Image recovery receiver

Claim 2

An image recovery mixer system comprising first and second double balanced mixers each mixer having four substantially matched diodes forming a bridge arrangement of four arms and first and second pairs of diagonally opposing terminals therebetween, a first means characterized by the absence of phase shifting for directly supplying a first input signal in phase to the first pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each of said bridge arrangements; a first coupling means having one of its ports for receiving a local oscillating signal and having two ports serving as outputs connected respectively to the second pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each of said bridge arrangements; output means for obtaining the IF outputs from the second pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each of said bridge arrangements; a second coupling means having two ports connected respectively to said IF outputs and an output port, said second coupling means combining said IF outputs and providing a system IF output at said output port; and means independent of said second coupling means and said output means, interconnecting said first pair of diagonally opposing terminals from said first to said second bridge arrangements for recovering the energy from the image frequency signals generated within said mixers.

Claim 3

A system as in claim 1 and wherein said output means comprise first and second transformer means interconnecting respectively the two output ports from the first coupling means and the second pairs of diagonally opposing terminals of said bridge arrangements, and wherein said IF outputs are each taken from a tapped secondary of said first and second transformer means.

Claim 4

A system as in claim 2 and wherein said first means, and said first and second transformer means are baluns.

Claim 5

A system as in claim 1 wherein said first means includes transformer means whose secondary is coupled in shunt between the interconnected first pairs of terminals of said first and second bridges.

Claim 6

A system as in claim 1 wherein said first means includes transformer means and whose secondary is coupled in series with the interconnected first pairs of terminals of said first and second bridges.

Claim 7

A system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second coupling means are each a quadrature microwave hybrid junction each having a fourth port connected to a terminating impedance.

Claim 8

A system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second coupling means are each 90* delay networks.

Claim 9

A system as in claim 1 wherein said matched diodes are poled in the same direction within each respective bridge to form a ring modulator arrangement.

Claim 10

An image recovery mixer system comprising first and second double balanced mixers each adapted to receive an RF input, an LO input, and producing an IF output and an image frequency output; first means directly supplying the RF signal in phase to both said mixers; first coupling means supplying the LO signal to said mixers in 90* phase relationships; second coupling means receiving the IF output from said mixers, shifting by 90* the phase of one of the IF outputs and combining the IF outputs, and means independent of said second coupling means, directly interconnecting the image frequency outputs of said mixers to recover the energy from the respective image frequency signals generated within said mixers.

Claim 11

An image recovery mixer system comprising first and second double balanced mixers each adapted to receive an RF input, an LO input, and producing an IF output and an image frequency output; first means directly supplying the RF signal in phase to both said mixers; first coupling means supplying the LO signal to said mixers in 90* phase relationships; second coupling means receiving the IF output from said mixers, shifting by 90* the phase of one of the IF outputs and combining the IF outputs, and means independent of said second coupling means, directly interconnecting the image frequency outputs of said mixers to recover the energy from the respective image frequency signals generated within said mixers.

Claim 12

A system as in claim 9 wherein said double balanced mixers include diode bridge arrangements.

Claim 13

A system as in claim 9 wherein said RF signal is applied in parallel to said mixers.

Claim 14

A system as in claim 9 wherein said RF signal is applied in series to said mixers.

Claim 15

A system as in claim 9 wherein said first means includes a balun.

Claim 16

In a microwave system including an RF source and an LO source, an image recovery mixer comprising first and second double balanced mixers each mixer having four substantially matched diodes forming a bridge arrangement of four arms and first and second pairs of diagonally opposing terminals therebetween, a first means characterized by the absence of phase shifting for directly supplying the RF signal in phase to the first pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each said bridge. a first coupling means having one of its ports for receiving said LO signal and having two ports serving as outputs connected respectively to the second pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each of said bridge arrangements; output means for obtaining the IF outputs from the second pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each of said bridge arrangements; a second coupling means having two ports connected respectively to said IF outputs and an output port, for said second coupling means combining said IF outputs and providing a system IF output at said output port; and means independent of said second coupling means and said output means, interconnecting said first pair of diagonally opposing terminals from said first to said second bridge arrangements for recovering the energy from the image frequency signals generated within said mixers.

Claim 17

In a microwave system including an RF source and an LO source, an image recovery mixer comprising first and second double balanced mixers each mixer having four substantially matched diodes forming a bridge arrangement of four arms and first and second pairs of diagonally opposing terminals therebetween, a first means characterized by the absence of phase shifting for directly supplying the RF signal in phase to the first pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each said bridge. a first coupling means having one of its ports for receiving said LO signal and having two ports serving as outputs connected respectively to the second pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each of said bridge arrangements; output means for obtaining the IF outputs from the second pair of diagonally opposing terminals of each of said bridge arrangements; a second coupling means having two ports connected respectively to said IF outputs and an output port, for said second coupling means combining said IF outputs and providing a system IF output at said output port; and means independent of said second coupling means and said output means, interconnecting said first pair of diagonally opposing terminals from said first to said second bridge arrangements for recovering the energy from the image frequency signals generated within said mixers.