Introduction to Wireless System Design

3Transmitter Design

3.1 Introduction

This chapter focuses on the design of transmitters, with an emphasis on the system as a whole and the various considerations that impact their performance. The role of the critical building blocks is explored, with the oscillator serving as the fundamental frequency source for the RF transmitter, generating a stable RF carrier signal at the desired frequency. Modulation techniques, including analog and digital modulation, are discussed, highlighting their importance in facilitating the transmission of information by converting audio, video, or data signals to a higher frequency range for effective communication. The chapter also covers upconverters, which are responsible for translating baseband signals to higher frequencies suitable for transmission. Power amplification and output filtering are examined as critical components in transmitter design to achieve the desired power level and ensure clean transmission. Other considerations, such as impedance matching and linearity requirements, are also addressed.

The chapter then explores different transmitter architectures, including direct‐conversion and heterodyne transmitters. The simplicity and cost‐effectiveness of direct‐conversion transmitters, which directly translate the baseband signal to the desired carrier frequency, are discussed. Heterodyne transmitters, which utilize frequency conversion techniques for frequency translation to mitigate the disadvantages associated with direct‐conversion ...