Topic outline

  • Integrated RF Circuits


    smiling chip
    In this course we will focus on the high-frequency design challenges of integrated circuits, and study typical radio transceiver structures and related circuit solutions.  This course is a part of the micro- and nanoelectronic circuit design major of the master's programme in Electronics and Nanotechnology. The prerequisite for this course is that you have studied the course ELEC-E3510 - Basics of IC Design.

    Course brochure describes the content and study methods.

    The course starts on Tuesday March 2nd at 12:15.
    We will use Zoom for online teaching sessions: https://aalto.zoom.us/j/67929765880

    First lecture will be followed by CAD exercise demo. It is highly recommend to follow this presentation !!

    If you do not have an user account for vspace server, please follow the instructions given in the  CAD Exercises page.


    The final meeting and project presentations will be on 25.5.2021.


  • Schedule

    2.3.      First meeting : introduction and CAD demo
    9.3.      Topic 1: Radio architectures
    23.3.    Topic 2: IC Technologies
    6.4.      Topic 3: Amplifiers
    20.4.    Topic 4: Mixers
    4.5.      Topic 5: Synthesizers
    25.5.    Project presentations and course wrap-up

  • Lectures

    Lecture slides will be added here after each meeting.


    1) Slides of the first lecture

    2) Slides of the second lecture

    3) Slides of the third lecture

    4) Slides of the fourth lecture

    5) Slides of the fifth lecture

  • Self-Learning Assignments

    Each assignment will be included here after the meeting.

  • Homeworks

    Homeworks are "pen and paper" type problems for you to solve.

    Each homework will be included here after the meeting.


  • Project Work

    In the project work the task is to design and simulate a simple RF receiver consisting of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and down-conversion mixer. Details can be found in the project description.


    All the advices and supporting material are located in the VSPACE at directory

    /home/E3550/project_work_instructions

    Ideal baseband filter for project work can be found in following path

    /home/E3550/cad_materials/rfic_lib

    Add this path in cadence virtuoso through CIW>Tools>Library path editor.  While adding the path, software will complain about missing library. Just ignore the complain and save the library path editor settings.  Once you have added the path you can open ideal components models from rfic_lib path in cadence virtuoso. From rfic_lib, you will need 'ideal_filter' component for your project work.

    Note that the CAD exercises are such that they prepare you for the project work.
    Complete them, and you have the simulation skills needed for this task.