Professors
Basic notions of electronics, circuits theory and transmission systems.
The knowledge to be acquired by the students is:
1. Understanding of the different parts of a radio emitter and receiver.
2. Understanding of the specification of radio integrated circuits.
3. Radio-link design.
The students are also supposed to develop the skills listed below:
4. Capacity for analysis of radio circuits.
5. Capacity for work organization and planning.
6. Oral and written communication in the language used by the students in the different proves presented to the professor.
7. Problem solving capacity.
8. Computing skills for specialized software.
9. Ability in assembly of radio circuits.
10. Teamwork.
11. Teamwork in an e-learning context.
12. Report writing.
13. Capacity of applying radio technologies theory into practice.
14. Capacity of generating new ideas.
15. Handling English text books.
The themes studied in the radio technology subject are the following:
1. Introduction to radio transmitters and receivers
1.1. Basics
1.2. Transmitters
1.3. Receivers
2. Fundamentals of noise
2.1. Definition and type of noise
2.2. Noise factor and equivalent temperature of noise
3. Distortion
3.1. Basics
3.2. Distortion by squared law
3.3. Distortion by cubic law
3.4. The point of interception and the rejection ratio
4. Oscillators
4.1. Principle of operation
4.2. Types of oscillators
4.3. Stability of an oscillator
4.4. Crystal oscillators
5. The Phase Locked Loop (PLL)
5.1. Fundamentals of the PLL
5.2. The linear approximation of the PLL
5.3. The second order PLL
5.4. Analysis of the PLL with noise
5.5. Applications of the PLL
6. Filtration and adaptation of impedances
6.1. Radiofrequency filters
6.2. Impedance matching
7. RF amplifiers
7.1. Small signal amplifiers
7.2. CAG Circuits
7.3. Power amplifiers
8. Mixers
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Mixers with diodes
8.3. Mixers with bipolar transistor
8.4. Mixers with transistor FET
9. Fixed service terrestrial radio links
9.1. Structure of a radio link
9.2. Radio link power budget
9.3. Fadings
9.4. Quality and unavailability of a radio link
9.5. Diversity
10. Communications by satellite
10.1. Structure of the system
10.2. Balance of powers
10.3. VSAT systems
10.4. Iridium system
Practices:
1.- Design and implementation of an RF PCB for a GNSS frontend.
The sessions combine lectures, solving exercises, continuous assessment activities and practice. The activities of
continuous assessment are:
- Problems with heterodyne receiver, noise, intermodulation products, and PLL
The hardware practice, which is mandatory, includes the following academic goals:
- Become familiar with the RF (small product) PCB design process including all its phases: product approach,
component selection, schematic design, PCB design, fabrication, assembly, and enclosure design (optional)
- Introduction to Professional Computer Electronic Design (eCAD) Software (Altium Designer)
- Assembling a prototype, performance testing, and detecting design defects
- Verification of performance using a software-defined GNSS receiver (GNSS-SDR)
In order to evaluate if the student has achieved the adequate level of the proposed objectives, the subject has different methods to evaluate the student:
Exams.
Oral exams.
Classroom participation.
Laboratory reports.
Computer work.
The marks of the examinations are calculated by weighting the control point by 50% and the exam examination mark by
50%. In case you get a score equal to or greater than 6 at the checkpoint, that matter is released for the June exam.
The final mark of theory will be calculated by weighting the mark of the examinations by 70% and the note of AC by
30%. If the resulting examinations score is less than 3.5, the alumni will fail the June call.
On the resulting note, an increase will be applied between 0 and 1 point, depending on the note of the practical part.
- J.L. Pijoan, `Guia d´estudi de Tecnologies de Radiocomunicacions´, Enginyeria i Arquitectura La Salle, 2003.
- J.L. Pijoan, `Col-lecció de problemes´, Enginyeria i Arquitectura La Salle, 2011.
- J.L. Pijoan, `Apunts de Tecnologies de Radiocomunicacions´, Enginyeria i Arquitectura La Salle, 2005.
- Manuel Sierra et al., Electrónica de Comunicaciones, Prentice Hall, 2003.
- J.M. Hernando Rábanos, Transmisión por radio, 6ª ed, Centro Estudios Ramon Areces, 2008.
- Paul H. Young, Electronic Communication Techniques, Prentice-Hall, 1999.
- Herbert L. Krauss et alt., Solid State Radio Engineering, Wiley, John & Sons, May 2000
- J. Smith, Modern Communication Circuits, McGraw Hill.
- Angel Cardama et alt., Antenes, Edicions UPC, 1994.
- Bernard Sklar, Electronic Communication Techniques, Prentice-Hall, 2001
- Ronald E. Best, Phase-Locked Loops. Design, Simulation and Applications, McGraw-Hill, 1999.
- Wayne Tomasi, Advanced Electronic Communication Systems, Prentice-Hall, 1998.
- H. Meyr, G. Ascheid, Synchronization in Digital communications, Vol 1, John Wiley & Sons, 1990.
- D.C. Green, Radio Systems for Technicians, 1995.
- Gary. M. Miller, Modern Electronic Communication, Prentice-Hall, 1999.
- John G. Proakis, Masoud Salehi, Communication Systems Engineering, Prentice-Hall, 1994.
- Roy Blake, Basic Electronic Communication, West Publishing Company, 1993.
- Miquel Ferrer, Disseny de radioenllaços digitals, TFC Enginyeria La Salle, Juny 2001. Enginyeria i Arquitectura La Salle.