David Rutledge
Encyclopedia
Dr. David B. Rutledge was elected Chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) and started his term on September 1, 2005 as such. His research group is currently involved in building circuits and antennas for numerous electronic applications. His work on microwave
circuits has been important for various advances in wireless
communications and has been useful for applications such as radar
, remote sensing
, and satellite broadcasting.
at Williams College
, his Master of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge
, and his doctorate
from University of California, Berkeley
.
as an assistant professor
in 1980, and rose through the faculty ranks to become the holder of the Tomiyasu chair in 2001. He also served as executive officer for electrical engineering from 1999 to 2002. Rutledge is also director of Caltech's Lee Center for Advanced Networking, which aims at creating a global communication system that is as reliable and robust as a basic utility such as water and sewage.
, as well as author or coauthor of numerous other publications. This book provides an introduction to analog electronics
by analyzing the design and construction of a radio transceiver
. Essential theoretical background is provided at each step, along with carefully designed laboratory and homework exercises. The goal of this approach is to ensure a good grasp of basic electronics as well as an excellent foundation in wireless communications systems. The book begins with a thorough description of basic electronic components and simple circuits
. Next, the key elements of radio electronics, including filters
, amplifier
s, oscillators
, mixers
, and antennas
are described. In the laboratory exercises, the reader is lead through the design, construction, and testing of a popular radio transceiver (the NorCal 40A), thereby illustrating and reinforcing the theoretical material. This book, the first to deal with elementary electronics in the context of radio, is often used as a textbook for introductory analog electronics courses, or for more advanced undergraduate classes on radio frequency
electronics. It may also be of interest to electronics hobbyists and radio enthusiasts.
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(Caltech) and started his term on September 1, 2005 as such. His research group is currently involved in building circuits and antennas for numerous electronic applications. His work on microwave
Microwave
Microwaves, a subset of radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter, or equivalently, with frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF , and various sources use different boundaries...
circuits has been important for various advances in wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
communications and has been useful for applications such as radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, remote sensing
Remote sensing
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
, and satellite broadcasting.
Education
Rutledge earned his bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, his Master of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Career
He joined the Caltech facultyFaculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
as an assistant professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in 1980, and rose through the faculty ranks to become the holder of the Tomiyasu chair in 2001. He also served as executive officer for electrical engineering from 1999 to 2002. Rutledge is also director of Caltech's Lee Center for Advanced Networking, which aims at creating a global communication system that is as reliable and robust as a basic utility such as water and sewage.
Published works
Professor Rutledge is the author of The Electronics of Radio, a book published by Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, as well as author or coauthor of numerous other publications. This book provides an introduction to analog electronics
Analogue electronics
Analogue electronics are electronic systems with a continuously variable signal, in contrast to digital electronics where signals usually take only two different levels. The term "analogue" describes the proportional relationship between a signal and a voltage or current that represents the signal...
by analyzing the design and construction of a radio transceiver
Transceiver
A transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...
. Essential theoretical background is provided at each step, along with carefully designed laboratory and homework exercises. The goal of this approach is to ensure a good grasp of basic electronics as well as an excellent foundation in wireless communications systems. The book begins with a thorough description of basic electronic components and simple circuits
Electronic circuit
An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow...
. Next, the key elements of radio electronics, including filters
Electronic filter
Electronic filters are electronic circuits which perform signal processing functions, specifically to remove unwanted frequency components from the signal, to enhance wanted ones, or both...
, amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
s, oscillators
Electronic oscillator
An electronic oscillator is an electronic circuit that produces a repetitive electronic signal, often a sine wave or a square wave. They are widely used in innumerable electronic devices...
, mixers
Electronic mixer
An electronic mixer is a device that combines two or more electrical or electronic signals into one or two composite output signals. There are two basic circuits that both use the term mixer, but they are very different types of circuits: additive mixers and multiplying mixers...
, and antennas
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
are described. In the laboratory exercises, the reader is lead through the design, construction, and testing of a popular radio transceiver (the NorCal 40A), thereby illustrating and reinforcing the theoretical material. This book, the first to deal with elementary electronics in the context of radio, is often used as a textbook for introductory analog electronics courses, or for more advanced undergraduate classes on radio frequency
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
electronics. It may also be of interest to electronics hobbyists and radio enthusiasts.
Honors and activities
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersInstitute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersThe Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
Millennium Medal - Doug DeMaw Award of the American Radio Relay LeagueAmerican Radio Relay LeagueThe American Radio Relay League is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the USA. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was founded in May 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut...
- National Science FoundationNational Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Presidential Investigator Award - Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceJapan Society for the Promotion of ScienceThe is an independent administrative institution in Japan, established for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science in all fields of the natural and social sciences and the humanities.-History:...
Fellowship - Distinguished Lecturer, Antennas & Propagation Society
- Microwave Prize, Microwave Theory and Techniques Society
- Distinguished Educator Award, Microwave Theory and Techniques Society
- Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
- Teaching Award, Associated Students of Caltech
- He is a co-founder of the Wavestream Corporation, a company that produces solid-stateSolid state (electronics)Solid-state electronics are those circuits or devices built entirely from solid materials and in which the electrons, or other charge carriers, are confined entirely within the solid material...
microwave and millimeter-waveExtremely high frequencyExtremely high frequency is the highest radio frequency band. EHF runs the range of frequencies from 30 to 300 gigahertz, above which electromagnetic radiation is considered to be low infrared light, also referred to as terahertz radiation...
transmitters - Six of Professor Rutledge's students have won Presidential Investigator and Career Awards
- He is author of the electronics textbook, The Electronics of Radio, published by Cambridge University Press
- Co-author of the microwave computer-aided designComputer-aided designComputer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
software package, Puff, which has distributed over 30,000 copies
External links
- David Rutledge at the Division of Engineering and Applied Science
- Hubbert's Peak by Professor Rutledge