US3634768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wide bandwidth microwave mixer circuits
Assignee: RADIATION SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-07
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1989-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A symmetrical wide band microwave mixer is described which employs a unique microwave circuit and a pair of mixer diodes terminating a pair of transmission lines to a point of ground potential. The general purpose of this circuit is to provide a means for separating the input frequencies from the translated frequency of the mixer by using techniques which do not require the insertion of quarter-wave resonant or lumped-constant elements into the RF circuitry. In the circuitry proposed, 3 db. directional couplers are employed for two purposes: (1) to superimpose the input signals, and (2) to perform the diplexing function of separating the output signal from the input signals without loss of energy. The 3 db. coupler may be used to perform the diplexing function in either of two distinct ways: (1) one or more of the frequencies may be out of the coupler band and thus be transmitted along the conductor path through the coupler without energy loss; (2) the coupler and a pair of identical filters may be used to multiplex signals which are only slightly separated in frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl W Carpenter
- 👤 Jerome E Hill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:33
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03D; H03D9/00; H03D9/06; H03D9/0608; H03D9/0633; H03D2200/00; H03D2200/0001; H03D2200/0023; H03D7/00; H03D7/14; H03D7/1408
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A symmetrical wide band mixer circuit, comprising first and second signal transmission lines, first and second matched diodes terminating said first and second signal transmission lines, respectively, to a point of ground potential, first directional coupler means interposed in said lines, respectively, for transferring signal energy appearing on either line at one side of said coupler means to both lines at the other side of said coupler means in substantially equal amplitude but phasedisplaced signal components, means including further 3 db. directional couplers connected to said first directional coupler means and responsive to signal components deriving from signal energy that is transferred through said directional coupler means and said diodes and reflected from said point of ground potential for combining said signal components as an output signal of said circuit, separate sources of said signal energy, said sources providing local oscillator and radio frequency signals, respectively, and means DC biasing said diodes into identical nonlinear ranges Of operations, in which said means including further 3 db. directional couplers includes second and third directional coupler means substantially identical to the firstmentioned directional coupler means and respectively connected to different ones of said first and second transmission lines in symmetrical fashion on one side of said first-mentioned directional coupler means, for respectively applying said local oscillator and radio frequency signals to said diodes through said first-mentioned directional coupler means, said diodes being oppositely poled, respectively, with respect to said point of ground potential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A symmetrical wide band mixer circuit, comprising first and second signal transmission lines, first and second matched diodes terminating said first and second signal transmission lines, respectively, to a point of ground potential, first directional coupler means interposed in said lines, respectively, for transferring signal energy appearing on either line at one side of said coupler means to both lines at the other side of said coupler means in substantially equal amplitude but phasedisplaced signal components, means including further 3 db. directional couplers connected to said first directional coupler means and responsive to signal components deriving from signal energy that is transferred through said directional coupler means and said diodes and reflected from said point of ground potential for combining said signal components as an output signal of said circuit, separate sources of said signal energy, said sources providing local oscillator and radio frequency signals, respectively, and means DC biasing said diodes into identical nonlinear ranges Of operations, in which said means including further 3 db. directional couplers includes second and third directional coupler means substantially identical to the firstmentioned directional coupler means and respectively connected to different ones of said first and second transmission lines in symmetrical fashion on one side of said first-mentioned directional coupler means, for respectively applying said local oscillator and radio frequency signals to said diodes through said first-mentioned directional coupler means, said diodes being oppositely poled, respectively, with respect to said point of ground potential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of the further directional coupler means is arranged and adapted to produce quadrature phase displacements between said signal components in either direction of signal energy transfer therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
A microwave mixer, including a first directional four-terminal quadrature 3 db. coupler having a first direct path between its first and second terminals and a second direct path between its third and fourth terminals, said direct paths being electromagnetically intercoupled, a first diode connected between said second terminal and ground, a second diode connected between said fourth terminal and said ground, said diodes being oppositely poled with respect to said ground, a fifth terminal for application of local oscillator signal, a sixth terminal for application of radio frequency signal, a second directional four terminal quadrature 3 db. coupler means, a third directional four-terminal quadrature 3 db. coupler means, a seventh heterodyne frequency output terminal, said second coupler means including a direct path between said sixth terminal and said first terminal and an electromagnetically coupled path to said seventh terminal, said third coupler including a direct path between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal and a coupled path to said third terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
A microwave mixer, including a first directional four-terminal quadrature 3 db. coupler having a first direct path between its first and second terminals and a second direct path between its third and fourth terminals, said direct paths being electromagnetically intercoupled, a first diode connected between said second terminal and ground, a second diode connected between said fourth terminal and said ground, said diodes being oppositely poled with respect to said ground, a fifth terminal for application of local oscillator signal, a sixth terminal for application of radio frequency signal, a second directional four terminal quadrature 3 db. coupler means, a third directional four-terminal quadrature 3 db. coupler means, a seventh heterodyne frequency output terminal, said second coupler means including a direct path between said sixth terminal and said first terminal and an electromagnetically coupled path to said seventh terminal, said third coupler including a direct path between said fifth terminal and said seventh terminal and a coupled path to said third terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination according to claim 3, wherein are included low-pass filters connected, respectively, between said second coupler and said seventh terminal and between said third coupler and said seventh terminal, said low-pass filters being arranged and adapted to pass said heterodyne frequency to said seventh terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination according to claim 3, wherein are included fourth and fifth 3 db. directional couplers in cascade in said second and third 3 db. directional coupler means, respectively, said fifth and seventh terminals being connected directly to said fourth coupler and said sixth and seventh terminals being connected directly to said fifth coupler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination according to claim 3, wherein is included means for applying DC bias to one of said diodes via said second coupler means and means for applying DC bias to the other of said diodes via second coupler means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a microwave mixer, a first 3 db. quadrature coupler, a second 3 db. quadrature coupler, a third 3 db. quadrature coupler, a first signal input terminal, a second signal input terminal, a first diode having its cathode directly connected to ground, a second diode having its anode directly connected to ground, said first and second couplers providing respectively a direct and a coupled path between said first signal input terminal and said second diode, said first and third couplers providing respectively a direct and a coupled path between said second signal terminal and said first diode, an output terminal for a heterodyne product of said first and second signals, said second coupler being arranged to provide a direct path between said first terminal and said output terminal, said third coupler being arranged to provide a direct path between said second terminal and said output terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a microwave mixer, a first 3 db. quadrature coupler, a second 3 db. quadrature coupler, a third 3 db. quadrature coupler, a first signal input terminal, a second signal input terminal, a first diode having its cathode directly connected to ground, a second diode having its anode directly connected to ground, said first and second couplers providing respectively a direct and a coupled path between said first signal input terminal and said second diode, said first and third couplers providing respectively a direct and a coupled path between said second signal terminal and said first diode, an output terminal for a heterodyne product of said first and second signals, said second coupler being arranged to provide a direct path between said first terminal and said output terminal, said third coupler being arranged to provide a direct path between said second terminal and said output terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination according to claim 7, wherein said first and second couplers provide first series DC bias paths to said second diode only, and wherein said first and third couplers prOvide second series DC bias paths to said first diode only.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein is provided fourth and fifth directional 3 db. couplers respectively so connected in cascade between said first signal terminal and said second directional coupler and between said second signal terminal and said third directional coupler as to extend said DC bias paths.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |