ELEC ENG 7033 - Principles of RF Engineering
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ELEC ENG 7033 Course Principles of RF Engineering Coordinating Unit Electrical and Electronic Engineering Term Semester 2 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 5 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible ELEC ENG 3018, ELEC ENG 3106, ELEC ENG 4106 Assumed Knowledge Undergraduate course in electronics, some familiarity with electromagnetic ideas Assessment Practicals, test, exam, assignment Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Withawat Withayachumnankul
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1 Examine characteristics of guided waves with transmission line theory; 2 Analyse and design common transmission lines and waveguides; 3 Analyse RF sub-systems with microwave network analysis; 4 Calculate impedance matching networks for RF systems; 5 Explain operation of nonlinear devices with small-signal approximation; 6 Examine characteristics of mixers; 7 Explain different types of nonlinear distortion with small-signal approximation; 8 Discuss how RF components constitute RF transmitters and receivers; 9 Design and simulate transmission lines and waveguides using full-wave electromagnetic simulation package;
The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Entry to Practice Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer. The course develops the following EA Elements of Competency to levels of introductory (A), intermediate (B), advanced (C):
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 C — C — — — C C — — — — — — — — University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1-8 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1-8 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
8 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1-8 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
Text Book:
Pozar, David M., “Microwave Engineering”, Wiley 4th edition, 2011, ISBN: 978-0470631553.
A set of course notes, practice problems and other supporting materials will also be available for downloading from the MyUni course site.Online Learning
Extensive use will be made of the MyUni web site for this course, https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/webapps/login
Course notes, tutorial problems and solutions, laboratory exercises and practice problems will all be available for downloading from the web site. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
- Lectures will be in-class twice a week for the entire semester. Records will be available.
- Pracs will be in-class for five sessions.
- Tutorials will be in-class for five sessions.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
- Lectures 2 hrs per week
- Pracs 3 hours per session for 5 sessions
- Tute 1 hour per session for 5 sessions
Learning Activities Summary
Tentative activity schedule
Activity
Week
Topic
Lecture
1-3
Transmission line theory
4-6
Waveguiding structures
6-7
Network analysis
7-8
Impedance matching and tuning
9-10
Nonlinear RF components
10-11
Mixers
12
Nonlinear distortion
Tests
8
Transmission lines theory
11
Waveguiding structures
Tutorials
3
Introduction to RF Engineering
5
Transmission line theory
7
Waveguiding structures
9
Network analysis
11
Impedance matching, nonlinearity & mixers
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
* The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative Due (week)* Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes Test 1 10 Individual Summative Week 5 1. 2. Test 2 10 Individual Summative Week 11 3. 4. Practicals 20 Group Formative Weeks 1-8 Min 40% 8. Exam 50 Individual Summative Exam Period Min 40% 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Assignment 10 Individual Summative Week 12 2. 9. Total 100
This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s): 1. b. 3.
This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.Assessment Detail
- Test 1 - In-class 50 mins on transmission line theory
- Test 2 - In-class 50 mins on waveguiding structures
- Pracs - In-person attendance and summative assignment
- Exam - On-site at the end of semester
- Assignment - Report on hands-on simulation
Submission
Submission instructions will be provided in MyUni.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
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- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
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- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
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- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
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