Drexel University

Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept

Advanced Electronics II, ECE-E422

TITLE: Superheterodyne AM Receiver Design – Final Exam

NAMES: Stephen Watt

DATE PERFORMED: May 30, 2014

DATE DUE: June 2, 2014

DATE RECEIVED:
 Superheterodyne Receiver Circuit
Frequency: 535kHz - 1705kHz (AM)
Rx Antenna
IF Frequency: 455 kHz
ECE-E422 Final Exam
By: Stephen Watt

RF 1 2

LO
AGC_Circuit Speaker
RF_Amp AGC_1 Audio_Amp 8ohm
Mixer
Amp1 AudioAmp_1
Mixer1
LNA Gain Audio Amp Gain
set to 20dB LO set to 20dB
LO_1

BJT Tuned Amplifier (RF Amplifier)

Set AC Bias Values
Var
Eqn VAR
VAR1 Tune Amp for 1000 kHz
CC=1uF
RFC=200uH f0=1/(2*pi*sqrt(LC))
R
R R4
The function of the RF amplifier is to select and amplify R=2 C=1/(4*pi^2*f0^2*L)
R1
a desired frequency from all those received while rejecting R=80 kOhm C
all other frequencies (image frequency). A BJT single stage C3
amplifier is configured as an RF amplifier with a single C=710 pF
tuned tank circuit. Since it is a tuned amplifier, it is highly L
frequency selective and attenuates all signals but the one L1
L=32 uH
to which it is tuned. The amplified AM signal from the RF R=
amplifier is then fed to the mixer where it is combined with L
the output from the local oscillator. L3
L=RFC
R= To Mixer
From Rx Antenna
C
C4
C C=CC
C1
L pb_hp_HBFP0420_19980529
C=CC
L2 Q1
L=RFC
Design Issues
Since the selectivity of the RF amplifier is very important, R
C
an extra LC resonant tank circuit can be used at the RE1
C2
input of the amplifier to increase the overall selectivity. R R=1k
C=1.0 pF
R2
R=50 kOhm

2
 Set AC Bias Values
Var
Eqn VAR
VAR1
CC=1uF
Local Oscillator (LO) Circuit
C=11pF
R=20 kOhm
RFC=200uH
The f requency of the oscillator is important in design f or the
superhetrody ne receiv er, the f requency should be v ariable
(tuned using v ariable capacitors). The oscillator is a f eedback
sy stem that meets two requirements (the Barkhausen criteria):
(1) The f eedback signal must be in phase with the original R R
input signal at the loop closure point Tune Amp f or 910 kHz (2*IF)
R1 RC
(2) The ov erall steady state gain around the f eedback loop R=1 Mohm R=5 kOhm w0=1/(sqrt(6)*C*R)
must be equal to or greater than unity (Av B).
Design Issues
The RC phase shif t oscillator circuit can be f ollowed by an To Mixer
emitter f ollower circuit to ensure the loop gain requirements
of the circuit are met f or a broader range of component v alues.
C
C4
C C C R C=CC
R R
C1 C5 C6 R8
R5 R6
C=C C=C C=C R=16 kOhm pb_hp_HBFP0420_19980529
R=R R=R
Q1

R
R2 C
R CE
R=1 Mohm RE1 C=1.0 pF
R=1k

Tank circuit tuned to IF frequency (455 kHz)

R
and is used to filter out unwanted frequency
R4 components of the mixer output.
R
R1 R=2
MOSFET Mixer Circuit R=80 kOhm C fres=1/(2*pi*sqrt(LC))
C3
C=11.66 nF
Set Bias Values L
L1
Va r
Eq n
VAR L=10.5 uH
VAR1 R=
CC=1uF L
RFC=200uH L3
L=RFC
R= To IF Amp

From RF Amp C
C4
C=CC
C
C1
L MOSFET_NMOS
C=CC L2
MOSFET1
L=RFC
XFERP
XFer1
N=1.0

R
From LO R2
R=50 kOhm

A mixer is a device that converts a signal from one frequency to another. Most high frequency receivers
XFERP
XFer2
use a mixer to down convert the received RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. A mixer in
N=1.0 RF systems always refers to a circuit with a non-linear component that causes sum and difference
frequencies of the input signals to be generated. The mixer is achieved by applying the local oscillator
(LO) signal to one mixer port and the Radio Frequency (RF) signal to the other port.
V_DC
SRC1 Design Issues
Vdc=Vbias Ground loops can present noise and humming issue in the mixer circuitry. For this reason,
transformers can be used for the RF and LO signal inputs.

3
 AGC Circuit (IF and Detector Stages)

IF Amplifier Stage AM Detector Stage

R
R1
R=50 kOhm

Set AC Bias Values

Va r VAR
Eq n
VAR1 R
CC=1uF R2
R=50 kOhm To Audio Amplifier
RFC=200uH

C
C7 Diode C R C
C=10 uF DIODE1 C8 R5 C4
C=10 uF R=50 kOhm C=CC

XFERP
XFer2
From Mixer N=1.0

BJT_PNP The signal strength of the received signal in an AM radio can change
BJT1 dramatically depending on the location and environment (in an
automobile, for example). Automatic gain control (AGC) is used to
C
minimize the effect of the varying signal strength on speaker output
XFERP R CE volume. AGC increases the gain of the IF amplifier when the signal
XFer1
C=1.0 pF strength is low, and decreases the gain when the signal strength
RE1
N=1.0 R=1k
C
increases. The two basic components of the circuit are an IF amplifier
C2
and an AM detector circuit.
C=10 uF

Audio Amplif ier (Preamp & Audio Amplif ier)

Preamplifier Stage Main Amplifier Stage

R
R1
R=4 kOhm
R
Set Bias Values R R6
R7 R=360 kOhm
Var VAR R=4.4 kOhm
Eqn
VAR1
CC=220uF R
Vcc=30V R4
RFC=200uH R R=3.3 kOhm BJT_NPN
R8 BJT3
R=200 kOhm To Speaker
BJT_NPN
BJT5
R C
R5 BJT_NPN BJT_PNP C4
R=1 kOhm BJT6 BJT7 C=CC
BJT_PNP
BJT2

From AGC Circuit C

C1
C=CC
C
C6
C=1uF R pb_hp_HBFP0420_19980529 BJT_NPN
R9 Q1 BJT4
R=6.9 kOhm
R C C
RE2 C7 R C2
R RE1
R=25 C=1uF R2 C=CC
R=400
R=40 kOhm