follows:

• B. Razavi, RF Microelectronics, Pearson Education, Prentice Hall, 2011.
• R. L. Haupt, Wireless Communications Systems: An Introduction, Wiley-IEEE Press, 2019.
• S. Voinigescu, High-Frequency Integrated Circuits, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
• F. Ellinger, Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits and Technologies, Springer, 2008.
• T. H. Lee, The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits,Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Teaching & discussion, problem assignments, practical design labs using CAD design tools, homework

Integrated module examination
Immanent examination character: Written/oral exam, including homework assignments, presentations and lecture contribution