RF AND MICROWAVE FUNDAMENTALS - 2025/6

Module Overview

Radio frequency (RF) and microwave engineers require proficiency in a specific set of skills to in electronic circuitry that does not exist for other typical applications. Therefore, a good grounding in the electronics associated with RF and microwave devices and important underlying essential fundamentals are delivered for any form of RF or microwave engineering. The module will be important for other RF related modules such as EEEM044 RF System and Circuit Design and EEEM064 Microwave Design Techniques

Module provider

Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Module Leader

BUISMAN Koen (CS & EE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Content

• Transmission line theory, S-parameters and two port networks, pulse filtering


• Smith charts and impedance matching.


• RF filter design and characteristics.


• Antenna theory and propagation in free space.


• Low noise amplifier design and noise source calculations.


• RF receiver design, superhet receivers.


• Case study: radio deployment in pulse and carrier wave radar.


• Laboratory experimentation with low noise amplifiers and CAD-based design laboratories based on the indicative content of the module.

 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their competence in explaining and using fundamentals of RF and microwave in practical test and measurement, simulation of RF circuits and problem solving tasks for real life applications. This is therefore tested in real life hands on practical and computer aided design (CAD) simulation laboratories. The examination includes both testing the knowledge and understanding of fundamentals in RF and microwave, while also it includes problem solving tasks in designing and deploying radio receivers.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following:

EEE3033-005 - Students studying this module via the MSc Electronic Engineering (by Short Course) will be assessed with a written examination.     

Main Course:

• First assignment, which will be submitted in the weeks following the first two CAD laboratory sessions. 


• Second assignment, which will be submitted in the weeks following the third CAD laboratory session and one practical laboratory session. 


• A two-hour, closed-book written examination where there is a choice of three questions to answer out of the four available questions. 

     

  Any deadline given here is indicative. For confirmation of exact dates and times, please check the assessment calendar as well as information provided on the module SureryLearn page.


Formative assessment and feedback

For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways.

• During lectures, by examples


• During lectures, by peer instruction


• During tutorials


• During supervised laboratory sessions


• During supervised computer laboratory sessions


• Via assessed coursework

Module aims

• Students will gain knowledge of the fundamentals in designing RF and microwave circuits, hands on experience of RF test and measurement as well as gain appreciation for the practical challenges in building such circuits.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve the following aims:

• To build knowledge in the fundamentals and use of RF and microwave theory including scattering parameters, Smith charts, RF propagation and noise.


• To apply the knowledge of the fundamentals in designing passive circuits including filters and transmission lines.


• To use the knowledge of the fundamentals within active RF electronics in designing transistor radio receivers but also integrating them into the receiver system design.


• To realise the application of fundamentals in RF and microwave in undertaking hands on practical test and measurement tasks as well as designing RF circuits in computer aided design (CAD) simulations.

 

Learning and teaching methods include the following:

EEE3033 – Short Course Version

Learning and teaching methods include the following.

• Delivered as a short course including laboratory sessions, with an approach to continuing professional development.


• Distance learning material provided online after the course to work through and to use the knowledge in the context of professional experience.


• Tutorials can be arranged with the module leader ad-hoc either online or in person to hone and apply the knowledge further beyond the delivery of the short course.
   

EEE3033 – Main Version

Learning and teaching methods include the following.

• Online content with the intention of enabling students to form their learning at their own pace by having material delivery split into separate tasks.


• Seminars with the intention to provide narrative to the learning delivered online and inspiration on real live applications of the knowledge.


• Tutorial with the intention to provide formative feedback through a ‘flipped class’ approach.


• Laboratories  with active hands on CAD simulation or practical test and measurement.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEE3033

Other information

This module has a capped number and may not be available to international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

 

Sustainability – Students will grasp some fundamental elements of low noise receivers and antennas that will improve the ability of a radio receiver from which coverage is improved with lower energy consumption. Furthermore it will show how low cost receiver solutions can enable communication to be improved in remote areas that can provide sources of information and education to disadvantaged areas of the world, which could in turn have a role in the improvement of economy and lowering of poverty.

Digital capabilities – RF engineering requires competence in using design simulators. In this module there are laboratories dedicated to using cutting edge computer aided design (CAD) for RF circuits. Students will have opportunity to learn the fundamentals of designing and testing passive devices and low noise amplifiers with the simulation tool. It will include skills in using the Smith chart, to aid in both designing RF circuits to optimise performance.

Employability – Students will have a strong grasp of fundamentals of RF and Microwave including the use of the decibel scale, scattering parameters and Smith charts at an elementary level. These will be key attributes for a graduate engineering going into an RF and microwave engineering environment. Some experience of hands on RF test and measurement in the laboratory sessions will strengthen these skills that need to be readily used in a real work environment for an RF engineer.

Resourcefulness and resilience - Students will build competence in the knowledge of RF receivers and circuits in order to apply these to design and problem solving in the assessment. This is evidenced in the exam where they will be set design tasks for RF circuits and be required to use actual metrics. Secondly in the assignments set these will involve writing up results obtained by test and measurement but also use of cutting edge computer aided design where they need to interpret and use results using important parameters recognised by the RF engineering community.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.