Module overview
This course introduces the principles and techniques needed to design a wireless transceiver. We will cover the process needed to take the main principles of digital communications such as digital modulation and detection. Through lectures and coursework, we cover the engineering trade-offs needed to design a transceiver starting from a detailed performance specification.
The module uses Matlab as a specialist computation/simulation tool. Additionally, Labview is also introduced and used in this module.
Linked modules
Pre-requisites: ELEC3203 OR ELEC3204 OR ELEC6259
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Design and present a simulation of a communication system using computational baseband models.
- Simulate communication systems using computational baseband models.
- Design a transceiver system architecture against a comprehensive performance specification.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Appreciate the practical challenges of digital transmission.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Specify active and passive components required for a wireless transceiver.
Syllabus
Noise and Noise figure
- Sources of noise
- Noise models
- Noise figure
- Cascaded noise figure
- Measurement of noise figure
Link budgets
- Sources of loss
- Link loss equations
- Maximum noise figure
- Maximum range
The superhet
- Filter selectivity
- Adjacent channels
- Image frequencies
- Multiple stage superhets
- The frequency mixer
- Intermodulation products
Transceiver Design
- Components used in transceiver designs
- Typical transceiver design examples
- Specifying amplifiers, mixers
Synchronisation
- The timing and carrier synchronisation problem
- Timing sync methods
- delay locked loop and DSP equivalent
- Open-loop timing sync
- Zero Crossing detection
- Carrier sync methods
- Carrier regeneration
- Costas loop introduction
- Decision directed
Review of Passive Filters
- Synthesis of doubly terminated filters
- Low-Pass to Band-Pass transformation
- Filter implementations - ceramic, SAW
- Fractional bandwitdh
- Software-assisted specification and design
Review of Matching
- Maximum power transfer
- RLC Matching networks
Power amplifiers
- Class A, B, AB, C
- Power efficiency
- Linearisation techniques
- Suitability of PA classes to modulation types
Antennas
- Fundamental model
- Types of omnidirectional antennas-
- Physical limits - volume vs bandwidth and efficiency
Learning and Teaching
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Follow-up work | 10 |
| Tutorial | 12 |
| Project supervision | 12 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 10 |
| Lecture | 12 |
| Completion of assessment task | 60 |
| Wider reading or practice | 34 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Laboratory sessions are scheduled in the labs on level 2 of the Zepler building
Length of each session: 3 hours
Number of sessions completed by each student: 1
Max number of students per session: 12 (constrained by number of USRPs)
Demonstrator:student ratio: 1:12
Preferred teaching weeks: 8 to 11
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework | 70% |
| Coursework | 30% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External