H64RFL/P – RF Microelectronics (with Project) – Coursework 2019
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Coursework Assignment
The coursework assignment is for ALL students taking H64RFL and H64RFP. The coursework
element of H64RFL and H64RFP carries a weighting of 4 credits. Thus, it contributes 40% of the
final module mark for students taking H64RFL and 20% of the final module mark for students
taking H64RFP.
Overview
The coursework requires you to explore (using the ADS software) the circuit for a narrowband
amplifier that has been designed to meet a target specification. Assessment will be via a short
report where you explain (and recreate some of) the design stages and carry out a series of
investigations on the amplifier performance.
Deadline
The deadline for submission of the final report and design files is 23:55 on Wednesday 3rd
April 2019. Specific details of what you must submit are described below.
Beyond the deadline given above, standard University late penalties will apply. I will take the
date/time of submission on Moodle when calculating late penalties, so take care not to resubmit
after the deadline has passed.
Design Exercise
The aim of this coursework is to use ADS to explore the circuit for a 12GHz rf amplifier that has
already been designed. The amplifier uses a low noise transistor – the Avago ATF-36163 pHEMT
– and has been designed to have a gain > 8.8dB, noise figure < 1.2 and S22 < -15dB. In the
design, you should find that these specifications are all met over the frequency range 11.9GHz
to 12.1GHz. The input and output characteristic impedances are 50?.
Resources
You should visit the“Coursework for H64RFL & H64RFP”section of the Moodle page to find
resources for this work.
You are strongly advised to look at the Report Template and Coursework Markscheme before
starting.
You will, of course, also need to download the ADS design file (H64RFL_CourseWork.7zads). A
few instructions on getting started with this file are given below.
The ADS file can be unarchived in ADS. Start ADS, use the File menu and select Unarchive. The
design file will be unarchived to a workspace called H64RFL_CourseWork_empty_wrk.
Within the ADS file manager, choose Folder View and then select the schematic in the folder
called DCBiasing. This screen gives you lots of information about the various components used
in the design, but there is nothing specific to do on this screen. In the top right corner, there is
a link telling you which schematic to move to next. Once you have selected the box, you need
to use the button‘Push Into Hierarchy’on the toolbar. (The button next to it‘Pop Out’allows
you to return in the opposite direction.) The same process is used to move through the design
process (the stages, and their order, are described in the report template document).
On each screen, try to identify all of the elements and their purpose. Try running any simulation
that has been set up and study the results. Follow the guidance in the Report Template, which
gives information on what exactly you should attempt to do and poses questions for you to
consider.
H64RFL/P – RF Microelectronics (with Project) – Coursework 2019
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Assessment Requirements
Assessment will be by way of a short report. A template (CourseworkReportTemplate.docx) can
be downloaded from Moodle. The template is divided into sections with details of what you need
to include – the template also gives significant guidance on what you should be doing / looking
for. As described in the template you need to include plots etc. demonstrating that you have
accomplished the required tasks / simulations. If these are not included or it is difficult to judge
clearly that you have carried out the required tasks specified in the report template, you will not
be awarded the corresponding marks (I will not check ADS files to find this information).
One you have finished your work with ADS, you should make an Archive of your workspace as
you will be asked to upload this to Moodle. (The archiving process will leave you with a single
file containing all your ADS work.)
You MUST submit 2 files via Moodle as follows:
- A copy of your report as a single PDF file
Submit this using the link“Amplifier Coursework – PDF Report – SUBMIT HERE” - An archive of your ADS workspace
Submit this using the link“Amplifier Coursework – ADS Workspace – SUBMIT HERE”
Marking Scheme
You will receive a final percentage grade for your coursework submission. Details of the relative
contributions to the final mark are given in the table below. Please make sure you refer carefully
to this when preparing your report (using the template and the extensive guidance within it).
Report Section %
Contribution
Design Stage A 7.5
Design Stage B 5
Design Stage C 15
Design Stage D 15
Design Stage E 5
Design Stage F 10
Design Stage G 7.5
Additional Analysis 20
Reflection 5
Overall Report Quality 10
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