The Book End

Radar Principles
Peyton Z. Peebles, Jr.

John Wiley & Sons Inc.
766 pages; $110
ISBN: 0-471-25205-0

This book is designed to serve as a textbook for a course offering a first exposure to radar principles. It is aimed at providing basic principles to graduate-level students or at forming the basis of an in-house course for engineers in industry. All of the covered topics were chosen to be fundamental to the overall picture and were organized in an order that makes each topic independent of  later topics.

The book begins by presenting elementary concepts in Chapter 1, elements of wave propagation in Chapter 2 and antennas in Chapter 3. Continuing this trend, Chapter 4 presents the radar equation to describe the signal power available to the receiver. Chapter 5 describes a radar cross section. Examples are given for small and more complex extended targets, and the most common distributed area targets (sea and land surfaces) are considered. Chapters 6 and 7 offer topics in signal theory, while Chapters 8 and 9 cover radar resolution and detection, respectively. Chapter 10 describes the limiting accuracy of radar measurements.

The next group of covered topics are dependent on the form of the radar system. Chapter 11 explains range measurement and tracking, and Chapter 12 describes frequency (Doppler) measurement and tracking. Chapters 13 and 14 go on to describe angle measurement and tracking.

Finally, Chapter 15 presents digital signal processing (DSP). Though DSP is independent of the radar system's form, it is covered last by essentially explaining the prior radar characteristics in analog terms. The conversion to digital is developed separately.

The appendices are of particular value in covering review material, such as impulse functions, deterministic and random signals, and various useful mathematical formulas. As with most textbooks, there are ample chapter-end problems to help the student gain a practical understanding of the subject. In addition, the bibliography is particularly comprehensive, offering the reader much in the way of follow-up detail for advanced study.

To order this book, contact:
John Wiley & Sons Inc.,
605 Third Ave.,
New York, NY
10158
(212) 850-6336 or (800) 225-5945.

Introduction to Microelectromechanical (MEM) Microwave Systems
Hèctor J. De Los Santos

Artech House Inc.
217 pages; $75, £56
ISBN: 0-89006-282-X

The emerging field of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication and device technologies as applied to RF and microwave wireless communications systems is the subject of this book. The technology combines areas of IC fabrication, mechanical and material science and engineering of microscopic mechanisms, and RF and microwave engineering to create devices to improve the performance of communications circuits and systems. This introductory text is meant to be a resource to those about to become involved in this revolutionary field.

The book begins by reviewing the origins, impetus and motivation of MEMS technology, describing its fundamentals in view of its relationship to the more well-known IC fabrication technology. Chapter 2 deals with the fundamental physics of electrostatic actuation, the principle on which most MEMS devices applied in microwave systems operate. The rudiments of CAD numerical and analytical simulation as applied to MEMS development are also introduced. Chapters 3 and 4 describe the physics and circuit models for the fundamental MEMS devices -- the switch and resonator, respectively. Particular attention is paid to device engineering, design trade-offs and performance limitations. Chapter 5 covers MEMS microwave applications. The interplay between the fabrication process and microwave performance is highlighted. Chapter 6 presents the fundamentals of wireless communications systems and the applications of MEMS-based devices and techniques in these systems. Applications of MEMS devices to a variety of RF and microwave circuits, including phase shifters, resonators, filters, oscillators and mixers, are described. The appendix offers a simple step-by-step description of the surface micromachining process and is sure to be an eye opener for readers unfamiliar with this technology.

The text is particularly clear in its presentation and manages to combine mechanical, electrical and physical descriptions with much harmony. For those readers interested in a quick and clear introduction to MEMS technology, this book fits the bill precisely.

To order this book, contact:
Artech House Inc.,
685 Canton St.,
Norwood, MA 02062
(781) 769-9750, ext. 4002; or

46 Gillingham St.,
London SW1V 1HH, UK
+44 (0)171 973 8077.