Absorbing sum signal energy in a mixer

• US 20050037726A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vice, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/326
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/1408 with diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/1433 using bipolar transistors H03D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/1441 using field-effect transistors H03D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/1466 Passive mixer arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/1483 comprising components for selecting a particular frequency component of the output

Abstract

A frequency mixer that generates out of phase sum signals and uses the out of phase relationship to absorb sum signal energy in an energy absorbing component. A frequency mixer according to the present teachings includes a set of mixing devices that generate a first sum signal and a second sum signal in response to an input signal and a drive signal such that the first sum signal is out of phase in relation to the second sum signal. A frequency mixer according to the present teachings includes an energy absorbing component that absorbs the out of phase sum terms from the mixing devices.

Claims

1. A frequency mixer, comprising:

a set of mixing devices that generate a first sum signal and a second sum signal in response to an input signal and a drive signal such that the first sum signal is out of phase in relation to the second sum signal;

circuit for applying the out of phase sum signals to an energy absorbing component.

2. The frequency mixer of claim 1, wherein the circuit for applying comprises a circuit for applying the out of phase sum signals to opposite terminals of the energy absorbing component.

3. The frequency mixer of claim 1, further comprising a set of filters that prevent the sum signals from reaching a pair of intermediate frequency nodes of the frequency mixer.

4. The frequency mixer of claim 1, further comprising a set of components that are selected to prevent the sum signals from reaching an input node of the frequency mixer.

5. The frequency mixer of claim 1, further comprising a set of components that are selected to pass the input signal to the mixing devices.

6. The frequency mixer of claim 5, wherein a value for each component is selected in response to a desired frequency of the input signal.

7. A frequency mixer, comprising:

drive signal generator that generates a first drive signal and a second drive signal that is out of phase in relation to the first drive signal;

first mixing device that generates a first sum signal in response to an input signal and the first drive signal;

second mixing device that generates a second sum signal in response to the input signal and the second drive signal;

circuit for absorbing the sum signals from the first and second mixing devices.

8. The frequency mixer of claim 7, wherein the circuit for absorbing includes an energy absorbing component coupled between the sum signals such that a relative phase difference between the sum signals causes the energy absorbing component to absorb the energy of the sum signals.

9. The frequency mixer of claim 8, wherein the circuit for absorbing includes a set of components for applying the sum signals to the energy absorbing component.

10. The frequency mixer of claim 7, wherein the circuit for absorbing includes a set of components that are selected to prevent the sum signals from reaching an input node to the frequency mixer.

11. The frequency mixer of claim 7, wherein the circuit for absorbing includes a set of components that are selected to pass the input signal to the mixing devices.

12. The frequency mixer of claim 7, further comprising a set of filters that prevent the sum signals from reaching a pair of intermediate frequency nodes of the frequency mixer.

13. A method for dissipating a sum signal energy in a frequency mixer, comprising the steps of:

generating a first sum signal and a second sum signal in response to an input signal and a drive signal such that the first sum signal is out of phase in relation to the second sum signal;

dissipating the sum signal energy by applying the out of phase sum signals to an energy absorbing component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of applying comprises the step of applying the out of phase sum signals to opposite terminals of the energy absorbing component.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of preventing the sum signals from reaching a pair of intermediate frequency nodes of the frequency mixer.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of preventing the sum signals from reaching an input node of the frequency mixer.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of selecting a set of components for obtaining the input signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selecting includes the step of selecting a value for each component in response to a desired frequency of the input signal.