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Advanced Theory and Technology of Devices Politecnico di TorinoCampione Salvatore 145781 – Bosio Matteo 148451 A.Y. 2007/2008
1
1. Introduction to RF and microwave integrated circuits
1) Define RF, microwaves and millimeter waves from the standpoint of frequency allocation.Type Frequency Range Wavelength Range
RF Few MHz and 1 GHz Order of 1 mMicrowaves 1 GHz to 30 GHz 30 cm to 1 cmMillimeter 30 GHz to 100 (300) GHz Below 1 cmThe extension to 300 GHz for the millimeter waves is usually cut off to 100 GHz since no use are done above thatfrequency value.
2) Suppose that a radar has to be designed to detect objects of the average size of 1 cm: is an RF operatingfrequency adequate to this? Explain why/why not. Suggest if the case a more suitable frequency range.
RF frequencies are not adequate to this purpose since the dimension of the object you want to detect has to be muchbigger than the wavelengths used (in this case,
λ
is around 1 m).A suitable choice could be the usage of millimeter waves.
3) A dielectric medium has ε
r
=9. Evaluate the free-space wavelength at 10 GHz and the wavelength in the dielectricmedium.
In the free-space exists the relationship among the wavelength, the frequency and the light velocity:From this equation, it is possible to compute the free-space wavelength:The wavelength in the dielectric medium can be computed by means of the following formula:
4) Identify the L and the K bands (frequency limits). In what frequency band are GSM cellphones operating?
Following the IEEE Standard, the L band is allocated between 1 GHz and 2 GHz while the K band between 18 GHz and27 GHz.GSM cellphones are operating in the L band.
5) Explain why signals cannot conveniently be transmitted in baseband through a Herzian channel, but rather theyhave to be upconverted through analog or digital modulations. Assume as an example e.g. a hi-fi signal withfrequency between DC and 20 KHz.
Since a baseband signal implies a great wavelength and an efficient antenna must have a dimension comparable to it,it is not convenient to transmit the signal at those frequencies because you need enormous antennas.For the example we get:
km f c
1510*2010*3
380
===
λ 
 As you can see, such an antenna is not reasonable.Even if the antenna can be realized, it is not convenient to transmit baseband signals because such waves are verylittle attenuated and will be spread worldwide.
6) Explain why transmitting the human voice in baseband through a portable phone would be for many reasonsunpractical.
 
Advanced Theory and Technology of Devices Politecnico di TorinoCampione Salvatore 145781 – Bosio Matteo 148451 A.Y. 2007/2008
2
The main reason for which transmitting human voice in baseband on a portable phone would be unpractical is the sizeof the antenna (which has to be comparable to the wavelength).
 7) In a cellular system each cell exploits the same frequency channels (e.g. around 2 GHz), they are allocated todifferent users. Explain why there is no interference between nearby cells.
The same frequencies can be reused since the Herzian channel provides enough attenuation between radio-basestations.This is possible for RF higher than 1 GHz and microwaves.
8) Describe a basic RF RX/TX (receiver/transmitter) scheme.
This is the scheme of a basic RF transceiver:The modulation/demodulation blocks are used to swap between BB/RF and RF/BB.Amplification towards the antenna provides the power necessary to transmit the information while the one towardsthe BB section increases the received signal level (normally low noise amplification LNA).The duplexer switches between RX and TX mode.Filters are used to select multi-channel bands, channels, to reject image frequencies and to cutoff noise.
9) List the basic RX section building blocks, starting from the antenna down to the downconversion mixer.
The building blocks are the following:
•
 
Antenna
•
 
Duplexer
•
 
Band select filter
•
 
LNA: low noise amplifier
•
 
Image rejection filter: only in heterodyne
•
 
LO: local oscillator
•
 
Mixer
10) List the basic TX section building blocks, starting from the upconversion mixer up to the antenna.
The building blocks are the following:
•
 
Mixer
•
 
LO: local oscillator
•
 
Band pass filter
•
 
PA: power amplifier
•
 
Duplexer
 
Advanced Theory and Technology of Devices Politecnico di TorinoCampione Salvatore 145781 – Bosio Matteo 148451 A.Y. 2007/2008
3
•
 
Antenna
11) What is the difference between a homodyne and a heterodyne receiver?
Homodyne receiver:Also named direct conversion, it directly converts RF to baseband.Heterodyne receiver:Before converting to baseband, it downconverts the RF to intermediate frequencies (IF) at least one time.
12) What is the difference between a low noise, high gain and maximum power amplifier?
The scheme of the three amplifiers can be the same but their purpose is different.
13) What are the typical features of planar vs waveguide microwave circuits?
Planar circuits are characterized by low cost and small size;
 
moreover, the approach used in designing them is thesame as low-frequency ICs or hybrid circuits.Waveguide microwave circuits imply large size and cost.
14) Explain the differences between a hybrid and a monolithic microwave circuit.MMIC (monolithic) HIC (hybrid)
Cheap in large quantities Simple circuits can be cheapVery good reproducibility Poor reproducibility: device placement - bond wiresSmall and light Larger and heavierReliable Mostly “glued” together and so reliabilities suffersLess parasitic – more BW and higher frequency The best transistors are always availableSpace is premium – must be as small as possibleSubstrate is cheap –
µ-
strip to be used abundantlyLong turn-around-time (3 Months) Can be very fast (1 week), making redesigns easy
15) List in order of increasing frequency range the following semiconductors: indium phosphide, silicon, galliumarsenide.Material Frequencies
Silicon (Si) 5 – 10 GHzGallium Arsenide (GaAs) Up to 50 GHzIndium Phosphide (InP) Up to millimeter waves
16) Explain the difference between a lumped and a distributed-parameter circuit. Why distributed elements cannotbe integrated in an RF circuit?Lumped Distributed
 Elements small vs wavelength (<
λ
/8) Based on transmission line approach (typ. >
λ
/8)Typ. integrated on Si (up to few GHz), GaAs (up to 50GHz), InP (up to 100 GHz)Typ. hybrid; the circuit is made on a dielectric substratewith thin film techniqueMonolithic integration of distributed components is not feasible at RF for their large layout.
17) Quote a few microwave field-effect or bipolar transistor with the related semiconductor material.Field-effect transistors Bipolar transistors
MOSFETs – Si BJTs – SiMESFETs and HEMTs – GaAs HBTs – SiGeHEMTs - InP HBTs - GaAs and InP
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