134 A/B: Design of RF/Microwave Systems
The EEC 134 course was created to satisfy the need for a senior project course for students who are interested in high frequency electronic systems. The two-quarter-long course emphasizes system level design concepts and strives to provide a hands-on experience. As the course evolves, the projects start to encompass many facets of electrical engineering, including system engineering, antenna design, analog circuit design, embedded systems, and digital signal processing. The first project option we have developed is the implementation of a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system that can perform range, Doppler, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements. In the first quarter, the students go through a series of structured labs to learn the basic system design concepts and acquire the necessary skills for putting together a high frequency system. In the second quarter, they propose and implement improvements to their radar system in terms of measurement accuracy, resolution, weight and power consumption. At the end of the course, their performance is partially judged in a radar competition.
Course Objectives
- To provide a senior design option for students interested in RF/microwave engineering
- To provide a system design perspective
- To get your hands dirty
- To promote teamwork
- To promote self-learning
- To improve communication (oral & written) skills
- To push your limit!
Course Organization
Quarter 1
- Lectures on RF/microwave system engineering
- Design, assemble, test, and analyze a simple radar system
- We'll follow a bottom-up approach, i.e. learning about the individual components before eventually assembling the system.
- Deliverables:
- Reports (individual)
- Lab reports (1 per group)
- PCB design files and test reports (1 per group)
- Deliverables:
- Reports (individual)
- Lab reports (1 per group)
- PCB design files and test reports (1 per group)
Quarter 2
- Design a PCB Radar for performance competition
- Compete in range and accuracy of distance speed measurements
- Certain size/weight/power and construction constraints apply
- Deliverables:
- Weekly progress report and presentation
- Final report (1 per group)
