PSpice applications in the teaching of wireless and high frequency electronics

Abstract

The many recent technological developments in communication circuit design have paved a foundation for the development of complex personal communications systems. Although there are a variety of textbooks dealing with high frequency communication circuits and systems, there are very few sources of information integrating fundamental electronic circuits and components with overarching communication systems. A critical issue is the availability of inexpensive or free software that demonstrates the major circuit design considerations necessary for laboratories and projects. This paper has been written to relate our positive experiences using PSpice in a class entitled "High Frequency Electronics" (EE 626), which is a graduate level course at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Examples discussed include the development and use of y- and s-parameter extraction circuits, Wilkinson power dividers and adders, directional couplers, baluns, hybrid rings, HF filters, and stability and load calculators. Several examples of circuit analysis using "PUFF" software have been added to illustrate microstrip implementations of the circuits analyzed with PSpice. A separate set of examples covering conventional communication circuits is presented in a companion paper entitled "PSpice Applications in the Teaching of Communication Electronics.".