Compact subharmonic mixer for EHF wave receiver using a single wave guide and receiver utilizing such a mixer

• US 4,392,255 A
• Filed: 01/08/1981
• Issued: 07/05/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Del Giudice, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): NG, JIN FAY
• Application Number:
  US06/223,474
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 455/325-328, 455/330, 455/333
• US Class Current: 455/328
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 19/18 and elements comprising distributed inductance and capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 9/14 and elements comprising distributed inductance and capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 9/0633 mounted on a stripline circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 9/0641 located in a hollow waveguide

Abstract

A subharmonic mixer, whose local oscillator is at half the frequency of that of the signal to be received, comprising a detector and a local oscillator positioned in a single waveguide (301). The mixer comprises a first module (51) serving as the local oscillator and incorporating an oscillation diode surrounded by dielectric material and connected to a wide metal coating, as well as a second module (52) incorporating an antiparallel connection of two Schottky diodes and which is identical to the first module. The metal coatings of these two modules are in contact with metallized areas (53, 54) of a double-faced printed circuit (15) serving for the polarization of one module and for the signal output of the other.

Claims

1. A subharmonic mixer for an extremely high frequency wave receiver for receiving high frequency waves including a wideguide carrying the signal to be received, wherein said waveguide further comprises:

a local oscillator means for producing a signal at one half the frequency of said received high frequency waves wherein said local oscillator includes a first module having a conductive support, a semiconductor diode with a negative resistance, wherein one electrode of said diode is in contact with the support of said first module and wherein the other electrode is in electrical contact with a metal coating with said metal coating extending over a dielectric material placed on the support and surrounding said diode;

a detector means including a second module having a second conductive support, two semiconductor diodes mounted in antiparallel connection, with each of said diodes having an electrode in electrical contact with said second support and the other electrode of each of said diodes is in electrical contact with a second metal coating with said second metal coating extending over a second dielectric placed on said second support and surrounding said two diodes;

first connecting means in mechanical and electrical contact with said first metal coating for connecting said local oscillator module to a D.C. supply means; and

second connecting means in mechanical and electrical contact with said second metal coating for connecting said detector means to processing circuits of said receiver.

2. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein the supports of the modules traverse the waveguide on two opposite faces thereof and the connecting means traverse the guide at other points.

3. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor diodes of the second module are of the Schottky type, the diode of the first module being of the Gunn or avalanche type.

4. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein the metal coatings of the modules are in mechanical and electrical contact with the two metallized faces of a printed circuit, the latter forming part of said connection means with the exterior.

5. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein each module is included in an apparatus comprising a sleeve connected to the earth of the receiver, surrounding a central metal member on which is mounted the module support, the member being insulated from the sleeve and having an end opposite to the module, being provided with a connection to the connecting means.

6. A mixer according to claim 5, wherein the supports of the modules traverse the waveguide on two opposite faces thereof and the connecting means use the central member of the apparatus containing each module.