High-Frequency Components, Amplifiers and Oscillators

Selected high-frequency components such as couplers, circulators, power dividers;
Methods for cicuit analysis, as e.g. scattering/transmission parameters, even/odd analysis, and signal flow graphs;
Active devices, basic amplifier circuits, basic oscillator circuits, 1-port amplifiers, mixers and parametric effects, frequency multipliers and deviders, 1-port osicillators and phase locked loop, Impatt-diode, Gunn-element, microwave tubes (klystron, travelling wave tube, magnetron), noise, noise calculation, and noise matching, 2-port amplifiers and stabiliy;
Transmitter and receiver concepts;
Design and analysis of circuits with computer aided design tools (CAD)

At the end of the module students are able to understand circuits for high-frequency amplifiers and oscillators together with their sub-components. Also, they are able to design such circuits themselves. The students know the physical effects, which are relevant for the functioning of these circuits. Also, they know passive components such as transmission lines, couplers and circulators and the know how to utilize such components for the design of oscillators and amplifiers. They understand the nonlinear effects which are the basis for mixers, mulitpliers, and parametric amplifiers.

Mathematics, Signal representation, Electrodynamics, Circuit theory

The successful participation in the following modules is recommended:
- Introduction to RF technology
- EM Fields and Waves

Teaching method:
During the lectures students are instructed in a teacher-centered style. The tutorials are held in a student-centered style.

Learning method:
In addition to the individual methods of the students consolidated knowledge is aspired by repeated lessons in excercises and tutorials.

Additional project tasks for analysis and design of cicuits give the students the opportunity to apply their knowledge acquired during the lecture and the tutorials and to further deepen the understanding of the taught materials.

The following types of media will be used and also made available online:

- presentations
- lecture notes
- tutorial problems
- project tasks for analysis and design of amplifiers and oscillators
- downloads

Meinke, Gundlach: Taschenbuch der Hochfrequenztechnik, 5. Auflage, Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1992

Zinke, Brunswig: Lehrbuch der Hochfrequenztechnik, 3. Auflage, Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1986

Collin: Foundations of Microwave Engineering, 2nd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2002

Schiek, Rolfes, Siweris: Noise in High-Frequency Circuits and Oscillators, John Wiley & Sons, 2006

Pozar, D.M.: Microwave Engineering, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2005

Vendelin, Pavio, Rohde: Microwave Circuit Design Using Linear and Nonlinear Techniques, John Wiley & Sons, 2005.

The examination is adapted to the learning outcomes and consists of a written examination of 90 min duration.
In the written examination, students demonstrate by answering questions under time pressure and with limited helping material (10 pages or 5 sheets of self-generated documentation, mathematical equation book, non-programmable pocket calculator) the theoretical knowledge of components, amplifiers, and circuits. By solving analysis and design problems, they demononstrate the understanding of relevant physical effects and design principles.
During the semester, students get the opportunity to participate in voluntary project and design tasks, in which they can solve different analysis and design problems in more detail. These project tasks can be used to improve the final grade.

The final grade consists of the grade of the written exam (100%).

The overal grade for the project tasks will count with 20% of the final grade, if the average grade of the written exam (80%) and of the project task grade (20%) will lead to an improvement of the grade.