Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
EE50146: Radio & optical waves for communications |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters |
| Period: | Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 25%, EX 75% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take EE20090 or equivalent. |
| Description: | Aims: To give students an understanding of the key parameters involved in the wave propagation aspects of a wireless transmission link such as fixed wireless links, mobile links and radar systems. To introduce the basic concepts of the antenna as a system element and the inclusion of propagation factors. Learning Outcomes: After completion, students should be able to: understand the main features of plane wave propagation in dielectrics, conductors and the lower atmosphere; the influence of plane boundaries and corners on wave propagation; understand propagation models for typical environments; understand the operation of basic antennas, arrays and apertures. Skills: Students will learn the principles behind currently used techniques for describing and analysing the transmission of wireless signals. Taught, facilitated and assessed. Content: Review of the electromagnetic spectrum, properties of transmission media (atmosphere, fibres, cables) Wave Propagation: Maxwell's Equations, Plane waves in dielectrics & conductors. Reflection and Refraction at oblique incidence. Propagation Effects: Layered atmosphere and layered media waveguide modes in optical fibres and waveguides. Plane Earth propagation. Propagation in irregular environments. Introduction to fading. Antennas: Review of link power budgets. Simple antennas, Hertzian dipole. Phased array of sources. Aperture antennas. |