EE 3113

INTRODUCTION INTO RF
CIRCUIT DESIGN
Lecture Notes for A-term 1999
LECTURE 2
Prof. R. Ludwig
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA
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Copyright, 1998 © R. Ludwig
RF Behavior of Passive Components
• Conventional circuit analysis
– R is frequency independent
– Ideal inductor: X L = jωL
– Ideal capacitor: X C = 1
ωC

• Evaluation
– Impedance chart

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 Impedance Chart
(impedance of C & L vs frequency)

ZC=1/(2πfC)

ZL=2πfL

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 How does a wire behave at high frequency?

• Example: Resistor RDC = 2

l
πa σ

a a
R / RDC = ωL / RDC =
2δ 2δ
1
δ =
πfµσ

High frequency results in skin-

effect whereby current flow is
pushed to the outside
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 How exactly is the current distribution as a function of
frequency?

• Low frequency shows

uniform current
distribution
• medium to high
frequency pushes
current to the outside
• RF “sees” current
completely restricted
to surface
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Impedance Measurement Example
Capacitor going through resonance

Capacitor
Characteristics

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 Equivalent Circuit Analysis

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