RF and Microwave Receiver Design

Learn how to design RF and Microwave Receivers from a system design viewpoint. Understand the receiver requirements and how to flow the requirements to circuit design level and back. A must for anyone involved in specifications, receiver design, RF circuit design, and microwave system development. The material applies to all types of receiver design, from commercial wireless designs to defense-related RF and microwave systems. An example receiver design will be followed throughout the course and includes hands on use of computer software to aid the development process. For a limited time only, we will provide a free copy of our SpurFinder and TunerHelper receiver design software programs ($258.00 value) to all course participants.

Instructor: Robert A. Wood

• Overview of Receiver Applications
  • Radar
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Communications
• Receiver System Requirements
  • EW Receiver Example
  • Radar Example
  • Communications Example
• Overview of Receiver Types and Architectures
• Receive System Characteristics
  • Sensitivity
  • Noise Figure
  • 1 dB Compression Point
  • Dynamic Range
  • Third Order Intercept Point
  • Second Order Intercept Point
  • Flatness, Gain Variation
  • Receiver Interference Considerations
    • In-Band Spurious Signals
    • Pre-Selection Spurious
    • Leakage Signals
    • Noise
• Sample Receiver Design - Part 1

• Receiver Components and Parameters
  • Antennas
  • Amplifiers
  • Mixers
  • Filters and Diplexers
  • Attenuators
  • Isolators and Circulators
  • Switches
  • Local Oscillator (LO)
  • Couplers and Power Dividers
• LO Oscillators (LO)
  • Thermal and Phase Noise
  • LO Spurious
• Sample Receiver Design - Part 2

• Sample Receiver Design - Part 3
• Lessons in Interfacing with Receivers
• System Analysis Process Flow
• Future Trends and Analysis Tools
  • Spreadsheet Analysis
  • Receiver Design Software Packages
• Statistical Design Techniques
• Wireless System Design Considerations
• Requirements Derivation
• Recommended Further Reading

Practical RF System Design by William F. Egan, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003.

Comprehensive seminar notes

System engineers, RF and microwave circuit design engineers, scientists, and managers involved in design, specification or management of receiver development for defense or commercial wireless industries.

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Robert Wood has over 21 years experience in design, development, integration, and production programs for EW Systems. From 1979 to 1994, he worked at Martin Marietta (formerly GE Aerospace) in Utica, NY, where he has provided technical leadership for B-1, B-2, A-12, and F-22 EW programs. He has developed numerous analysis programs for RF and microwave system design. Most recently, Mr. Wood is president of R. A. Wood Associates, providing engineering consulting services for RF and microwave industries, both defense and commercial related. He received a BSEE from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1979 and an MSEE from Syracuse University in 1982.