Lecture 1

Course Introduction

MICROWAVE ENGINEERING

June 07, 2023

Juhar M
 
. ECE, Debre Brihan University
 Course Team
Instructor - Juhar M.
hunyalewjuhar@gmail.com

Scheduled Office Hours: TBD

Office: SE-15 Room-F1.06.
Open Door Policy: When my door is open, you are welcome to
come in.

Teaching Assistant (Tutorials)

NIL

Teaching Assistant (Lab.)

Spring 2018

Abraham L
ECE 323

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3
4
 Transmission Lines
Impedance Matching
Theory and Smith Chart

Transmission Lines and

ECEg4191 Course Waveguides
Contents
Microwave Network
Analysis and S Parameters

Power Dividers and

Directional Couplers

Microwave Filters
(*) Microwave Resonators

(*) If time permits 5

Course Textbook
David M. Pozar,
Microwave
Engineering,
4th Edition,
Wiley,
2012.
(Chapters: 2 - 8)

A very good book on microwave

engineering. Easier to read and
understand.
Recommended
6
Additional Supportive Material
The following books are highly recommended for further
study and I may use parts of them in lectures:

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Lecture Style and Recommendations
Lecture notes may have gaps in them that need to be
filled in while you are in lecture (i.e. keep good notes!)
Goal is to facilitate learning
Consider using blank back-side of slides for notes
If you miss a lecture, you will need to ask others for their notes
You can ask me follow up questions once you have
gone through those notes
Be through – The text and the handouts are not encyclopedia
or manual! Each page builds on the previous one – you must read
them completely and in order. When you come to a line,
paragraph or page that you don’t understand, do you stop
and figure it out , or just skip it and go on?
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Lecture Style and Recommendations
Get help! – Office hours are a great time to learn. All I
ask is that you be knowledgeable of your ignorance!

Be prepared for each lecture – Attend each class

having read the notes from the previous lecture, and having
read the relevant text for the current lecture. Come to class
prepared to think and learn!

Ask Questions! – I will make an effort to periodically stop and

see if everyone understands the lecture material. However, you should
stop me at any time if you have any questions.
If you are confused about something, chances are so is someone
else.
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Laboratories
Objective: Expands and complements the lecture material
Lab Sessions: Six 1.5-hour laboratories (bi-weekly)
1. Measurement of Impedance and Impedance Matching
2. Horn Antenna Investigations
3. Microwave Radio Link Investigations
4. Directional Coupler
5. Series, Shunt and Hybrid Tee Junctions
6. Waveguide to Coaxial Transformers
7. Microstrip Line Technology
Lab Manual and Instructions: available on course website.
Download and read Module Instructions in advance!
Lab reports
Completed individually and independently
1 or 2 pages long, and are due at beginning of next lab
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Exams and Cheating
Exams are closed-book.
HOWEVER
Formula sheet will be provided at midterm and final exams
(if needed)

Cheating results in 0 grade and academic dishonesty

Cheating Policy: Just don't

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Answer Clarity
You must present your answer clearly
Answers with units are to be boxed and right justified.
Show supporting work before the boxed answer with
clearly shown steps of how you arrived at the answer.
Grade reduction will occur for sloppy work.

Example of preferred presentation

Problem 1:
Drawing

Equation(s)

Answer = ⋯ ⋯ ⋯
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Course Assessment/Evaluation
Examination (70%)
Final Examination = 50%
Mid-Term Examination =20%
(*) Coursework (20%)
Quizzes = 10%

(*) Laboratory (20%)

Attendance = 5 Marks
Quizzes = 5 Marks
Lab reports = 5 Marks
Oral = 5 Marks
(*) subject to change
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Course Outcomes
1. Have knowledge of how transmission and waveguide structures
work and how they are used as elements in impedance
matching and filter circuits.
2. Gain knowledge and understanding of microwave analysis
methods.
3. Be able to apply analysis methods to determine circuit
properties of various microwave passive devices.
4. Be able, through labs, to develop an intuition and physical
feeling for microwave phenomenon and to get first hands-on
experience with microwave components and their
characterization techniques.
5. Know how to model and determine the performance
characteristics of a microwave circuit or system using CAD
methods. 16
Let’s enjoy discovering the secrets
of microwave engineering!

I’m hoping to generate insight and interest – not pages of

equations!
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Microwaves
Microwaves term is used to describe the electromagnetic
waves with wavelengths ranging from 10 cm – 1 mm.
The corresponding frequency range is 3 – 300 GHz (IEEE:
from 1 GHz).
RF bands: from 30 MHz to 3 GHz
Microwave bands: from 3 GHz to 30 GHz (cm wavelengths)

Millimeter-wave bands: from 30 GHz to 300 GHz

Why are cm-waves called microwaves?

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Electromagnetic Frequency Spectrum

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Frequency Spectrum Designations

n Frequency band Wavelength Designation Services

4 3 – 30 kHz 100 – 10 km Very Low Frequency Navigation, sonar, submarine
(VLF)
5 30 – 300 kHz 10 – 1 km Low Frequency (LF) Radio beacons, navigation

6 300 – 3000 kHz 1000 – 100 m Medium Frequency (MF) AM broadcast, maritime/coast-guard
radio
7 3 – 30 MHz 100 – 10 m High Frequency (HF) Telephone, telegraph, fax, amateur radio,
ship-to-coast, ship-to-aircraft
communication
8 30 – 300 MHz 10 – 1 m Very High Frequency TV, FM broadcast, air traffic control,
(VHF) police, taxicab mobile radio
9 300 – 3000 MHz 100 – 10 cm Ultrahigh Frequency TV, satellite, radiosonde, radar, bluetooth,
(UHF) PCS, wireless LAN
10 3 – 30 GHz 10 – 1 cm Super High Frequency Airborne & automotive radar, microwave
(SHF) relay, satellite, mobile communication,
local wireless networks.
11 30 – 300 GHz 10 – 1 mm Extremely High Frequency Radar, experimental, security systems
(EHF)

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IEEE MW Band Designations
Frequency Old Band New Band
RF Region 500 – 1000 MHz VHF C
1 – 2 GHz L D
2 – 3 GHz S E
(𝝀 = 𝟑𝟎 cm to 8 mm)

3 – 4 GHz S F
Microwave Region

4 – 6 GHz C G
6 – 8 GHz C H
8 – 10 GHz X I
10 – 12.4 GHz X J
12.4 – 18 GHz Ku J
18 – 20 GHz K J
20 – 26.5 GHz K K
26.5 – 40 GHz Ka K
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Circuit Theory vs. EM Field Theory

different
voltages @
different points

High AC freq.

Sinusoidal
excitation @
Very low AC freq.
different
frequencies
≈ DC freq.

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Circuit Theory vs. EM Field Theory
𝑅𝑠
+
𝑉𝑠 A very long power transmission line
−

forward wave

reflected wave
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Circuit Theory vs. EM Field Theory
When the size of a structure is much smaller than a wavelength,
there is negligible variation in the electric/magnetic fields
(voltages/currents) across the structure
Can apply circuit theory (KCL, KVL, …)
lumped-parameter circuit components

As the structure gets large/wavelength gets small, such that this is

no longer true, circuit theory is no longer applicable
Need EM field theory to analyze the system
distributed-parameter circuit components

Circuit T-Line EM Field

Theory Theory Theory
𝒊 𝒕 , 𝒗(𝒕) 𝒊 𝒛, 𝒕 , 𝒗(𝒛, 𝒕) 𝑬 𝒛, 𝒕 , 𝑯(𝒛, 𝒕)
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Lumped Elements (1)
R C L

M
a pair of
conductor
Key characteristics:
• Elements relates to
Linear voltage and current.
• Negligible delay between
cause and effect.
• Total input and output
currents are equal.
• 𝑽 and 𝑰 depend on time
Nonlinear only

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Lumped Elements (2)

Input Output Input Output

Input and output

currents are similar
at any instant in time.

Negligible delay between

input and output, e.g.,
cause and effect.

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Lumped Elements (3)
Example of lumped components:

Time-Domain Time-Domain

L R Frequency-Domain
Frequency-Domain

Time-Domain Frequency-Domain

C
Voltage phasor Current phasor

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Distributed Elements (1)

+++++++
𝑧
---------- Key characteristics:
• Elements can relate to
voltage and current.
Transmission Line • Significant delay
between cause and
effect.
• 𝑽 and 𝑰 depend on
location and time.
𝑅∆𝑧 𝐿∆𝑧 𝑅∆𝑧 𝐿∆𝑧

𝐺∆𝑧 𝐺∆𝑧
𝐶∆𝑧 𝐶∆𝑧

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Distributed Elements (2)

• Current varies along conductors and elements

• Voltage across points along conductor or
within elements varies

Delay 𝚫𝒕
Phase change or transit time
cannot be neglected

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T-Line Effects
ℓ1
sensor

AND gate

sensor
ℓ2 > ℓ 1 Line 𝑨

Line 𝑩

Desired o/p

Actual o/p

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Transition from Lumped to Distributed

Consider a simple circuit built on a single-sided printed circuit

board (PCB):

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Low-Frequency Condition

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High-Frequency Condition

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Transition from Lumped to Distributed
Analog domain
Digital domain
𝜆

distance

Rise time
Fall time
Rule-of-Thumb: if 𝑳 < 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎𝝀, it is
Propagation delay a short interconnect, otherwise
it is considered a long
interconnect.
𝐿

Distributed conductor
Rise/fall time Short Phase velocity
interconnect

Distributed element34
Concept: Electrical Length
Electrical length (E) is the portion of a wavelength (𝜆) that a
𝑧
distance 𝑧 represents, or simply .
𝜆

3 ways of
expressing the
same thing

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RF, microwave, and millimeter wave
circuit design and construction is far
more complicated than low frequency
work. So why do it?

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Advantages of MW-I
1. High gain antennas can be constructed at microwave
frequencies that are physically small.

Marconi’s square conical antenna at Modern microwave

England in 1905 antennas

2. More bandwidth:- a 1% bandwidth, for example, provides

more absolute frequency range at MW frequencies than that at HF.
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Advantages of MW-II
3. MW signals travel predominately by line of sight (LOS)
and aren't reflected off the ionosphere like HF signals do.
Consequently, communication links between (and among)
satellites and terrestrial stations are possible.

4. At MW frequencies, the electromagnetic properties of many

materials are changing with frequency. This is due to
molecular, atomic, and nuclear resonances. This behavior is useful
for remote sensing and other applications.

5. There is much less background noise at MW

frequencies than at RF.

6. Better resolution for radars due to smaller wavelengths.

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MW APPLICATIONS

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1.9, 2.4, and 5.8 GHz
700 MHz to 2.7 GHz
GSM: two frequency bands of 25 MHz
Uplink: 890-915 MHz (Europe) 1850-1910
MHz (US)
Downlink: 935-960 MHz (Europe) 1930-1990
MHz (US)

ISM band @ 2.45 GHz

2.4 GHz for IEEE 802.11b
& 802.11g 3.5 & 5 GHz
5 GHz for IEEE 802.11a (Middle East & Africa)
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uplink@1.57542 GHz,
downlink@1.22760 GHz
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Personal satellite communications

Real-time MRI of a human heart

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Microwave relay links, repeaters

Wireless power transfer

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 Microwave heating

Microwave Drying of Food and Agricultural Materials

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Difficulties
1. Voltage is not well defined if the distance between the
two points is not electrically small.
At MW frequencies, “electrically large” distances may be just a
few millimeters! Moving the probe leads around will also likely
affect voltage measurements.

2. More expensive components.

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Difficulties
3. One must carefully choose lumped elements (L, C,
R, diodes, transistors, etc.) for use in the MW region. Typical low
frequency components do not behave as expected.

4. To “transport” electrical signals from one position to another, one

must use special “wires.” It is more common to speak of
“guiding” signals at these frequencies.

𝐼𝐿

𝑅𝐿
𝑉𝐿

𝑡0 𝑡0 + ∆𝑡 𝑡0 + 2∆𝑡 𝑡0 + 𝑛∆𝑡
Positive charge 48
Microwave Engineering
In UHF band up to around a frequency of 1 GHz, most
communications circuits are constructed using lumped-parameter
circuit components.
In the frequency range from 1 – 100 GHz, lumped circuit elements
are usually replaced by T-line and waveguide components.
Microwave engineering: the engineering and design of
information-handling systems in the frequency range 1 – 100 GHz
(corresponding to wavelengths as long as 30 cm and as short as 3
mm).
The characteristic feature of microwave engineering is the short
wavelengths involved, these being of the same order of magnitude
as the circuit elements and devices employed.
Microwave engineering: is applied electromagnetic fields
engineering.
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“From a long view of the history of
mankind - seen from, say, ten thousand
years from now - there can be little doubt
that the most significant event of the 19 th
century will be judged as Maxwell’s
discovery of the laws of electrodynamics”
– Richard P. Feynman

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Maxwell’s Equations-I
Perhaps the two most important of the Maxwell equations are

Differential form: Integral form:

Faraday’s
Law

Ampère’s
Law

𝐸 is the electric field in V/m.

𝐻 is the magnetic field in A/m.
𝐷 is the electric flux density in Coul/m2 .
𝐵 is the magnetic flux density in Wb/m2 .
Constitutive
𝐽 is the electric current density in A/m . relations
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Wave Function and Phasor
In many ways the frequency 𝑓 does not carry much information. If
a linear system is excited by a sinusoidal source with frequency
𝑓, we know the response at every point in the system will be
sinusoidal with frequency 𝑓.
It is the phase constant 𝛽 which carries more information, it
determines the velocity and wavelength, of the wave.
Thus it is more convenient if we convert the expressions for EM
fields into phasor or Time-Harmonic form, as shown below:
Euler’s formula cos 𝑤𝑡 ∓ 𝛽𝑧 = Re 𝑒 𝑗𝑤𝑡 𝑒 ∓𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝑒 𝑗𝛼 = cos 𝛼 + 𝑗 sin 𝛼
Using Euler’s formula
𝑗 = −1 More compact form
cos 𝑤𝑡 ∓ 𝛽𝑧 𝑒 ∓𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝑣 𝑧, 𝑡 = 𝑉𝑜cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑡 − 𝛽𝑧 𝑉 𝑧 = 𝑉𝑜𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
Convention: small letter for time-domain
form, capital letter for phasor. Phasor for 𝑣(𝑧, 𝑡)
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Maxwell’s Equations-II
Much of our work in this course will be in the sinusoidal steady
state.
With an assumed (and suppressed) 𝑒 𝑗𝑤𝑡 time convention, these
curl equations become:

Differential form: Integral form:

Faraday’s
Law

Ampere’s
Law

where 𝐸, 𝐵, 𝐷,𝐻, and 𝐽 are all vector phasors.

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Maxwell’s Equations-III
Of course, both the differential and integral forms are equally
valid.
Which of these to use depends on the problem:
To derive equations to solve for 𝐸 and 𝐻, the differential
forms are often better.
For circuit approximations of devices (or other physical
interpretations), the integral forms are often more useful.

Rather than using the full-blown Maxwell’s equations in

microwave circuit design, approximations are often made to

Transmission line theory, to be discussed next, is one of these.

We will not explicitly be seeing much of Maxwell’s equations in

this course.
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 Principle of
Conservation of
Energy

1 2 3 4
Electric Gauss’s Magnetic Gauss’s
Faraday’s Law Ampere’s Law
Law Law

5
Constitutive
Relations 6 Maxwell’s Equations
9
7 8 Electro-
Electrostatics Magneto- magnetics
& DC statics
10 11 12 13 14
Scalar Poisson’s Electric Electric Vector General
& Coulomb's Coulomb's Poisson’s Wave Eqs.
Laplace’s Eqs. Law Law Eq. & Helmholtz’s
Eqs.
15 16 18
17 19
Electric Electric Magnetic Magnetic TLines
Ohm’s Kirchhoff’s Ohm’s Kirchhoff’s & Waveguide
Law Law Law Law Eqs.

Low-Frequency Electronics RF/MW Electronics

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Thank you

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