Mixed Signal Design
ECE-40244
Master Mixed Signal Design: From Analog-to-Digital Converters to PLL Circuitry
As industries like wireless communications, digital audio, and System-on-Chip (SOC) design continue to grow, mastering Mixed Signal Design is critical for engineers. This course focuses on integrating digital circuits with analog circuits, from phase-locked loops (PLL) to analog-to-digital converters (A/D) and digital-to-analog converters (D/A). You will explore real-world applications where digital logic meets the physical world through mixed signal processing. Learn about the challenges and requirements that come with high-performance mixed signal systems, and gain the expertise needed to design, analyze, and optimize circuits that balance the analog and digital domains.
Course Highlights
- Explore different types of Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Converters: Understand design details, benefits, and limitations of each type.
- Phase Locked Loops (PLL) Design: Dive into PLLs, learning their design and use in communication systems.
- Learn about Nyquist-rate Converters, Oversampling, Noise-shaping, and Delta-Sigma Modulators.
- Hands-on design experience with reconstruction filters, anti-alias filters, and track-and-hold circuits.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will
- Gain the ability to design A/D and D/A converters to meet specific performance requirements.
- Understand the design and optimization of digital phase-locked loops for use in advanced systems.
- Learn to design reconstruction filters for D/A converters and anti-alias filters for A/D converters.
- Explore the balance between analog filter design and converter clock/sample rate trade-offs.
- Enhance your skills with practical design techniques for track-and-hold circuits to improve A/D converter performance.
Why You Should Take This Course
- Broaden your expertise: Whether you're primarily a digital or analog engineer, this course offers critical knowledge that bridges both fields, essential in today’s advanced mixed signal systems.
- Real-world applications: Learn techniques that are applicable to wireless communication, digital telephony, audio systems, and more.
- Stand out in your field: Mixed signal design is crucial for building high-performance systems. Mastering these skills will set you apart and advance your career in engineering.
- Hands-on learning: You’ll not only learn the theory behind mixed signal design but also get practical design experience, allowing you to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges.
Required Software
Students will need the latest version of:
- Matlab and Simulink Student Suite to complete their course project.The discounted student version is available for purchase online from MathWorks
- LTSpice available to download for free from Analog Devices
- Questa Simulator available to download for free from Intel Questa FPGA Software Installation and licensing.
- Quatus Prime Lite (free synthesizer) also available to download for free from Intel Quartus Prime Lite.
Course Details and Next Steps
- Course Typically Offered: Online in Fall and Spring quarters.
- Optional Reading: CMOS Mixed-Signal Circuit Design, 2nd ed. - Author: R. Jacob Baker. Ph.D. - Pub: Wiley IEEE Press - ISBN-13: 978-0470290262
- Prerequisite: Some background in analog circuit design is recommended, and you should review basic differential equations and simple calculus.
- Next Step: After completing this course consider taking other courses in the Digital Signal Processing or RF Engineering certificate programs.
- Contact: For more information about this course, please email unexeng@ucsd.edu.
Who Should Take This Course?
- RF Engineers: Engineers working with wireless systems will benefit from learning about PLL design, data conversion, and signal processing.
- Analog and Digital Engineers: Whether you focus on digital or analog circuits, this course provides the critical skills to integrate these systems effectively.
- System Designers: Engineers designing complex systems that require precise analog-to-digital conversion or digital phase-locked loops will gain valuable insights.
- Anyone Involved in Mixed Signal Circuit Design: If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge and gain hands-on experience in designing mixed signal circuits, this course is for you.
