ELEC ENG 7033 - Principles of RF Engineering

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014

This course introduces the principles of RF Engineering. It covers a broad range of topics around RF devices and applications. The course illustrates how different building blocks such as amplifiers, oscillators and filters work together to build RF transmitters and receivers. It introduces important parameters and concepts related to these components. The course shows how the electromagnetic theory applies to RF systems and is a pathway towards more advanced knowledge on antennas & propagation and telecommunication systems.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ELEC ENG 7033
    Course Principles of RF Engineering
    Coordinating Unit School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 5 hours per week
    Assumed Knowledge Introductory course in electronics, some familiarity with electromagnetic ideas
    Course Description This course introduces the principles of RF Engineering. It covers a broad range of topics around RF devices and applications. The course illustrates how different building blocks such as amplifiers, oscillators and filters work together to build RF transmitters and receivers. It introduces important parameters and concepts related to these components. The course shows how the electromagnetic theory applies to RF systems and is a pathway towards more advanced knowledge on antennas & propagation and telecommunication systems.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Brian Ng

    Dr Brian Ng
    Lecturer and Course Coordinator
    Personal Link http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/brian.ng
     
    Dr Withawat Withayachumnankul
    Lecturer
    Personal Link http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/withawat.withayachumnankul

    Dr Hong-Gunn Chew
    Practical Coordinator
    Email: honggunn.chew@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the completion of this course you will be able to:
     
    • perform systems-level analysis of equipment operating at radio frequencies (RF);
    • design active RF sub-systems for applications ranging from sensing, measurements and telecommu- nications;
    • analyse RF system against stated performance parameters including but not restricted to: gain, dynamic range, noise;
    • perform detailed analysis and design of transmission lines at RF;
    • perform detailed analysis and design of waveguides at RF.



    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-5
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1,3,4,5
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1-5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Text Book:
    Pozar, David M., “Microwave Engineering”, Wiley 4th edition, 2011, ISBN: 978-0470631553.

    A set of course notes, practice problems and other supporting materials will also be available for downloading from the MyUni course site.
    Online Learning
    Extensive use will be made of the MyUni web site for this course, https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/webapps/login


    Course notes, tutorial problems and solutions, laboratory exercises and practice problems will all be available for downloading from the web site.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course relies on lectures as the primary delivery mechanism for the material. Tutorials supplement the lectures by providing exercises and example problems to enhance the understanding obtained through lectures. Practicals are used to provide hands-on experience for students to reinforce the theoretical concepts encountered in lectures. Continuous assessment activities provide the formative assessment opportunities for students to gauge their progress and understanding.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Activity Contact hours Workload hours
    Lecture 22 lectures 22 66
    Tutorials 4 tutorials 4 12
    Practicals Radio receiver project 12 30
    Tests 2 tests 2 10
    Exam 1 paper 2 30
    TOTALS 42 158
    Learning Activities Summary
    Activity Sessions Week Topic
    Lecture 1-2 1 Review of electromagnetic theory
    3-5 2-3 Microwave networks and systems
    6-8 3-4 Mixers
    9-10 5-6 Amplifiers and oscillators
    11-16 7-9 Transmission lines
    17-22 9-12 Waveguides
    Tutorial 1 3 Electromagnetics and wave systems
    2 3 Microwave circuits
    3 6 Transmission lines
    4 12 Waveguides
    Tests 1 6 Electromagnetics and microwave circuits
    2 11 Transmission lines and waveguides
    Practical 1-4 5-8 Radio Receiver Project
    Practicals
    Note that practical classes will be in weeks 5,6,7 and 8. Students must attend their allocated practical classes. Further instructions on the operation of the laboratory session will be provided and the start of the semester. Occupational Health and Safety inductions will also be provided.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment activity Type Weighting Due date Learning outcomes addressed
    Tests Summative 20% Weeks 6,11 2-5
    Practicals Formative 20% Weeks 5-8 1-3
    Exam Summative 60% End of semester 1-5
    Assessment Related Requirements

    The examination and practicals are prescribed summative assessment exercises in which students must obtain at least 45% in each exercise in order to pass the course. Failure to achieve at least 45% in either the exam or the practical work will mean that the student will obtain a final total mark of no more than 49%.

    A hurdle requirement is defined by the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs policy as "...an assessment task mandating a minimum level of performance as a condition of passing the course. If a student fails to meet a hurdle requirement (normally no less than 40%),and is assigned a total mark for the course in the range of 45-49, then the student is entitled to an offer of additional assessment of some type. The type of assessment is to be decided by the School Assessment Review Committee when determining final results. The student’s final total mark will be entered at no more than 49% and the offer of an additional assessment will be specified eg. US01. Once the additional assessment has been completed, this mark will be included in the calculation of the total mark for the course and the better of the two results will apply. Note however that the maximum final result for a course in which a student has sat an additional assessment will be a “50 Pass”.

    If a student is unable to meet a hurdle requirement related to an assessment piece (may be throughout semester or at semester’s end) due to medical or compassionate circumstances beyond their control, then the student is entitled to an offer of replacement assessment of some type. An interim result of RP will be entered for the student, and the student will be notified of the offer of a replacement assessment. Once the replacement assessment has been completed, the result of that assessment will be included in the calculation of the total mark for the course.

    Assessment Detail
    Details of individual assessment tasks will be provided during the semester.
    Submission
    All written submissions to formative assessment activities are to be submitted to designated boxes within the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering by 3:00pm on the specified dated and must be accompanied by a signed cover sheet. Copies of blank cover sheets are available from the School office in Ingkarni Wardli 3.26.
    No late submissions will be accepted . All formative assessments will have a two week turn-around time for provision of feedback to students.

    Full details can be found at the School policies website:
    http://eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergraduate/
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.