Advisors:

Dr. B. Huggins
Dr. S. Prasad
Ms. S. Halabi

The goal of this project was to design a narrowband amplifier at 4 GHz and a wideband amplifier with an operating frequency range of 2-8 GHz. For both amplifiers the chief constraint was to design for an input and output VSWR of 1.5. Other specifications for each amplifier were a gain of 10dB and the input and output impedances of 50 W. The transistor used for this project was the NE72218.The various approaches used for the amplifier design are explained with reasons for their selection. The major design tool used for this project is ADS. Other tools used include CAMAD and MSTRIP. Fabrication techniques, testing procedures and results are given in detail with numerous plots to illustrate these results. Block diagrams are used to describe the subsystems designed. The problems encountered during the design process and the milestones attained are presented.
 
 

 The amplifiers were designed using an NE72218 transistor with appropriate matching networks comprised of microstrip lines. Two separate configurations corresponding to a narrowband and a wideband amplifier were investigated.
The design specifications for each amplifier are listed below.

Case I: Narrow Band Amplifier                                          Case II: Wide Band Amplifier

Design Frequency   4 GHz                                                 Design Frequency   2-8 GHz

Gain    10 dB                                                                     Gain    10 dB

Input / Output Impedance  50 W                                        Input / Output Impedance  50 W

Maximum VSWR  1.5                                                       Maximum VSWR  1.5
 

The preliminary timeline for the completion of this project is as indicated below.
 

WEEK OF PROPOSED  WORK
02/12/02 Narrow Band design calculations
02/19/02 Narrow Band simulations
02/26/02 Narrow Band fabrication
03/05/02 Narrow Band testing
03/12/02 Wide Band design calculations
03/19/02 Wide Band design calculations
03/26/02 Wide Band simulations
04/02/02 Wide Band simulations
04/09/02 Wide Band fabrication
04/16/02 Wide Band fabrication
04/23/02 Wide Band testing
04/30/02 Wide Band testing
05/07/02 Project Presentation
 
 

Click here for the design procedures used for the narrowband amplifier.

Click here for the design procedures used for the wideband amplifier.