Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student is able to design and analyze simple microwave circuits and circuit components using computer-aided RF-circuit design tools, also taking electromagnetic effects on actual microstrip PCBs into account, as well as to describe key characteristics of different components and complete microwave systems. 

Credits: 5

Schedule: 21.03.2023 - 06.06.2023

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Clemens Icheln, Ville Viikari

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

The teachers in charge of this course are prof. Ville Viikari and Univ. Lect. Clemens Icheln. Contact preferably by e-mail (firstname.lastname@aalto.fi).

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Design of passive and active circuit components (such as filters, couplers, microstrip-line transitions, amplifiers, mixers, and oscillators). The design assignments can facilitate the design of a small radio system.

• applies in this implementation

  1. Recap of the fundamentals of impedance matching-circuit design
  2. Design of passive microwave components (resonators, dividers, couplers, filters, Pozar Chapters 5-8)
     
  3. Design of active microwave components (amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, rectifiers, Pozar Ch. 10-12 in 3^rd ed., or Ch. 10-13 in 4^th ed.)
  4. Design of a small radio system using computer-aided design tools, as group work.
  
  

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  In-session quizzes, homework exercises, reporting group project results in a seminar, and final online quiz.

• applies in this implementation

  The course is graded 0-5. Since most of the grading happens in class, physical attendance in most of the contact sessions is required to be able to pass this course. The final grade is based on the following assessment methods (including their weights in the final grade in %).
  

  • Pre-class quizzes (15 %): Students have to answer quizzes before each lecture (after studying the relevant book chapter).
    
  • Homework exercises (55 %): Assignments are solved either analytically (calculations) or using computer-aided design tools (e.g. AWR), depending on the topic. The computer exercises can be solved individually or collaboratively in groups depending on students' own choice. However, students return all their solutions to homework assignments individually and discuss them face-to-face with a teacher/course assistant in class (physical attendance required for grading). The project presentation in the final seminar (physical attendance required) contributes to this grade.
    
  • Final quiz (30 %): The goal of the final in-class quiz (physical attendance required) is to assess students' overall comprehension of the course.

Workload

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Contact hours 48 h (2 x 3 h per week, 9.5 weeks). Independent work 87 h.

• applies in this implementation

  • 5 ECTS ⇔ 5 x 27 hours = 135 hours of working:
    
  • 10 x (2+3) hours = 50 hours of contact teaching ⇔ 5 hours per week
    
  • + 85 hours of independent working ⇔ average 8.5 hours per week
  • The number of hours for independent work is only indicative. It is subject to the pre-knowledge, skills and working "efficiency" of the student.
    

DETAILS

Study Material

• applies in this implementation

  • The course book is David M. Pozar Microwave Engineering (either 3^rd or 4^th ed.)
    
  • the course book is available online as well as in the Aalto Learning Centre
    
  • there, you can also find the supplementary textbook in Finnish for
    this course: Lehto/Räisänen "RF- ja Mikroaaltotekniikka", Otatieto, TKY 547, 2006

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Teaching Language : English

  Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring IV - V
  2023-2024 Spring IV - V

Details on the schedule

• applies in this implementation

  On Tuesdays at 10:15 - 12 and Thursdays at 9:30 - 12, onsite in OIH room A113. Regular (~weekly) homework assignments are due throughout the course (see MyCourses), the final project (documentation through seminar presentation) is due on June 1, 2023.
  

Description