ELEC ENG 7033 - Principles of RF Engineering

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020

This course introduces the basics of RF Engineering. It covers a broad range of topics around RF devices and systems. The course illustrates how different building blocks such as amplifiers, oscillators and mixers, as well as guiding structures including transmission lines and waveguides, work together to build RF transmitters and receivers. It introduces important parameters and concepts related to these components, such as scattering matrices, impedance matching and non-linearities. The course shows how the electromagnetic theory applies to RF systems, and is a pathway towards more advanced courses on antennas & propagation and telecommunications.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ELEC ENG 7033
    Course Principles of RF Engineering
    Coordinating Unit School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 5 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible ELEC ENG 3018, ELEC ENG 3106
    Assumed Knowledge Undergraduate course in electronics, some familiarity with electromagnetic ideas
    Assessment Practicals, test, exam, assignment
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor 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
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 Examine characteristics of guided waves with the transmission line theory;
    2 Analyse and design common transmission lines and waveguides;
    3 Analyse RF sub-systems with microwave network analysis;
    4 Calculate impedance matching and tuning network for transmission lines and waveguides;
    5 Explain operation of active devices with small-signal approximation model;
    6 Examine characteristics of mixers;
    7 Explain different types of nonlinear distortion in RF components with small-signal approximation model;
    8 Discuss how RF components constitute RF transmitters and receivers;
    9 Design and simulate transmission lines and waveguides using full-wave electromagnetic simulation package;

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.3   2.1   2.2   

    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-8
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-8
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    8
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-8
  • 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

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • 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 Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    Test 1 10 Individual Summative Week 5 1. 2.
    Test 2 10 Individual Summative Week 11 3. 4.
    Practicals 20 Group Formative Weeks 1-8 Min 40% 8.
    Exam 50 Individual Summative Exam Period Min 40% 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
    Assignment 10 Individual Summative Week 12  2. 9.
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s): 1. b. 3.   
     
    This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    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.

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