Microwave engineering and antennas from Coursera

This unique Master-level course provides you with in-depth know-how of microwave engineering and antennas. The course combines both passive and active microwave circuits as well as antenna systems. Future applications, like millimeter-wave 5G/beyond-5G wireless communications or automotive radar, require experts that can co-design highly integrated antenna systems that include both antennas and microwave electronics. We will provide you with the required theoretical foundation as well as hands-on experience using state-of-the-art design tools.

The web lectures are supported by many on-line quizzes in which you can practice the background theory. Next to this, we will provide you hands-on experience in a design-challenge in which you will learn how to design microwave circuits and antennas. Throughout the course you will work on the design challenge in which you will design a complete active phased array system, including antennas, beamformers and amplifiers. The course is supported by a book written by the team of lecturers, which will be made available to the students. After finalizing the course a certificate can be obtained (5 ECTS), which can be used when you start a full MSc program at Eindhoven University of Technology.

The lecturers all have an academic and industrial background and are embedded in the Center for Wireless Technology Eindhoven (CWT/e) of Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.

What's inside

Syllabus

Promo

In this short video the lecturers will introduce themselves and will provide a general overview of the scope of the course. The lecturers all have a solid academic and industrial background and are embedded in the Center for Wireless Technology Eindhoven (CWT/e) of Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.

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what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines advanced microwave engineering and antenna systems concepts, which is in-demand in telecommunication field

Taught by instructors who are experts in microwave engineering and antenna systems

Develops skills in microwave circuit and antenna design using design tools, which are essential for practical microwave engineering

Provides a theoretical foundation in microwave engineering and antenna systems, which is crucial for understanding the principles behind these technologies

Provides hands-on experience through a design challenge, which helps learners apply theoretical knowledge to practical applications

Students are expected to take this course in serial with other advanced courses in the series to fully grasp the subject

Reviews summary

Comprehensive microwave & antenna engineering with hands-on design

According to learners, this course offers an incredibly strong theoretical foundation in microwave engineering and antennas, exceptionally balanced with practical design challenges. Students commend its use of state-of-the-art tools like QUCS and CST, making the learning engaging and highly relevant for applications such as 5G and automotive radar. While praised for its comprehensive coverage and well-structured lectures by expert instructors, some learners noted it is not for beginners and requires a solid background, with a potentially steep learning curve for the software. The course's companion book and online quizzes are frequently cited as helpful resources.

Features expert lecturers and valuable supporting materials like the companion book.

"The lecturers clearly know their stuff and present complex topics in a clear, digestible manner. The book is also an excellent companion."

"The instructors are experts, and their explanations are clear."

"The lectures are well-structured, and the quizzes truly help reinforce learning."

"The supporting book is a great resource."

Provides extensive coverage of microwave engineering, highly relevant for industry.

"A very comprehensive course covering both microwave circuits and antennas. ... I learned a lot and it's highly relevant for current industry trends like 5G."

"Excellent and comprehensive! The depth of coverage on both microwave circuits and antenna theory is remarkable. ... for experienced engineers."

"The practical focus on phased arrays and 5G applications makes it very relevant."

Integrates in-depth theoretical concepts with practical design challenges.

"This course exceeded my expectations. The theoretical foundation is incredibly strong, and the way they integrate practical design challenges using tools like QUCS and CST is outstanding."

"Fantastic content! The hands-on work with QUCS and CST was invaluable. I appreciate the emphasis on applying theoretical knowledge to practical problems."

"The blend of theory and hands-on design was perfect. The practical focus on phased arrays and 5G applications makes it very relevant."

Requires a solid prior background in electromagnetics and circuits, challenging for beginners.

"The course is good, but definitely not for beginners. You need a solid background in electromagnetics and circuit theory."

"Some of the theoretical derivations, especially in week 5, were quite challenging to follow without prior exposure."

"I found the pace quite fast, especially when dealing with complex derivations. ... It's a good course if you already have a strong foundation."

"I sometimes felt the hands-on parts could have more step-by-step guidance, particularly for beginners with the software."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Microwave engineering and antennas with these activities:

Antenna Theory and Design by Balanis

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Review a comprehensive textbook on antenna theory to deepen understanding and gain a broader perspective on antenna design.

View Balanis' Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics on Amazon

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Read selected chapters or sections of the book.
Summarize and take notes on the key concepts and theories.
Apply the knowledge gained to course assignments and projects.

Microwave Engineering Study Group

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Discuss course concepts, work through problems, and share knowledge with peers to enhance understanding and retention.

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Join or create a study group with classmates.
Meet regularly to review course material, solve problems, and discuss concepts.
Collaborate on practice exercises and assignments.

Microwave Engineering Tutor

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Assist and guide other students in the same or lower-level microwave engineering courses to solidify understanding and reinforce concepts.

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Offer tutoring services to classmates or underclassmen.
Review course material and prepare to answer questions.
Provide explanations, solve problems, and clarify concepts.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Antenna Design Workshop

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Attend a hands-on workshop to gain practical experience in designing and testing antennas.

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Attend the workshop and participate actively.
Follow the instructions and guidance provided.
Build and demonstrate working antenna prototypes.
Discuss and share findings with experts and peers.

Antenna Design Simulations

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Practice designing and simulating antennas using software tools to improve understanding of antenna characteristics and behavior.

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Install antenna design software.
Study antenna design principles and simulation techniques.
Design and simulate various antenna configurations.
Analyze and interpret simulation results to optimize antenna performance.

Microwave Circuit Design Project

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Design and simulate a microwave circuit, such as an amplifier or filter, to gain practical experience in applying concepts learned in the course.

Browse courses on Microwave Engineering

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Define the project goals and specifications.
Research and select appropriate circuit components.
Use design tools to simulate the circuit and optimize performance.
Build and test the physical circuit.
Analyze and present the results.

Blog on Microwave Applications

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Write blog posts on various applications of microwave technology to deepen understanding and showcase real-world relevance.

Browse courses on Microwave Engineering

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Research and explore different microwave applications.
Write detailed blog posts explaining the concepts, benefits, and limitations of each application.
Share the blog posts on social media or online forums.

Contribute to Open Antenna Design Software

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Contribute to open-source software projects related to antenna design to gain practical experience and stay updated on industry trends.

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Identify open-source antenna design software projects.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Contribute code, documentation, or bug fixes.
Collaborate with other developers and users.

Career center

Learners who complete Microwave engineering and antennas will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Microwaves Engineer

Microwaves Engineers are professionals who develop, design, and test products that use microwaves. Course study in Microwaves Engineering covers antenna systems as well as how to design microwave circuits and antennas, making it a good foundation for a career in this field. For career advancement in this field, one should take this course in particular to help build a solid background in using the design tool QUCS, as well as be better prepared for designing a passive phased array system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microwaves Engineer

Antenna Engineer

Antenna Engineers develop, design, and test antennas for various applications. This may involve designing antennas for satellite communications, radar systems, or mobile devices. This course covers antenna systems along with how to design microwave circuits and antennas, making it a good introduction for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Antenna Engineer

Microwave Circuit Designer

Microwave Circuit Designers are responsible for designing and developing microwave circuits. These circuits are used in a variety of applications, such as telecommunications, radar systems, and medical imaging. This course combines both passive and active microwave circuits, making it a solid foundation for succeeding in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microwave Circuit Designer

RF Engineer

RF Engineers design and test radio frequency (RF) systems used in communications, radar, and other applications. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers how to design microwave circuits and antennas, which are key components of RF systems, making it an excellent course for career development in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for RF Engineer

Antenna Systems Engineer

Antenna Systems Engineers design and develop antenna systems for a variety of applications, such as communications, radar, and navigation. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers antenna systems, making it a great way to start or advance your career in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Antenna Systems Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the electrical systems used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Electronics Engineer

Electronics Engineers design, develop, and test electronic devices and systems. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the electronic devices used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field. However, it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronics Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software systems. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the software used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Computer Engineer

Computer Engineers design, develop, and test computer systems. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the computer systems used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Engineer

Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers design, develop, and test systems that include hardware and software components. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the systems used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field. However, it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Hardware Engineer

Hardware Engineers design, develop, and test hardware systems. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the hardware used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers design, develop, and test mechanical systems. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the mechanical systems used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineers design, develop, and test industrial systems. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the industrial systems used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Engineer

Materials Scientist

Materials Scientists design, develop, and test materials used in various applications. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the materials used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Chemist

Chemists design, develop, and test chemicals used in various applications. This course in Microwave Engineering and Antennas covers some of the chemicals used in microwave engineering, making it useful for those already working in this field, though it may not be the best introduction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemist