EE 117B/217B - Microwave and Wireless Measurements

Course Plan

Lecture Recordings and Notes

The recordings here cover the same material as the lectures but are broken up by topics. See the course plan above for lecture wise breakdown of topics.

1. MWM01: Course Introduction, S-parameters, RF Passive Components Notes Video
2. MWM02: RF Amplifiers, Gain Definitions, Stability Circles Notes Video
3. MWM03: RF Mixers, Balanced Mixing, IQ Mixers, Image Reject / Single Sideband Mixers Notes Video
4. MWM04: Vector Network Analyzers; Architecture; Harmonic Sampling Notes Video
5. MWM05: VNA Calibration: Signal Flow Graphs; VNA Error Models (3-Term, 12-Term); SOLT Standards Notes Video
6. MWM06: 8-Term Error Model; TRL (Thru-Reflect-Line) Calibration Notes Video
7. MWM07: VNA Time Domain; Lowpass/Bandpass Impulse/Step Modes; Time Domain Reflectometry; Time Gating Notes Video
8. MWM08: Spectrum Analyzers; Architecture; RBW/VBW; External Harmonic Mixers and Sig-ID Notes Video
9. MWM09: Non-linear Systems; Harmonic Distortion; Gain Compression; Intermodulation; Volterra Series Notes Video
10. MWM10: Noise: Random Variable and Random Process Statistics; Thermal Noise; Derivation of 4kTR Notes Video
11. MWM11: Noise Figure and Temperature; Cascaded System Noise; Noise Parameters; Noise Circles Notes Video
12. MWM12: Noise Waves, Bosma’s Theorem; Mixer SSB/DSB NF; NF Measurements: Y-Factor, Gain Methods Notes Video

Lab Manuals

Lab 1: Introduction to Vector Network Analyzers; VNA Calibration; Frequency Domain Measurements of Linear Devices (Filter, Isolators, Directional Couplers, Attenuators, Amplifiers); Measuring the Dielectric Constant of Liquids.

Lab Manual Lab Questionnaire

Lab 2: Vector Network Analyzer Time Domain Measurements; Time Domain Gating; Thru-Reflect-Line (TRL) Calibration; Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR).

Lab Manual Lab Questionnaire

Lab 3: Spectrum Analyzers; Non-linear Measurements; Total Harmonic Distortion; Gain Compression and P1dB; Intermodulation and IIP3; External mm-wave Harmonic Mixers.

Lab Manual Lab Questionnaire

Course Information

• Instructor: Aditya Varma Muppala
• Lectures: Tue/Thurs, 3:30–5:00 PM at Cory 521
• Lab Section 1: Wed, 1:00–4:00 PM and 5:00-8:00 PM at Cory 119
• Lab Section 2: Fri, 1:00–4:00 PM and 5:00-8:00 PM at Cory 119
  Note: You must be enrolled in either Lab Section 1 or Lab Section 2.
• Office Hours: Thurs, 5:00–6:00 PM at Cory 510
• Teaching Assistants: San The Vu and Dev Sajnani

Course Objectives

Hands-on course covering the theory and practice of microwave and wireless measurements. Topics include vector network analysis (S-parameters, calibration, TDR, material characterization, signal integrity), spectrum analysis (mixers, VCOs, PLLs, phase noise), noise figure, antenna gain and pattern measurements, communications measurements (modulation, BER, EVM, IQ constellations), and radar (FMCW, ISAR, RCS). Students complete six structured laboratory modules and an open-ended final project integrating these measurement techniques. Off-campus lab visits and demonstration sessions at industry facilities included.

Course Prerequisites

For EE 117B, prior enrollment in EE 117 or EE 142 is required and for EE 217B, prior enrollment in EE 210 is recommended. Students are expected to have a strong background in the following topics: Linear systems; Fourier Transforms; Transmission lines and Smith charts; Plane waves. No prior knowledge of integrated circuits is needed. The material in this class will be treated at a systems level, with a focus on measurement methods.

Syllabus

1. Vector Network Analyzers: VNA operation; architecture; calibration; time-domain methods; s-parameter measurements.
2. Spectrum Analyzers: SA operation; architectures; VCO/PLL measurements; mixers; non-linear measurements.
3. Noise: Noise theory; noise temperature and noise figure; jitter/phase noise.
4. Communications: AM/FM/PM modulation and demodulation; QAM; EVM.
5. Antennas: Antenna concepts; gain, radiation pattern, polarization measurements; mutual scattering; near-field methods.
6. Radar: Radar systems; FMCW radar; polarimetry; imaging.
7. Advanced RF Metrology: X parameters; spherical near-field measurements.

Labs

The labs (Cory 119) are reserved from 1:00-8:00 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays. Although this is the reserved time, each lab session could vary from 3 hours to 6 hours depending on the number of experiments being performed. Students will form groups of 3 to work through each lab. The groups must remain the same for the duration of the semester, including for the course project. The pre-lab submission for each week’s lab will be the notes from the lectures leading up to that lab session. The submission must be made before the start of the lab session. Each lab is accompanied by a set of questions, which the students must turn in as the lab report. A single lab report can be submitted per team.

The labs are mandatory and cannot be skipped without loss of grade. If you have a genuine time conflict due to travel/sickness, we can arrange for a make-up lab if you have received prior approval from the instructor. No exceptions will be made if prior approval was not received.

Course Project

Each team of 3 students will complete a final project. The scope of the projects is open ended so long as it includes RF measurement techniques covered in the class. Project proposal submission will take place at the end of the first month. The second month is dedicated to any revisions or CAD modeling. The last month is dedicated to the experiments related to the project, during which time there will be no scheduled lab sessions. There is a dedicated budget per project so students can buy the required supplies and equipment needed.

Textbook

No required textbook.

Reference Books

1. Pozar, D. M., Microwave Engineering, 4th ed. (Wiley, 2011)
2. Dunsmore, J. P., Handbook of Microwave Component Measurements: with Advanced VNA Techniques, 2nd ed. (Wiley-IEEE Press, 2020)

Homework and Exams

This course has no homework or exams. The grading is entirely based on lab submissions and the final project as noted below.

Grading

There will be no grade drops for any labs.

10% Prelab (Lecture Notes) + 40% Lab Manual + 50% Course Project.

Accessibility and Mental Health Resources

UHS offers mental health services to all UC Berkeley students regardless of insurance plan. Please see: link.

If you feel any part of the course content is not easily accessible due to your individual needs please let me know. Here are some resources: link 1, link 2.