Introduction to RF and

Wireless Technology
Multidisciplinary Field
Basic Concept in RF Design
• Units in RF Design • 50 ohms as
standard
Nonlinearity
• Gain Compression

This point is where the

output is less then 1 dB
of the expected value
Gain Compression
1
𝑋 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡 𝑌 𝑡 = 𝛼2𝐴𝑖𝑛
2
3
+ (𝛼1 + 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛)𝐴𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡
4
1 1
+ 𝛼 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠 2𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼3 𝐴3 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠 3𝜔𝑡 +…
2 2 4

3
(𝛼1+4 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛)𝐴𝑖𝑛 3
Gain = = 𝛼1 + 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛
𝐴𝑖𝑛 4
Gain Compression

3
(𝛼1+4 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛)𝐴𝑖𝑛 3
Gain = = 𝛼1 + 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛
𝐴𝑖𝑛 4
 Gain Compression
3
(𝛼1+ 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛)𝐴𝑖𝑛 3
Gain = 4
= 𝛼1 + 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛
𝐴𝑖𝑛 4
 Harmonic Distortion
• The output of non-linear system contains signals at
harmonics of input frequency.
1
𝑋 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡 𝑌 𝑡 = 𝛼2𝐴𝑖𝑛
2
3
+ (𝛼1 + 𝛼3 𝐴2 𝑖𝑛)𝐴𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡
4
1
𝐴2
+ 𝛼2 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠 2𝜔𝑡
2
1
The amplitude of the + 𝛼3 𝐴3 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑠 3𝜔𝑡 +…
4
harmonics grows in
proportion to 𝐴𝑖𝑛
Harmonics Distortion

• To eliminate these either we need a very good filter or

remove the harmonics
Intermodulation
• Communication system often use the available frequency
band to transmit multiple channels
Intermodulation

+ 𝑎1 + 3 𝑎3𝐴21 + 3 𝑎3𝐴22 𝐴1 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1𝑡

4 2

+ [𝑎1 + 3 𝑎3𝐴22 + 3 𝑎3𝐴21] 𝐴2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔2𝑡

4 2

+[3 𝑎3𝐴21𝐴22] 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (2𝜔1 − 𝜔2)

4

+ 3 𝑎3𝐴22 𝐴21 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (2𝜔1 − 𝜔2)

4
Intermodulation
• Third order intermodulation products do not interfere with
the main Signal but interfere with adjacent channels
Intermodulation
• Test signal : 𝐴1 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1𝑡 + 𝐴2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1𝑡 = 𝐴 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1𝑡 + 𝐴 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1 + ∆𝜔 𝑡
• Two tone test
• A1 = A2 = A
• ∆𝜔= 𝜔2 − 𝜔1

+ 𝑎1 + 3 𝑎3𝐴21 + 3 𝑎3𝐴22 𝐴1 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1𝑡

4 2

+ [𝑎1 + 3 𝑎3𝐴22 + 3 𝑎3𝐴21] 𝐴2 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔2𝑡

4 2

+[3 𝑎3𝐴21𝐴22] 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (2𝜔1 − 𝜔2)

4

+ 3 𝑎3𝐴22 𝐴21 𝐶𝑜𝑠 (2𝜔1 − 𝜔2)

4
Intermodulation
3
• Out = 𝑎3 𝐴3 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1 − ∆𝜔 𝑡
4
9
• + 𝑎1 𝐴 + 𝑎3 𝐴3 (𝐶𝑜𝑠𝜔1𝑡 + 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔1 + ∆𝜔 𝑡)
4
3
•+ 𝑎3A3 Cos 𝜔1 − 2∆𝜔 𝑡
4

*before the compression

Intermodulation – 3rd Intercept Point
Intermodulation – 3rd Intercept Point
Cascaded Nonlinear Stage
Cascaded Nonlinear Stage
Noise
• Noise is the most fundamental limiting factor in a communica
tion system.

• Types of noise:
• Thermal Noise
• Flicker Noise (1/f)
• Phase Noise ( jitter)
• Shot Noise
Noise Power
• Noise is a random process. Its average power can be calculat
ed by measuring area under n2(t) over infinity
Noise Power Spectral Density
• Analyzing noise in frequency domain

White noise affect all

frequency
Thermal Noise
• All object that absorb/radiate electromagnetic energy with an
intensity which is determined by their physical temperature (r
andom movement of electrons in material)
• Average power of this noise across matched load measured o
ver B Hz at any frequency is given by kTB.

• Temperature in Kelvin
• Boltzmann constant 𝑘 = 1.38 × 10−23
Thermal Noise
• The noise isn’t dependent upon the resistor
Equivalent Noise Model
• Regardless of what type of noise and at which stage it is gen
erated, all the noise power will reach the output

Noise in Noise out

Input Referred Noise
• We have access only to the output

Equivalent added noise

+
Noise in Noise out
 Noise Figure
𝑆𝑁𝑅 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛+𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑
• NF = = × = = =1 +
𝑆𝑁𝑅 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛

• With this model, SNR is not changed. Regardless how noisy the receiver is
Sensitivity and Dynamic Range
• Sensitivity is minimum signal level that a receiver can detect
with acceptable quality.(typical required SNR 6-25dB)
• Dynamic range is maximum input level that a receiver can “to
lerate”.
Passive impedance transformation
• Quality factor
• Capacitor

• Inductor
Scattering Parameters
• Parameters that obtained through the measurement of power
quantity.

• Two port S - Parameters

Scattering Parameters
• S11 = input voltage reflection coef
• S12 = reverse voltage gain
• S21 = forward voltage gain
• S22 = output voltage reflection coef