Class AB differential mixer
First Claim
1. A differential mixer including at least two input/output stages, at least a first of the two input/output stages including two identical branches, wherein each branch includes at least two bipolar transistors, bases of the two bipolar transistors of a first of the two identical branches connected together to define a first input/output terminal of a first pair of input/output terminals of the stage and bases of the two bipolar transistors of a second of the two identical branches connected together to define a second input/output terminal of the first pair of input/output terminals, the first and second input/output terminals being connected to a first D.C. current source individually by a respective isolating resistor;
- collectors of the two bipolar transistors of the first branch connected together to define a third input/output terminal of a second pair of input/output terminals of the at least one stage which forms a pair of input/output terminals of a second of the at least two stages of the mixer, collectors of the two bipolar transistors of the second branch connected together to define a fourth input/output terminal of the second pair of input/output terminals;
wherein each of the emitters of the bipolar transistors of the first and second branch is individually connected to a low voltage reference line by a respective degenerative impedance; and
wherein each of the first and second input/output terminals is connected to receive a respective RF input signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A differential mixer including at least two input/output stages, each stage including two identical branches, each branch of one of the two stages including at least two bipolar transistors the bases of which define a first pair of input/output terminals of the stage and are connected to a same D.C. current source individually by a respective isolating resistor; the collectors of which define a second pair of input/output terminals of the stage which forms a pair of input/output terminals of another stage of the mixer; and the emitters of which are individually connected to a low voltage reference line by a respective degenerative impedance.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A differential mixer including at least two input/output stages, at least a first of the two input/output stages including two identical branches, wherein each branch includes at least two bipolar transistors, bases of the two bipolar transistors of a first of the two identical branches connected together to define a first input/output terminal of a first pair of input/output terminals of the stage and bases of the two bipolar transistors of a second of the two identical branches connected together to define a second input/output terminal of the first pair of input/output terminals, the first and second input/output terminals being connected to a first D.C. current source individually by a respective isolating resistor;
- collectors of the two bipolar transistors of the first branch connected together to define a third input/output terminal of a second pair of input/output terminals of the at least one stage which forms a pair of input/output terminals of a second of the at least two stages of the mixer, collectors of the two bipolar transistors of the second branch connected together to define a fourth input/output terminal of the second pair of input/output terminals;
wherein each of the emitters of the bipolar transistors of the first and second branch is individually connected to a low voltage reference line by a respective degenerative impedance; and
wherein each of the first and second input/output terminals is connected to receive a respective RF input signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- collectors of the two bipolar transistors of the first branch connected together to define a third input/output terminal of a second pair of input/output terminals of the at least one stage which forms a pair of input/output terminals of a second of the at least two stages of the mixer, collectors of the two bipolar transistors of the second branch connected together to define a fourth input/output terminal of the second pair of input/output terminals;
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11. A differential mixer, comprising:
a first stage comprising;
two bipolar transistors, each bipolar transistor having a base, the bases interconnected to form a first terminal of the first stage, each bipolar transistor having a collector, the collectors interconnected to form a second terminal of the first stage;
further comprising;
a D.C. current source connected to the first terminal through a resistance; and
wherein the first terminal is connected to receive an RF input signal.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A differential mixer, comprising:
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a first stage comprising;
two bipolar transistors, each bipolar transistor having a base, the bases interconnected to form a first terminal of the first stage, each bipolar transistor having a collector, the collectors interconnected to form a second terminal of the first stage;
wherein the two bipolar transistors are part of a first branch of the first stage, the first stage further comprising;
a second branch comprising two additional bipolar transistors, each additional bipolar transistor having a base, the bases of the additional bipolar transistors interconnected to form a third terminal of the first stage, each additional bipolar transistor having a collector, the collectors of the additional bipolar transistors interconnected to form a fourth terminal of the first stage;
wherein a D.C. current source is connected to the first and third terminals through a resistance; and
wherein each of the first and third terminals is connected to receive a respective RF input signal.
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15. A differential mixer, comprising:
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a D.C. current source; and
a differential stage including a first pair of terminals connected to the D.C. current source and operative to receive electromagnetic signals, and including a second pair of terminals, wherein the mixer is operative to automatically switch from a first mode of mixing to a second mode of mixing different than the first mode;
wherein the mixer is operative to automatically switch from the first mixing mode to the second mixing mode in response to change in a value of the received electromagnetic signal; and
wherein the first mixing mode is either a class A mixing mode or a class AB mixing mode and the second mixing mode is either a class AB mixing mode or a class A mixing mode. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of mixing, comprising acts of:
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(A) receiving a first electromagnetic signal;
(B) mixing the first electromagnetic signal according to a first mixing mode;
(C) receiving a second electromagnetic signal;
(D) automatically switching from the first mixing mode to a second mixing mode different than the first mixing mode; and
(E) mixing the second electromagnetic signal according to the second mixing mode;
wherein act (D) includes automatically switching from the first mixing mode to the second mixing mode in response to a value of the second electromagnetic signal; and
wherein the first mixing mode is either a class A mixing mode or a class AB mixing mode and the second mixing mode is either a class AB mixing mode or a class A mixing mode.
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Specification