This year's project is to design parts for a Satellite TV receiver
following the DVBS II standard. To keep this interesting, participants
are concentrating on the parts not designed in previous projects.
Parts and topics being worked on are:
System Level Design - Determining how bit error rate is
affected by phase noise, IQ mismatch, and using this information to
set specs for individual parts
Baseband low pass filter - ideally variable bandwidth from
4 MHz to 40 MHz, design an LC ladder with active L, dealing with
parasitic capacitance, tuning issues.
Synthesizer System Level Design - incorporating a digitally
controlled oscillator into a synthesizer, digital filter design
Digitally Controlled Oscillator - input bits directly control
the frequency. Very broad frequency tuning range required.
Crystal Oscillator - the challenge is in simulating an oscillator
when Q is of the order of 100k.
Rumour has it that students and supervisors will be announced
on Thursday September 7. So, we are hoping to have a preliminary
project meeting on Friday Sept 8 at 11:30-12:30 in ME 4124 for
all project students reporting to Prof. Plett and Prof. Rogers.
Note this time slot is in the fourth-year schedule. Watch this page
for further updates.
The following is from last year
Although details have not been finalized, typical projects over the
last few years have consisted of radio frequency and analog integrated
circuit design. Typical design has been Wireless LAN transceiver
operating in the GHz frequency range and might include RF parts
(low-noise amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, power amplifiers)
frequency synthesizer components (charge pumps, phase detectors,
dividers, loop filters, voltage-controlled oscillators). This might
also include some of the components in the analog stage, including
parts like filters, analog-to-digital converters, or automatic gain
control amplifiers.
In this project, students will learn state-of-the-art design
techniques and make use of advanced processes. Cadence-based tools,
including Spectre RF, are the same as those widely used in industry so
this will be valuable experience. This project may be combined with
that of John Rogers with a resulting team of 8 to 14 students.
Students will have their own blocks to design, but will also be
involved in putting the whole transceiver together.
This project will build on skills learned in ELEC 2507 and ELEC 3509.
Detailed design information and instructions on the use of the tools
will be provided in tutorial sessions at the beginning of the term.
There will also be extensive handouts and reference books available.
It is also recommended that students take ELEC 4505 Telecommunications
Circuits, and ELEC 4707 Analog Integrated Circuit Design
Further information can be found in the write-ups for previous years
at:
http://www.doe.carleton.ca/~cp/fyp.html