Presentation and question about books for getting started in RF design - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: Just_another_Dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2021, 04:35:19 pm
content: Hi, my name is David and I’m an electronics and control engineer and this is my first post in this forum. For the last three years I’ve been working as a power electronics designer in a research centre, but now that I’ve ended my master degree and after having designed some coils for wireless power supply applications I’m interested in learning to design RF circuits. Therefore, I’ve been looking for books that cover both designing PCB antennas and their required matching networks, as in the research center where I work nobody knows about those topics. Additionally, during my bachelor degree the basic fundamentals of antennas and transmission lines where partially covered in a completely theoretical way in a subject about electromagnetism that I took (I still keep my notes and the book that they recommended us, Engineering Electromagnetics by W. Hayt, explains how to use a Smith chart).Regarding antenna design, I’ve found some posts in EE forums recommending Antenna Theory: Analysis and Theory by C. Balanis and the ARRL Antenna Book, yet none of them seem to cover matching networks and RF filters. For that reason, I’d like to ask you if you know about any book that covers the basics of all these topics as Fundamentals of Power Electronics by R. Erickson does in Power Electronics (or which ones do you think that might be better for starting designing RF circuits).I’m not sure if I should post this in the Beginners or RF section, so please forgive me if this is not the most adequate one for this request

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2021, 05:51:56 pm
content: How basic do you want it? The ARRL Handbook will give you a decent hands-on introduction to filters and matching networks:http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Handbook-2021-SoftcoverThis isn't university-level math, but a reasonable way to get your bearings."RF Circuit Design" by Bowick looks like a good, somewhat more technical choice:https://www.amazon.com/RF-Circuit-Design-Christopher-Bowick/dp/0750685182

author: Just_another_Dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2021, 09:11:56 pm
content: I was looking for one with deep enough explanations to understand what I’m doing without being too advanced for someone that comes from the low frequency world, like an introductory university-level book. ARRL books seemed a good choice for a hands-on introduction, which is great for being able to start building projects in my free time, but I would prefer something more technical.Thanks for your recommendations. The one written by Bowick seems to be what I was looking for

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2021, 10:11:37 pm
content: A related topichttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/the-art-of-microwave-or-similar/

author: Just_another_Dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2021, 10:42:34 pm
content: That’s a really nice topic. Thanks for for pointing out it

author: hagster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2021, 10:56:02 pm
content: RF circuits and Antennas are really two distinct things.For antennas, I recommend antennatheory.comFor RF circuits, I recommend microwave101 encyclopedia. Lots of good stuff.Both are good and accurate.There is no substitute for hands on practice.

author: Just_another_Dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2021, 09:16:43 am
content: Thanks, I’ll check themRegarding hands-on practice, my plan is to start by designing a sub-GHz PCB Antenna. However, having a good reference book has proven to be quite useful for avoiding just following datasheets in the past

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2021, 02:51:19 pm
content: for practial stuff on basic waveguide look at microwave theory and measurements by a.l. lance, it will allow you to identify most components in a system and get a feel for what it does

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2021, 03:47:40 pm
content: All the topics you listed ( filters, impedance matching, embedded antennas) remain heavily theoretical, not much you can do "by eye". If you want it practical the best way would be get a set of software tools for design and simulation and test equipment such as a VNA. I think you can safely forget about designing this stuff on a piece of paper, unless you are determined to _study_ the process.In terms of books , for filters: A.Zverev, Handbook of Filter Synthesis. For impedance stuff try Agilent's "Impedance Measurements Handbook".

author: Just_another_Dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2021, 11:30:46 pm
content: Thanks for your answers and book recommendations, I’ll check them.I have access to both VNAs and FEA simulators (ANSYS) as I work designing power converters and we use them for measuring their stability and designing the required magnetic components. However, I’m interested in the theoretical fundamentals of those topics as they can be also useful for improving the wireless chargers I sometimes have to design (we usually model them as a coreless transformer, but they are quite similar to a high power NFC Antenna with a switching frequency between hundreds of kilohertzs and some megahertzs)

author: miken
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 03:40:53 am
content: If you want a hardcore theory book, the classic is by Ramo, Whinnery, and Van Duzer. But maybe you'd want to go through something friendlier like Griffiths E&M first.

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 06:27:50 am
content: Balanis is good for antenna, and general RF I'd recommend Pozar.Either way, it's dry material and Pozar does sometimes skip math steps, so all other sources (youtube, EDx, university course PDF etc) are good supplements because it can be quite tough without instruction.Specific theory for antenna types, perhaps from Volakis.There is also a very good two-volume book by some Greek professor whose name currently eludes me... but it has great matlab code and examples with complete calculations.(edit: Orfanidishttps://www.ece.rutgers.edu/~orfanidi/ewa/)I also have the ARRL handbook but I never found myself using it for learning fundamentals. I would like to classify it as a 'cookbook' and collection of very specific HAM stuff and sometimes someone's article is related to what you're looking to design. Not bad but more 'practical' and less 'scientific'.

author: Just_another_Dave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 12:57:10 pm
content: Thanks, I’m currently watching an antena theory course that my university recently uploaded to YouTube. In case someone is interested, you can find it here:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8bSwVy8_IcPzLTEZPbSAQr4OnAHf4VNs. However, it is just in Spanish.In case you don’t speak that language, hackaday is also uploading one in English (right now just the first week is available):https://hackaday.io/course/178490-introduction-to-antenna-basics

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 03:08:26 pm
content: For the old refs see the MIT Radiation Lab Series with tubes but the basics are still the same.The classic is 1946 Principles Of Radar MIT Radar ed was Skolnick.The old ARRL handbooks are cheap at the ham fleas.Enjoy,Jon

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 12:39:22 am
content: If you can get it, Experimental Methods for RF Design is good. Also the older Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur. Both ARRL publications.

author: Kateporl
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 23, 2023, 10:22:21 am
content: thanks