Course Title: Microwave and Wireless Passive Circuit Design PG

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Microwave and Wireless Passive Circuit Design PG

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
EEET1127	City Campus	Postgraduate	125H Electrical & Computer Engineering	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006

Course Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. James Scott

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3248

Course Coordinator Email: James.Scott@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 12.8.04

Course Coordinator Availability: See notice on office door.

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

To successfully complete this course, you should have the ability to solve fundamental problems in AC circuit analysis and transmission lines, as well as have a basic knowledge of electromagnetics. You are required to have successfully completed the course EEET2114 – RF & Photonic Engineering 2, an equivalent course or provide evidence of equivalent capabilities.

Course Description

The course introduces you to the principles, processes and techniques used in the design and realisation of modern microwave and wireless passive circuits. Topic areas include:

• Microwave circuit analysis and measurement.
• Transmission lines and lumped elements.
• Microwave resonators.
• Ferrite devices.
• Hybrids and couplers.
• Microwave filters.
• Microwave duplexers and multiplexers.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

On completion of this course you will be able to:
- analyse microwave circuits using a range of network parameter representations (including s-parameters)
- perform measurements on microwave circuits using a vector network analyser
- model passive lumped elements such as capacitors, resistors and inductors (including self-resonant behaviour)
- select appropriate transmission line technologies for a given application
- design and analyse microstrip transmission lines and other planar transmission line structures
- design a range of microwave passive circuits and analyse them using computer-aided design software
- employ advanced computer-aided design techniques such as optimisation and electromagnetic modelling

You will gain or improve capabilities in:

Technical Competence:
By presenting the principles of operation of microwave passive devices and their suitability for use in various microwave systems and sub-systems.
Through written assessment in the final examination and assignments, and through laboratory reports and discussions.

Problem Solving and Decision Making:
Students will be able to analyse a range of microwave circuit design problems and make decisions regarding the type of analysis to use and the appropriate technology to use for a given application.

Design Skills:
Assignment and laboratory work will develop design skills and take you through a typical product design cycle.

Teamwork and Leadership:
Teamwork skills are developed through undertaking laboratory and assignment work in groups.

Communication:
You are required to provide written reports on laboratory and assignment work. The ability to critically analyse results and present arguments is developed.

Life-long Learning:
By encouraging curiosity and self-directed research capabilities.
The examination provides a showcase for additional knowledge gained.

At the end of this course you will be able to:
1. Understand and explain the principles of operation of microwave circuits and devices.
2. Be able to design and simulate microwave circuits and devices.
3. Be able to decide upon suitable measurement methodologies to characterise and verify the performance of microwave circuits and devices.
4. Be able to undertake measurements to characterise and verify the performance of microwave ciruits and devices.
5. Be familiar with the various circuit fabrication technologies and be able to select the appropriate technology for a particular application and justify that selection.
6. Be able to source information from the public domain and analyse that information.
7. Be able to communicate findings through written reports.
8. Be able to work in a team environment with minimal direction from a supervisor.

The course will develop the following capabilities.

1. Technical Competence
a. Plan and design microwave Communication Engineering circuits and sub-systems
b. Perform a range of engineering analysis techniques
c. Analyse and interpret experimental and laboratory data
d. Conduct experiments
e. Apply engineering analysis approaches to tasks
f. Use mathematical models and computer simulations to simulate technical problems
g. Apply industry based computer software packages to problems in Communication Engineering
2. Problem Solving and Decision Making
h. Solve Communication Engineering problems
i. Use a range of engineering modeling and analysis tools
j. Use a range of decision making and evaluation methodologies
k. Use data and information to support decision making
l. Relate results from computer programs and simulations to the solution of technical problems
3. Design skills
m. Design a range of passive and active microwave circuits
n. Develop susb-system specifications from overall system specifications
4. Team work and leadership
o. Work in a team
p. Define goals and normal behaviours in a team
q. Provide constructive feedback to team members
r. Resolve conflict in a team
5. Communication
s. Communicate effectively across all modes: listen, speak, write and draw
t. Communicate results qualitatively, quantitatively, graphically, electronically, textually
u. Communicate processes of thinking and reflection
v. Share knowledge with colleagues and fellow workers in an effective way
6. Lifelong learning
w. Develop a willingness and capacity to engage in lifelong learning
x. Engage in self directed learning
y. Apply principles of life long learning to any new task
z. Reflect on experience
aa. Access a wide range of resources


The specific educational objectives are:
- to understand the principles of operation of microwave devices and circuits.
- to be able to design and simulate microwave devices and circuits.
- to be able to carry out a range of tests and measurements to investigate and verify the performance of these devices and circuits.

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

- attendance at lectures where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
- completion of tutorial questions and laboratory projects designed to give further practice in the application of theory and procedures, and to give feedback on student progress and understanding;
- completion of written assignments consisting of numerical and other problems requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
- private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and numerical problems.

Overview of Learning Resources

You will be able to access course information and learning materials through the S:\EEET1127 directory on the School’s computer system and may purchase copies of printed notes from the RMIT Bookshop. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided. Students will also use laboratory equipment and computer software within the School during project and assignment work.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises written assignments, written laboratory reports and a final written examination of not more than 3 hours duration at the end of the semester.

Written assignments and laboratory reports will be used to provide feedback to students on their progress in the course during the semester.