UCLA Analog, Mixed Signal, RF and Microwave Circuit Design Program

2024-2025

Build Your Skills in Microelectronics Design

This program consists of six (6) courses in digital, analog, mixed signal, RF and microwave circuits and systems design to give engineers a broad knowledge and understanding of the complex microelectronics design in today’s advanced technology.

Program Requirements:
You must complete the following 6 courses to receive your Award of Completion. Individual courses can be taken without Award of Completion.

Course Format:
Online via Zoom, after work hours.

Grading Policy:
Participants will receive a pass/fail grade.

Enrollment Procedure

Our courses are open enrollment, meaning no admission decision is necessary for you to enroll. Simply choose the enrollment method below that is most convenient for you.

Enroll Online:

Click Enroll on your selected course(s) to add them to your Shopping Cart.
Select “Checkout” when ready and either log in (for current students) or create your student profile (for new students).
Follow the instructions on screen.

By Phone:
Call 1-800-825-9971
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

By Voucher:
Email the voucher to billing@uclaextension.edu and ecp@unex.ucla.edu

In Person:
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
1145 Gayley Ave, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

By Postal Mail:
Download our Enrollment Form and return with payment (check or money order only) to our address at the bottom of the page.

Mail to:
UCLA Extension Enrollment Center
1145 Gayley Ave, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Enrollment is based on space availability at the time your payment is received.

Learn about Payment Options

Courses

Circuit Design 1: Introduction to Op-Amp Design

Sept 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 2024
4:00 - 7:00 PM PST
CEUs 1.8 (18 instruction hrs)
Reg# 400075
Fee: $1,850

The primary building block of all analog and mixed signal integrated circuits is operational amplifiers (Op-Amps). Amplifiers are the main components in anything analog from analog to digital converters (ADC) to digital to analog converters (DAC), filters, transmitters, receivers, transceivers and more. This course provides fundamental understanding of analog CMOS technologies, modeling, device characterization, and CMOS circuit design.

It also covers the application, design and operation of operational amplifiers including building blocks of amplifiers such as current source and sink circuitries, current mirrors, bias circuitries, differential input stage, gain stage and output stage. It also covers the frequency response analysis of operational amplifiers. It concludes with step-by-step design instruction of op-amps to meet the design specification.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the importance and vast application of operational amplifiers in analog and mixes signal circuit design
Learn feedback architecture and various inverting and non-inverting configurations
Learn fundamentals of the building blocks of operational amplifiers
Learn how to design op-amps to meet design spec

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Circuit Design 2: Advanced Op-Amp Design and Comparators

Oct 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 2024
4:00 - 7:00 PM PST
CEUs 1.8 (18 instruction hrs)
Reg# 400077
Fee: $1,850

Op-amps are one of the most fundamental building blocks of analog and mixed signal design, and they readily lend themselves to a variety of IC implementations of different subsystems from amplifiers and voltage regulators to filters and data converters. In this course you will learn about modern op-amp architectures, stability of op-amp feedback networks, compensation techniques, fully differential circuits and common mode feedback issues, advanced and special purpose op-amps, and some practical applications.

We will also look at biasing techniques including voltage and current references. Finally, we will look at a special class of differential circuits called comparators and their particular design considerations.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn about application of op-amps in variety of circuits such as VCOs and filters
Learn about design and challenges of high speed and low noise op-amps
Learn about compensation techniques to design stable op-amps
Learn about comparators, their applications and design

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Circuit Design 3: Digital Microelectronics VLSI Design

Nov 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 2024
4:00 - 7:00 PM PST
CEUs 1.8 (18 instruction hrs)
Reg# 400078
Fee: $1,850

This course covers design approach and techniques to optimize for speed, area and power for Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) digital circuits from design to physical layout. It examines microelectronics design, MOS transistor characterization, non-ideal behaviors, fabrication processes, design rules, multi-layer interconnect engineering and modeling, standard and custom cell layout.

It addresses design optimization techniques to minimize power, minimize area and maximize speed. It will cover basic digital circuits, and planar and FinFet technologies. It provides a condensed and focused look at VLSI chip design for the 21st century, something that every chip designer must be aware of.

Learning Outcomes:

Refresh your basic digital circuit design knowledge
Learn about VLSI design and its challenges
Become proficient in optimizing digital circuits for speed, power and area
Learn the tradeoff between speed, power and area
Learn about circuit layout and fabrication and their impact on circuit performance, in particular speed
Learn about design rules and tools used to check for DRC (design rule check) prior to tape out
Learn about FinFet technology

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Circuit Design 4: Data Converters (ADCs and DACs)

Feb 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 2025
4:00 - 7:00 PM PST
CEUs 1.8 (18 instruction hrs)
Reg# 400079
Fee: $1,850

Modern communication requires traversing the digital and analog domain. Every transmitter and receiver has a data converter in the form of an analog to digital converter (ADC) and/or a digital to analog converter (DAC). This course starts with a look at digital and analog domain in communication, sampling theorem and discrete analog signal processing. We then look at the architecture, design and operation of ADCs and DACs.

We study different families of DACs such as segmented DACs, thermometer, binary weighted, R-2R, sigma-delta and more. For ADCs we study successive approximation ADCs, flash converters, pipelined, tracking ADCs and more.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the application and importance of data converters in wireless communication and mixed signal electronics
Learn about sampling theorem and traversing the digital and analog domain in signal processing and communication
Learn the basics of DACs and ADCs and characterize them
Learn different families of DACs and ADCs and how to improve their performance
Learn how to evaluate and design different types of data converters for different applications
Understand the tradeoffs between resolution, speed and accuracy

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Circuit Design 5: RF Circuit and System Design

March 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 2025
4:00 - 7:00 PM PST
CEUs 1.8 (18 instruction hrs)
Reg# 400080
Fee: $1,850

This course covers the principles of radio frequency (RF) circuit and system design, with emphasis on monolithic implementation in nanometer CMOS integrated circuits. Topics covered include, RF components, RF communication systems, matching and available power, noise and noise figure, distortion, low-noise amplifiers and mixers, oscillators, power amplifiers, and transceiver architectures.

The students must be familiar with basic communication theory, and principles of integrated circuit design.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn basics of RF communication and applications in cell phones, radio and television
Learn about the importance of RF systems in modern electronics
Learn the principles of wireless systems
Learn about the implementation of RF systems in modern nanometer CMOS technology
Learn the characteristics, design and application of RF components
Learn how to optimize RF circuits
Learn the basics of RF transmitters and receivers
Learn the tradeoffs between performance, power, speed and noise
Learn modeling for RF systems

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Circuit Design 6: Microwave Design

April 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 2025
4:00 - 7:00 PM PST
CEUs 1.8 (18 instruction hrs)
Reg# 400081
Fee: $1,850

This course covers the concept, design and application of microwave systems and devices. The course starts with an introduction to the various microwave systems such as wireless communication and networks. It then covers the fundamentals of microwave design, the wave equations, transmission line and waveguides, and microwave network theory (Z/Y/S parameters, ABCD matrices).

As part of microwave design, the course covers Smith Chart, CAD design tools, impedance matching techniques, microwave resonators, power splitters, couplers, equivalent circuits of microwave devices, amplifier design, stability, and VSWR requirements.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn basics of microwave communication and applications
Learn about the importance of microwave systems in modern electronics such as in satellite, radar and wireless communications
Learn about the application of shorter microwave in remote sensing
Learn about the implementation of microwave systems in modern nanometer CMOS technology
Learn the characteristics, design and application of microwave components
Learn how to optimize microwave circuits

Enroll