ENEE: 614 Radio Frequency VLSI Circuit Design

Course Goals:

To give students the knowledge required to analyze, design and lay-out discrete and integrated circuits used in modern radio frequency communications. The course will focus on advanced amplifier concepts, frequency conversion, tuning, and low-noise techniques. Implementation of AM, FM and digital modulation techniques will be covered. Emphasis will be given to CMOS technology as applied to analog VLSI. Advanced applications of SPICE and VLSI design layout tools will be covered.

Course Prerequisite(s):

Students will be assumed to have basic knowledge of analyzing and designing circuits on the complexity level of operational amplifiers. Exposure to VLSI circuit layout would also be helpful, but not required.

Textbook(s)

The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits, by Thomas H. Lee

Reference(s):

CMOS: Circuit Design, Layout, and Simulation, J. Baker, H. Li and D. Boyce
Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits, P. Gray and R. Meyer

Core Topics:

  • Communication System Topologies
  • Transmission Lines and Impedance Matching
  • Hi Frequency Tuned and Broad-Band RF Amplifiers
  • Stability of RF Circuits
  • Device Noise and Low Noise RF Amplifiers
  • Multipliers and Mixers
  • Implementation of AM and FM
  • Phase-Locked Loops
  • Receiver and Transmitter Realization

Course Structure:

This will be a lecture format class. Students will be expected to complete regular assignments. In addition, students will be responsible for projects, where they will work alone or in pairs to design and lay-out application-specific integrated circuits. Project examples include phase-locked loops, temperature controllers, Gilbert-cell multipliers, audio circuits on a chip, transmitters and receivers, and mixed signal circuits. Under certain circumstances, students may fabricate functioning circuits using off-the-shelf components.

Grading Method

Students will be graded on homework, projects and the final exam.
| Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering | A. James Clark School of Engineering | University of Maryland |