- 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 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 using large signal strategies; - Capabilities to design up to the layout level a power amplifier for the transmitter chain of a RF and microwave communication system; - Knowledge of the most important figures of merit to evaluate the performance of a communication system;

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

Lectures (4.5 CFU): - 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; (0.4 CFU) - The non linear blocks: general characteristics and adopted models; (1 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; (1.5 CFU) - Non linear simulation using the Harmonic Balance approach (0.4 CFU) - Mixers, frequency multipliers and oscillators. (0.7 CFU) Cad labs: (1.5 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.

The course includes theory with exercises along. It includes 5 compulsory CAD labs focused on the use of RF CAD tools for the analysis and optimization of linear and non linear analogic circuits. 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.

The course material includes a full collection of slides shown during the lessons together with hints on the CAD labs development. The recomended books are 1) Ghione "Microwave Electronics" 2) Razavi "RF microelectronics"

Lecture slides;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Practical lab skills test;

The exam is aimed at ascertaining that the students have properly acquired all the expected course outcomes as well as the capability to apply theory and its methods to the solution of exercises. The exam is composed of 2 compulsory parts: 1) A CAD test (on the day scheduled for the exam) lasting 2 hours where the students will have to develop the design of a power amplifier. Students should preferably work on their own PC (Windows OS required, inform the teachers in advance in case if it is necessary to use a different PC). The CAD test is evaluated with a grade from 0 to 10 and it is considered sufficient with a minium of 5/10. The CAD grade will account for 35% of the final score. 2) An oral test of approximately 30 minutes (max. 40 min.) covering all the course topics. Only students who resulted sufficient in the CAD test can access the oral test in the same call (the schedule of the oral test will be agreed with the students). The oral test comprises 3 questions on both theory and exercises, each evaluated with a mark from 0 to 10. Students must answer all 3 question sufficiently (at least 4/10) to pass the oral test. Students who are not sufficent in the oral test, can keep their CAD grade for all future calls, taking again only the oral test. The final grade for the oral test is given by the average mark among the 3 questions and will account for 65% of the final score. Honors will be awarded only to students who get the maximum grade in all parts and also demonstrate a particularly complete and exhaustive knowledge of the topics as well as good exposition skills.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.