Single balanced frequency downconverter for direct broadcast satellite transmissions and hybrid ring signal combiner
First Claim
1. A hybrid ring signal combiner comprising:
- a ring conductor comprising a convex shaped portion and a concave shaped portion, first and second input ports connected, respectively, to an outer periphery of the convex portion and to an inner periphery of the concave portion, said second input passing over the convex portion, and first and second output ports connected to the concave portion on an outer periphery of the ring, each of the first and second input ports receiving a different one of a microwave frequency signal and a further frequency signal, the first and second input ports being connected at spaced apart positions to and along the ring so that first and second combined signals are formed at the first and second output ports, respectively, with each of the first and second combined signals comprising a combination of the microwave and further frequency signals but with at least one of the microwave and further frequency signals of the first signal being out of phase with the same frequency signal of the other of said first and second combined signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) semiconductor chip, for use with a hybrid coupler, in a frequency downconverter. The chip has a first input lead for receiving a first combined input signal from the coupler, a second input lead for receiving a second combined input signal from the coupler, and an output lead. Each input signal is a microwave signal combined with a further frequency signal, and one of the microwave and further frequency signals of the first combined signal is out of phase with one of the microwave and further frequency signals of the second combined signal. A single balanced mixer has a first single ended mixer for converting the first combined signal to a first intermediate frequency signal and a second single ended mixer for converting the second combined signal to a second intermediate frequency signal. An amplifier is coupled to the first and second mixers for forming an amplified unbalanced intermediate frequency (IF) signal at the output lead representative of the first and second intermediate frequency signals.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A hybrid ring signal combiner comprising:
a ring conductor comprising a convex shaped portion and a concave shaped portion, first and second input ports connected, respectively, to an outer periphery of the convex portion and to an inner periphery of the concave portion, said second input passing over the convex portion, and first and second output ports connected to the concave portion on an outer periphery of the ring, each of the first and second input ports receiving a different one of a microwave frequency signal and a further frequency signal, the first and second input ports being connected at spaced apart positions to and along the ring so that first and second combined signals are formed at the first and second output ports, respectively, with each of the first and second combined signals comprising a combination of the microwave and further frequency signals but with at least one of the microwave and further frequency signals of the first signal being out of phase with the same frequency signal of the other of said first and second combined signals.
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2. A circuit for use in a frequency downconverter comprising:
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a passive hybrid coupler comprising first and second input leads each for receiving a different one of a microwave signal and a further frequency signal, and first and second output leads for outputting, respectively, first and second combined signals with each of the first and second combined signals comprising a combination of the microwave and further frequency signals but with at least one of the microwave and further frequency signals of one of the microwave and further signals being out of phase with the same at least one microwave and further frequency signal of the other of the first and second combined signals, said coupler comprising a convex shaped portion and a concave shaped portion, the first and second input leads connected, respectively, to the convex portion and the concave portion, said second input lead passing over the convex portion, and the first and second output leads connected to the concave portion on an outer periphery of the coupler, the first and second input and output leads each being connected at spaced apart positions to and along the coupler so that the first and second combined signals are formed at the first and second output leads, respectively; and a monolithic microwave integrated circuit semiconductor chip comprising, a first input port for receiving the first combined signal, a second input port for receiving the second combined signal, and an output port, a single balanced mixer comprising a first single ended mixer for converting the first combined signal to a first intermediate frequency signal, and a second single ended mixer for converting the second combined signal to a second intermediate frequency signal, and an amplifier for forming an amplified unbalanced intermediate frequency signal at the output port representative of said first and second intermediate frequency signals. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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Specification