The course is taught in English. Radio frequency integrated circuits (2nd year LM, 1st term) is a required course in the curricula: RF design, Integrated Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices and Technologies, Wireless System design. It provides the basis of radiofrequency analog circuit design, with particular attention to telecom applications, for both linear and quasi-linear or nonlinear subsystems. The relevant CAD tools are also introduced and exploited.

- Knowledge of the most important building block present within RF and microwave Transceivers; - Knowledge of the monolithic and hybrid, active and passive, technologies for the realization of the radiofrequency part of a communication system; - Capability to analyze linear two ports in terms of power gain and stability, and to design the linear subsystems within the receiver of a RF and microwave communication system; - Capability to analyze the non linear blocks present in a RF and microwave communication system: power amplifiers, mixers, oscillators; - Usage of commercial CAD tools for the simulation and design of high frequency circuits both using linear and large signal strategies; - Capabilities to design up to the layout level a power amplifier for the receiver and transmitter chain of a RF and microwave communication system; - Knowledge of the most important figures of merit to evaluate the performances of a communication system, and to analyze and discuss their impact on the system level performances;

Fundamentals of analog electronics, transmission line theory, scattering parameters basics, basics on random processes.

Lectures: - Description of the most important functional blocks within a RF and microwaves communication system with focus on the RF part; Review on the enabling technologies and on the passive and active elements within the RF part of a communication system; (0,5 CFU) - Linear functional blocks: general characteristics and adopted models, maximum gain amplifiers, feedback amplifiers with, large band amplifiers, distributed amplifiers; (1 CFU) - Noise in electronic systems: low noise amplifiers; (0,5 CFU) - The non linear blocks: general characteristics and adopted models; (0,5 CFU) - Power amplifiers; class A, B, C, class D,E,F high efficiency amplifiers, issues on power amplifier linearization, advanced power amplifier schemes, e.g. the Doherty approach; (1 CFU) - Mixers, frequency multipliers and oscillators. (0,5 CFU) Cad labs: (2 CFU) - RF and microwave circuit small signal simulation using RF and microwave dedicated commercial CAD tools; - Non linear RF simulations using dedicated commercial CAD tools: mixer and power amplifier simulations. Laboratories and/or exercises

The course includes some CAD labs focused to learn how to use CAD tools for the analysis and optimization of linear and non linear analogical circuits at microwaves (MWOFFICE). The CAD labs will start with the analysis and design of simple passive circuits and through several steps will carry the students till the design of a hybrid or monolithic power amplifier. During the lecture hours several examples and numerical exercises will be proposed.

The course material includes a full collection of slides shown during the lesson hours together with hints on the CAD labs development. The book from B. Razavi RF 'microelectronics' covers most part of the course. Power amplifiers can also be examined more closely in the book Elettronica delle Microonde authored by G. Ghione and M. Pirola, edited by Otto editore in 2002 and also available in electronic (pdf) format.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam;

... A collection of exercises and problems are at student's disposal. The final test includes a written test, together with the development of an individual project using MWOFFICE, and a presentation and discussion of the results obtained with the project.

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.