EK2390 Project Course in Integrated Circuits for RF and Microwave Technology 7.5 credits

The initial lectures on the fundamentals of RFIC/MMIC development with some design examples will be taught by academic staff that are qualified in the subject both in research and industrial applications. The course includes industrial guest lectures. During the project work, weekly progress meetings are held with the assigned teachers.

The course is completed with the final project report and the final presentations.

After passing the course, the student should be able to

• describe the underlying key technology of radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC)
• describe the development chain of integrated circuits from specification, through design and simulation, creation of the photomask (tape-out), production to evaluation and measurement
• design and simulate some important circuit blocks for high-frequency applications, e.g., power amplifiers, phase shifters and frequency mixers
• analyse and estimate design requirements and limitations such as electromagnetic parasitic phenomena, intermodulation and non-linearity, power consumption, etc.
• simulate RFIC/MMIC circuits by means of schematic and layout simulation tools
• create a photomask for the designed circuits suitable for a selected manufacturing methodology
• describe the manufacturing processes that form the basis for the chosen technology in the designed circuits
• describe different measurement settings for different circuit parameter characterisation techniques
• on a general level, characterise and evaluate integrated circuits with regard to their performance, such as amplification, bandwidth, signal reflection
• validate the measurement results that have been received from the laboratory work
• present and defend the results to a critical audience
• work in a small team and take responsibility for the project plan from work breakdown to task assignment to the team members
• give an account of the need of the labour market of this type of engineer competence
• describe the sustainability aspects of modern microelectronics in particular regarding energy efficiency, choice of semiconductor material and product life cycle.

Knowledge in electrical circuit analysis, 7.5 higher education credits, equivalent to completed course EI1110/IE1206.

Knowledge in analogue electronics, 6 higher education credits, equivalent completed course IE1202/IE1207.

The course level is adapted to students enrolled in an engineering master's programme at KTH. The students must have basic knowledge of electric circuit theory, electronics or an equivalent basic education. It is also recommended that the students have some knowledge of electromagnetics.

Recommended prerequisites:

Knowledge of electromagnetic field theory, 9 credits, equivalent to completed course EI1320 or alternatively both courses EI1220 and EI1222.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• PROA - Project work, 4.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• QUIA - Quiz, 0.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• RAPA - Report, 1.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• TENA - Oral exam, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Compulsory attendance at the initial lectures.

Joachim Oberhammer

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

In this course, the EECS code of honor applies, see:
http://www.kth.se/en/eecs/utbildning/hederskodex.