Keysight Technologies, Modelithics, and University of South Florida (USF) have organized an RF Boot Camp that will take place at this year’s IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2024, in Washington D.C, from June 16-21. The format of this boot camp is similar to that of a workshop or short course, with multiple presenters from industry and academia presenting on a variety of topics including: RF/Microwave systems basics, network and spectrum analysis, simulation and matching network design modulation and signal analysis, antennas and radar basics.
This RF Boot Camp is designed to grow RF/Microwave engineering skills in an educational forum that is focused on the fundamentals of Microwave Theory and Techniques. This partnership will focus on teaching the fundamentals, terminology, and applications of RF and microwave design, simulation, and measurement – for those new to RF and Microwave field, those wishing to stay current with new technologies and applications or even for booth staff members who would like to understand a little more about microwave technology and terminology.
This course will provide an introduction to RF basics, targeting newcomers to the microwave industry. The intended audience includes technicians, new engineers, engineers who may be changing their career path, marketing and sales professionals seeking a better understanding of microwave technology, as well as current college students looking to learn more about the practical aspects of RF and Microwave technology.
The RF Boot Camp will cover the following topics:
RFB1-1: The RF/Microwave Signal Chain, Network Characteristics, Analysis and Measurement
Author: Joanne Mistler
Organization: Keysight Technologies
This section will introduce transmit/receive signal chains and important characteristics for design and measurement that will be discussed throughout the following modules. This section will cover transmission line basics, S-Parameters, and the Smith Chart. Transmit, receive and directivity paths will be described along with how dynamic range and accuracy can be optimized. Calibration and error correction will also be covered.
RFB1-2: Fundamentals of RF Simulation
Author: Murthy Upmaka
Organization: Keysight Technologies
This talk will start by covering various RF simulation techniques and discuss why simulation is a must in modern day RF design. Simulation domains (time or frequency), design detail (circuit or system) will be covered. Simulation techniques will be compared to real designs and lab measurements and advantages and disadvantages of each will be covered. Various application areas served by RF simulations will be covered.
RFB1-3: Impedance Matching Basics
Author: Larry Dunleavy
Organization: Modelithics and USF
The basics of Impedance Matching basics will be covered. Various types of lumped and distributed matching network topologies and approaches will be introduced and related demonstrations will be performed using Keysight ADS.
RFB1-4: Spectral Analysis and Receiver Technology
Authors: Joanne Mistler, Larry Dunleavy
Organizations: Keysight Technologies, Modelithics and USF
This section covers frequency and time domain sweep searching including RBW, VBW and dynamic range criteria for accurate measurements. Included will be an overview of the independent and integrated functioning of the various system blocks comprising a typical heterodyne down converting receiver, including mixing, amplification, image frequency filtering and adjacent channel filtering.
RFB1-5: Signal Generation, Modulation and Vector Signal Analysis
Author: Joanne Mistler
Organization: Keysight Technologies
This section covers CW signal characteristics, including phase noise, VCO, VCO+PLL and synthesis techniques. This section also covers analog amplitude, phase, frequency and pulsed modulation, composite modulation, polar and I-Q format, and digital modulation signal characteristics and measurement.
RFB1-6: Sub-THz/THz Link Design
Author: Josep Jornet
Organization: Northeastern University
RFB1-7: THz Communications: from Vision to Reality
Author: Ngwe Thawdar
Organization: Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate
Click here to learn more about this Boot Camp and sign up.
Click here to view everything RF's comprehensive coverage of IMS 2024.
