Signal theory, modulations, electromagnetic propagation, antennas, random processes, basic electromagnetics, circuit theory and basic complex number theory
The course students acquire the knowledge and develop the skills listed below:
Block A:
1. Basic knowledge about wave propagation and analysis methods for high frequency circuits based on wave propagation.
2. Ability to apply the acquired knowledge not only to its usual area of application (microwave circuits) but also to other areas of knowledge in which the studied concepts can help to the understanding of phenomena and help to the resolution of problems, such as Electromagnetic Compatibility, Communication Systems, Optical Communication Systems and Electronic Design.
3. Ability to obtain simple analytical models from complex systems that keep their basic features and allow their analysis and interpretation.
4. Understanding of the importance of computer simulation tools for the analysis and interpretation of circuits and systems too complex for analytic approaches.
5. Efficient oral and written communication.
6. Ability to understands and use bibliography in English.
7. Understanding of all the present aspects related to the development of one´s carreer, and the need for a continuing training.
Block B:
1. Get the knowledge for to design transmisión systems
2. Manage the aplication of signal theory and process to the digital transmission systems
3. Give the student the capacity of adquire the knowledge of the new technologies used in the future
4. Knowlege about network dimensioning and its ecomical impact
5. Know the market tendencies in technologies and telecommunication services.
Block A:
1.- Transmission lines. General behaviour.
1.1- Definition and symbology.
1.2- Circuit model and time behaviour.
1.3- Steady state behaviour.
1.4- Impedance.
1.5- Reflection coefficient.
1.6- Standing wave ratio.
1.7- Lossy transmission lines.
1.8- Dispersion in transmission lines.
1.9- Physical transmission lines.
2.- Analysis of microwave circuits.
2.1- Definition.
2.2- One-port networks. Generalized reflection coefficient.
2.3- S parameters for an n-port network.
2.4- S parameter computation.
2.5- Two-port networks.
2.6- S, Z, Y, T and ABCD parameter relationships.
2.7- S parameters without physical meaning.
2.8- Network analyzers.
3.- Passive microwave circuits.
3.1- /4 transformers, tapers and impedance matching.
3.2- Signal dividers/combiners ( hybrid rings, Wilkinson and resitive dividers).
3.3- Directional couplers.
3.4- Circulators.
3.5- Filters, resonators and duplexers.
3.6- Circuits with PIN diodes (switches and variable phase shifters).
4.- Waveguides. Microwave passive circuits for waveguides.
4.1- Waveguides. Types and features.
4.2- Waveguide modelling with transmission lines.
4.3- Circuit elements for waveguides.
4.4- Basic waveguide passive circuits.
5.- Linear microwave amplifiers.
5.1- Introduction.
5.2- Amplifier gain.
5.3- Amplifier stability.
5.4- Amplifier noise.
5.5- Microwave transistors. Biasing.
6.- Mixers, frequency multipliers and oscillators.
6.1- Schottky and IMPATT diodes.
6.2- Non-linear models for MeSFET transistors.
6.3- Mixers.
6.4- Frequency multipliers.
6.5- Oscillators.
Optional laboratory practises:
1.- Microwave oscillator design.
2.- Microwave mixer design.
Block B:
1.- Introduction to digital transmisión systems
2.- Signal theory
3.- Base band modulations
4.- Passband modulations
5.- Transmisión impairments
6.- Radiolinks
7.- Satellite links
8.- Wideband networks..
9.- Teletraffic theory
Block A:
The subject is covered in 30 two hour sessions. The course is imparted in two different formats:
1. Presential format. It is imparted through lectures. The theory lectures are complemented with problem solving workshops in order to consolidate the theoretical concepts and to present a wise fan of applications. Sporadically selected students can be invited to do presentations about non essential course topics. Besides, research projects can be assigned to motivated students about topics in which they want to improve their knowledge, on in topics in which they have some expertise. It is expected that the student work on his own the theoretical concepts, and that he applies them to several situations through suggested problems. As a complement to lectures and problem workshops the student is given the possibility to do optional practises in order to acquire a deeper knowledge about design methodologies than cannot be undertaken from an analytical point of view. The practises propose methodologies for microwave mixers and oscillators. The teacher is wholly available to the student for the solution of doubts.
2. Semipresential format. In this format the student do not attend to lectures at the college. The student is a member of an online virtual campus and follows the course from home. The student is provided with printed course notes, which he obtains from the virtual campus, and an online study-guide which substitute the lectures. The study-guide tries to grade the learning process, grading the amount of concepts that must be learned and the minimum amounts of problems that must be done, imitating the rhythm of the presential lectures. The degree of comprehension of the subject is tested by the own student through online tests performed after each lesson. Teachers are contacted using e-mail, or through virtual lectures using videoconference and electronic blackboard, and at optional presential lectures.
Block B:
The subject is covered in 30 two hours sessions. The student is provided with collections of exercices and technical information about the technologies presented in the classes.
If the student needs extra support, can use the e-campus mail for online help or demand a personal interview with the lecturer.
1. Presential format. The classes are magisterial. Slides are used for complex images and practical exercices that need to much time at the drawing board and lacks quality of presentation. The slides are available to the student before their use in class. After the completion of each chapter a complete session is devoted to problems and exercices.
2. Semipresential format. Not applicable.
Block A:
In order to test whether the student has reached in an adequate degree the aims of the course, the following evaluation tools are used:
A. Exams
They consist of problems (two or three per exam). Theoretical questions are not usual.
C. Quizzes
Semipresential students have to answer at the end of each session a quizz which allows them (and the teacher) to test their understanding of the subject.
D. Homework
If assigned, it is used to improve the course marcs. It is not a systematic evaluation tool.
J. Classroom participation
The evaluation of classroom participation is subjective and is applied via slight improvements of the marks of students who have distinguished themselves by their active classroom participation (or its semipresential equivalent through online forum activity, questions, assistance to presential or online meetings, etc), provided that the teacher believes that the exam marks do not match the work and the knowledge shown by the student in the classroom.
K. Laboratory reports
The optional practises are evaluated using laboratory reports. Since they are optional, the marks on the laboratory reports can only improve the course marks, never worsen them.
Block A is evaluated by semester exams. The first semester exam is done in February, and repeated in June and September. The second semester exam is done in June, and repeated in September. The marks for this part of the course (which is passed with a mark greater or equal to five) is obtained as the arithmetic mean of the highest of the first semester marks and the highest of the second semester marks, provided they are greater of equal to four. During the second semester the students can perform the optional practises. Homework, quizzes and classroom participation are also taken into account in order to round off the marks.
Block B:
A. Exams
The exam is composed by an variable number of exercices, among five and eight, according their difficulty and number of questions whitin the exercice. The critical vision of the results and the hipothesis are considered.
D. Homework
Optionally the student could resolve and deliver the exercices proposed in the presential sessions. The process of resolution and the use of informatic tools is considered.. The student can deliver the resolutions in electronic (through the e-campus) or printed format.
Block B is divided in two semesters and the final note is the average if the student passes the two exams. If the student fails in one or in the two exams, has a new opportunity in September. Always exists the September exam for all the program.
The marks for the whole course are obtained as the arithmetic mean between the marks of the blocks A and B of the course, provided the marks for each part are greater of equal to five.To pass the course it is necessary to pass either block independently.
Block A:
Objective 1: Basic knowledge of the subject.
-The student has to prove that he has mastered the basic theory of the subject [A,C,D,J,K].
Objective 2: Problem solving skills.
-The student has to prove that he is able to apply the basic theory to the solution of engineering problems [A,D,J,K].
Objective 3: Analysis and synthesis skills.
-The student has to show enough madurity to discern what is important from what is accessory in the problems he has to solve [A,D,J,K].
-The student has to be able to critically interpret the results that he obtains, and to extract conclusions from them [A,D,J,K].
Objective 4: Relational skills.
-The student has to prove that he is able to see this course not as an isolated corpus of knowledge, but as a set of elements that are linked to many other subjects in the degree, and that he is able to apply the new knowledge to the interpretation of phenomena different from those arising in high frequency circuits [A,D,J].
Objective 5: Self-learning skills.
-The student has to prove that he is able to go beyond the scope of the course and that he is able to study in depth selected parts of the subject on his own [D].
Block B:
Objetive 1:
-The student should demonstrate ability to understand the design problems and evaluation performance of transmisión systems.
Objetive 2:
-The student should demonstrate his knowledge in new technologies and to understand their impact in the actual systems.
Objective 3:
-The student should understand the economic and technical balance in the design and dimensioning of the systems
Block A:
M. Ribó, `High Frequency Circuits Printed Lecture Notes´, La Salle, 2003
M. Ribó, `High Frequency Circuits Problem Collections´, La Salle, 2003
D.M. Pozar, `Microwave Engineering´, 2nd edition, John Wiley &Sons, 1998
G. Gonzalez, `Microwave Transistor Amplifiers. Analysis and Design´, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 1997
Block B:
B. Sklar, `Digital Communications.Fundamentals and applications´, Prentice Hall
Bloc A:
R.E. Collin, `Foundations for microwave Engineering´, 2nd edition, IEEE Press - John Wiley &Sons
N. Markuvitz, `Waveguide Handbook´, Longman, 1986
J. Bará, `Circuitos de microondas con lineas de transmission´, UPC, 1994
Bloc B:
I.A. Glover and P.M. Grant, `Digital Communications´, Prentice Hall
S. Haykin `Communication Systems´.
J. M. Hernando Rábanos, `Transmisión por Radio´, Editorial Centro de Estudios Ramón Areces.
Maral & Bousquet, `Satellite Communications´, Prentice Hall
H. Akimaru & K. Kawashima, `Teletraffic´, Springer