Browsing by Author "Netshifhire, Vhudilangi Patrick"
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- ItemThe design and implementation of microwave receiver front end components(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005-12) Netshifhire, Vhudilangi Patrick; Meyer, Petrie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Different types of RF and Microwave receiver systems architectures are investigated. The superheterodyne receiver characteristics are studied qualitatively. A three components system (LNA, Mixer and VeO) is selected and the components are first measured individually, and then measured as a single system. A mono filar axial mode helix antenna is designed, simulated using FEKO and constructed. A narrow band interdigital bandpass filter is designed using the capacitance network and its transformation, and it is simulated using two different simulation packages, eST Microwave Studio and AWR Microwave Office. Two filter prototypes are fabricated using cylindrical rods. An open circuited microstrip resonator oscillator is designed and implemented through the negative resistance method. Its performance is verified using the harmonic balance simulator in AWR MWO. A single balanced mixer is designed and implemented using 1800 hybrid junction (rat-race) and it is also fabricated using microstrip transmission line technology. All designed components performed well in comparison to their predicted performance. The LNA and three of the designed components (Filter, Oscillator and a Mixer) are connected together and characterized as a single four block system. The system performed well except for the IF signal which shift to a lower frequency due to oscillator load pulling.