525.787.8VL - Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Design

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fall 2026

Description

This course is for advanced students who have a background in microwave circuit analysis and design techniques and are familiar with modern microwave computer-aided engineering tools. The course covers the monolithic implementation of microwave circuits on GaAs, or other III/V, substrates, including instruction on processing, masks, simulation, layout, design rule checking, packaging, and testing. The first part of the course includes information and assignments on the analysis and design of MMIC chips. The second part consists of projects in which a chip is designed, reviewed, and evaluated in an engineering environment, resulting in a design that would be ready for submission to a foundry for fabrication.

Instructor

Ali Darwish

prof_ali@drdarwish.com

Course Structure

Under Modules you can find the weekly lectures. Due dates for assignments are listed on each assignment and should be on the calendar as well.

Course Topics

Intro to MMIC
Processing and Layers
Pass. MMIC Elements and Models
Act. MMIC Elements and Models I
Act. MMIC Elements and Models II
Biasing, Amplifiers Continued
EM Lecture & Discuss Projects
Design Example and Discuss Projects
Projects Electrical Design Review
Packaging, Testing, and Projects
Project Layout Design Review
Design Rule Checking of Projects
Final Design Submission
Final Report Submission

Course Goals

Complete a successful design of a Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) ready to submit for fabrication.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Learn the limitations and advantages of MMIC Designs.
Understand the MMIC Fabrication Process and how it affects or impacts the design process.
Design MMIC circuits and amplifiers using lumped elements using a foundry design library.
Complete an actual MMIC design as part of a class system project that would be ready to submit for fabrication.

Textbooks

Recommended but not required:
Practical MMIC Design by Steve Marsh (Artech House)

Required Software

ADS & MWO will be offered to students for their use in the MMIC Course

Student Coursework Requirements

30% HW, 20% Project Reviews, 50% Project Report

10% penalty per week for late homework

Grading Policy

A=90-100, B=80-89

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Our courses are designed with a proactive approach to accessibility to minimize the need for disability disclosure and accommodation requests, but we recognize that you may need additional support. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions, and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements. For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact EP Student Disability Services at ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. For a full description of the code please visit the Student Conduct Code website.

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.