ECE 548 Home

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Colorado State University

ECE 536: RF Integrated Circuit Design

Welcome to the home page of ECE 536 for the Fall 2019 semester. This page provides course information and links to related course pages and other web sites. This web site can be reached at http://www.engr.colostate.edu/ECE536/course_info.html.

Instructor:

Prof. Steven C. Reising
Office: B113 Engineering Bldg.; Phone: 970-491-2228
E-mail: Steven.Reising @ ColoState.edu

Office Hours: Wednesdays, 3:30-5:00 pm

Grader:

Ming-Hao Cheng

E-mail: MingHao.Cheng @ ColoState.edu

Syllabus:

Syllabus for Fall 2019 (PDF)

Textbook:

RF Microelectronics, 2nd edition, Behzad Razavi, Prentice Hall, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-13-713473-1.

Lectures:

Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm, Engineering B3

Exam Dates:

See Exam Schedule web page

COURSE TOPICS

Topic

Title

Sections of Razavi or Notes

1

Introduction to RF Technology

Chapter 1

2

MOS Devices, Modeling and Simulation

Notes

3

RF Design Concepts

2.1-2.6

4

Passive Components

7.1-7.3 and 7.6

5

Communications Concepts

3.1, 3.2 and 3.6

6

Systems Considerations for Receivers

4.1, 4.2 and 2.2

7

Noise

Notes and 2.3

8

Low-Noise Amplifiers

5.1-5.3, 5.6 and 5.7

9

Receiver Partitioning

Notes

10

Mixers

6.1-6.4

11

Receiver Design Example

Notes and 3.7.5

12

Oscillators

8.1-8.3

13

Modulators

Notes

14

Power Amplifiers

12.1-12.3

Objectives:

This course introduces the design of radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). RFICs have rapidly advanced in both technology and design over the past 20 years to first create and then meet a high demand for cost-effective solutions for mobile communication and ubiquitous access to information. Applications include wireless communications, passive and active remote sensing, location sensing, radar, and radio astronomy.

This course is focused on the key concepts enabling RF capability on a chip. CMOS technology and the ability to incorporate additional elements is emphasized. Parasitic effects and current device modeling will be explained. Using this foundation, the design of high-frequency analog integrated circuits will be taught, including low-noise amplifiers, voltage-controlled oscillators, phase-locked loops, mixers and power amplifiers. Along with these specific building blocks, the critical concepts of impedance transformation, filtering and power delivery will be addressed.

Outcomes:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to design and evaluate practical circuits for RFICs from an intuitive approach based on a rigorous understanding of the fundamentals. They will have designed and simulated various circuit functions to implement the need for RFICs in many of the applications. They will be able to understand the relationship and limitations of circuit topology and device characteristics to achieve competitive specifications.

Prerequisites:

ECE331 & ECE332 or equivalent 2-semester rigorous transistor-level electronics course. It is recommended that students have passed these courses with more than the minimum level of performance.

Homework:

Homework will be assigned nearly every week (check the Homework Assignments link) and must be turned in by the indicated due date. Late homework will not be accepted, regardless of reason.

Grading:

Students will be evaluated based on homework problems, a written design project, and two exams. A final grade will be calculated based on: Homework 25%, Design Project/Report 10%, Midterm Exam 30%, Final Exam 35%. (Plus/minus grading)

Software:

Cadence Virtuoso will be used for this course. This software is accessible on the linux servers in the ENS computer labs as well as online on Virtual Lab. All students in the course are responsible for gaining access to these resources. Engineering Technology Services is a resource for access.

Page updated on September 27, 2019

Comments to Steven.Reising @ ColoState.edu