Technische Universitt Ilmenau RF and Microwave Techniques

Microwave Engineering Topics for the Oral Examination

1. Wave propagation, reflections on transmission lines 1.1. Discuss the terms wave, wavelength, phase constant , distributed line parameters R,L,C, and G, characteristic impedance ZL with respect to RF circuits that are described in the frequency domain. 1.2. How does a reflection coefficient at the end of a line that is fed with a matched source produce a standing wave. What is the VSWR? 1.3. What are scattering parameters (definition, measurement, content, examples in dB and linear)? 1.4. Describe and compare five different transmission line types. Evaluate their frequency behaviour, velocity factor and technical advantages. 2. Embedded two-port and Smith chart 2.1. Describe the different reflection coefficients that apply at an embedded transmission line and explain the terms matched line and transformed reflection coefficient. 2.2. What quantities are shown in the Smith Chart, which lines are typically drawn to form the chart, and what is the difference between Y-plane and Z-plane? 2.3. Show the transformation path in the Smith chart that results from a series or parallel connection of a matched line, a capacitor, or an inductor. 2.4. Propose a suited transmission line matching network and explain the circuit design for the resulting network by the help of the Smith chart. 3. Linear modelling with scattering parameters 3.1. Why is accurate modelling crucial for RF-design and what are the advantages and limitations of an Sparameter based analysis (discuss an example)? 3.2. Sketch the geometry of a microstrip line and specify the major properties of this line type. 4. Types of transmission lines and special transmission lines 4.1. Describe a quarter wavelength transformer and specify its properties. 4.2 What is the electrical characteristic of an open and a shorted stub line? Compare it with lumped elements. 4.3. How does the line length influence the effect of a mismatched transmission line segment? 4.4. Define even mode and odd mode excitation of a pair of coupled lines and form a model for a single port excitation. 5. Impedance transformation with lumped components and lines 5.1. Explain the principle of impedance matching between source and load. 5.2. How is the frequency dependence of line transformations represented in the smith chart? 5.3. Discuss the influence of the line length if a mismatched load is fed by a source with a matched transmission line (exercise 2.3). 6. Microwave materials, transmission lines and waveguides 6.1. What effect is modelled by a complex dielectric constant? Give examples for RF materials. 6.2. Which modes of electro-magnetic waves propagate in transmission lines? Compare two examples and specify typical properties that result from the propagating modes. 6.3. Sketch the fields of a TE10-mode in a rectangular waveguide and show the agreement with common boundary conditions. 6.4. Comment the effects of a cut-off frequency and dispersion in waveguides. 7. Couplers and hybrids 7.1. Give an example for a TEM-line directional coupler and illustrate its properties. 7.2. What is a Lange coupler and what is it used for? 7.3. Describe the principle of a two-hole waveguide coupler. 7.4. Summarize the coupling and decoupling effects in a ring hybrid and specify the necessary conditions for an optimum operation. 7.5. Which ports are coupled in a branch line coupler and what phase differences occur? 7.6. What line configuration is called Wilkinson coupler and under what conditions it is lossless? 8. Line discontinuities and T-junctions 8.1. Give an example for a resistive power splitter/divider and discuss its limitations.

8.2. Explain the growing needs for exact transmission line modelling (transitions, discontinuities) if the operating frequency rises. 8.3. Give an example for the circuit analysis with signal flow charts. Which quantities are used? 8.4. What are typical properties of a waveguide E-junction, H-junction and a magic Tee 9. Power detectors and slotted line 9.1. What is a microwave diode detector, what is a typical output signal, and which electrical quantity does it measure? 9.2. Describe a slotted line and what is measured with this device? 9.3 Sketch and explain the voltage variation along a slotted line for short, open, and termination. 10. Reflectometer and lumped VSWR bridge 10.1. Draw the schematic of a lumped VSWR bridge, discuss its operation and limitations. 10.2. Give an overview about the measurement of power waves with a reflectometer. 11. Network analyzer 11.1. Compare the measurement with power meter and scalar network analyzer. 11.2. What advantages has the heterodyne network analyzer? 11.3. Why does the network analyzer principle well agree with the S-parameter definition? 11.4. Draw and explain a VNA block diagram. 11.5. Why the VNA calibration is crucial and how is it performed? 11.6. What happens if a dipole is fed by a single ended source? 12. Mixed mode S-parameters 12.1. Discuss single ended and differential operation of circuits. 12.2. How can pairs of coaxial ports be used for the excitation of common and differential modes in a two wire line? 12.3. Which effects may cause mode conversions in differential circuits and what are the consequences? 12.4. What is a balun and which limitations restrict its use?