Radio-frequency engineering

Radio-frequency engineering
Occupation
NamesRadio-frequency engineer
Occupation type
Profession
Description
CompetenciesTechnical knowledge, management skills
Education required
Mathematics, physics, electronics, information technology
Fields of
employment
Radio, television, military
Related jobs
Technologist, broadcast engineer, engineering technician, technical operator

Radio-frequency (RF) engineering is a subset of electrical engineering involving the application of transmission line, waveguide, antenna, radar, and electromagnetic field principles to the design and application of devices that produce or use signals within the radio band, the frequency range of about 20 kHz up to 300 GHz.[1][2][3]

It is incorporated into almost everything that transmits or receives a radio wave, which includes, but is not limited to, mobile phones, radios, Wi-Fi, and two-way radios. RF engineering is a highly specialized field that typically includes the following areas of expertise:

  1. Design of antenna systems to provide radiative coverage of a specified geographical area by an electromagnetic field or to provide specified sensitivity to an electromagnetic field impinging on the antenna.
  2. Design of coupling and transmission line structures to transport RF energy without radiation.
  3. Application of circuit elements and transmission line structures in the design of oscillators, amplifiers, mixers, detectors, combiners, filters, impedance transforming networks and other devices.
  4. Verification and measurement of performance of radio frequency devices and systems.[4]

To produce quality results, the RF engineer needs to have an in-depth knowledge of mathematics, physics and general electronics theory as well as specialized training in areas such as wave propagation, impedance transformations, filters and microstrip printed circuit board design.[citation needed]

  1. ^ A. A. Ghirardi, Radio Physics Course, 2nd ed. New York: Rinehart Books, 1932, p. 249
  2. ^ Signal Corps U.S. Army, The Principles Underlying Radio Communication, 2nd ed. Washington, DC: U.S.G.P.O., 1922, p. 191
  3. ^ Technical Manual TM 11-665: C-W and A-M Radio Transmitters and Receivers. Dept. of the Army, US Government Printing Office. 1952. p. 2.
  4. ^ "How to Measure Requirement for RF Equipments". 30 January 2018.

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