Patent US3870960A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3870960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mixer carrier null adjustment
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1973-10-12
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A technique of minimizing local oscillator signals external to a mixer circuit through the reflecting of the local oscillator frequency signals in a balanced rat-race hybrid mixer circuit to minimize the amplitude of the local oscillator signals appearing at the output. This is accomplished by juxtaposing a field distortion means adjacent the rat-race ring and adjusting its nearness to and position on the circumference of the ring to alter the amplitude and phase of the reflected signals. A further adjustment is made to the current in the mixer diodes of an upconverter type mixer in an attempt to equalize operating characteristics of the diodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Ben R Hallford
- 👤 Charles H Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:22
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03D; H03D9/00; H03D9/06; H03D9/0608; H03D9/0633; H03D2200/00; H03D2200/0001; H03D2200/0003; H03D2200/0023; H03D7/00; H03D7/14; H03D7/1408
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of modulation transfer by mixing a microwave pump carrier signal with an intermediate frequency carrier in a pair of mixing diodes while simultaneously suppressing the pump carrier at an output containing information signals modulated on a sideband frequency comprising the steps of: supplying a power radio frequency carrier through a rat-race hybrid ring and through two diodes to radio frequency ground whereby the diodes receive the carrier at substantially opposite phases; supplying information carrying intermediate frequency signals from an intermediate frequency source through said two diodes to a sink; adjusting the direct current flow in said diodes in opposite directions for altering the effective diode impedances as seen by the radio frequency carrier and thereby altering the phase of reflected signals; and adjusting the phase and amplitude of radio frequency first sideband signals by juxtaposing a capacitive device with said ring at a variable distance therefrom and variable in position thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of modulation transfer by mixing a microwave pump carrier signal with an intermediate frequency carrier in a pair of mixing diodes while simultaneously suppressing the pump carrier at an output containing information signals modulated on a sideband frequency comprising the steps of: supplying a power radio frequency carrier through a rat-race hybrid ring and through two diodes to radio frequency ground whereby the diodes receive the carrier at substantially opposite phases; supplying information carrying intermediate frequency signals from an intermediate frequency source through said two diodes to a sink; adjusting the direct current flow in said diodes in opposite directions for altering the effective diode impedances as seen by the radio frequency carrier and thereby altering the phase of reflected signals; and adjusting the phase and amplitude of radio frequency first sideband signals by juxtaposing a capacitive device with said ring at a variable distance therefrom and variable in position thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a microwave balanced mixer circuit including a ''''rat-race'''' hybrid ring feeding substantially opposite phases of a local oscillator frequency carrier to a pair of mixer diode means and the diodes being also fed by an information carrying input signal an inventive addition, comprising in combination: means for adjusting the amplitude of current flow in said pair of diode means in opposite directions one with respect to the other; and adjustable means juxtaposed said hybrid ring for altering the phase and amplitude of reflected signals to minimize extraneous frequency output signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a microwave balanced mixer circuit including a ''''rat-race'''' hybrid ring feeding substantially opposite phases of a local oscillator frequency carrier to a pair of mixer diode means and the diodes being also fed by an information carrying input signal an inventive addition, comprising in combination: means for adjusting the amplitude of current flow in said pair of diode means in opposite directions one with respect to the other; and adjustable means juxtaposed said hybrid ring for altering the phase and amplitude of reflected signals to minimize extraneous frequency output signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a microstrip microwave rat-race hybrid circuit ring including leads for use in mixing two input signals and outputting resultant signals an improvement comprising, in combination: field distortion means juxtaposed said ring and adjustable in nearness to said ring and adjustable in position on the circumference of said ring for adjusting the phase and amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of one input signal as it appears at an output lead of said circuit ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a microstrip microwave rat-race hybrid circuit ring including leads for use in mixing two input signals and outputting resultant signals an improvement comprising, in combination: field distortion means juxtaposed said ring and adjustable in nearness to said ring and adjustable in position on the circumference of said ring for adjusting the phase and amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of one input signal as it appears at an output lead of said circuit ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a microstrip microwave rat-race hybrid circuit ring including leads for use in mixing two input signals and outputting resultant signals an improvement comprising, in combination: field distortion means juxtaposed said ring and adjustable in nearness to said ring and adjustable in position on the circumference of said ring for adjusting the phase and amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of one input signal as it appears at an output lead of said circuit ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a microstrip microwave rat-race hybrid circuit ring including leads for use in mixing two input signals and outputting resultant signals an improvement comprising, in combination: field distortion means juxtaposed said ring and adjustable in nearness to said ring and adjustable in position on the circumference of said ring for adjusting the phase and amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of reflected signals to minimize the amplitude of one input signal as it appears at an output lead of said circuit ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
207 words
Microwave mixer apparatus comprising, in combination: rat-race hybrid circuit ring means having first, second, third, and fourth terminal means attached thereto; first and second non-linear mixer means connected respectively to said first and second terminal means of said hybrid circuit means; microwave filter means connected to each of said first and second miXer means; potentiometer means including first and second ends and slider means; reference potential means; means connecting said slider means to said reference potential means; fifth terminal means including means for connecting said first and second ends, respectively, of said potentiometer means to said first and second mixer means; first signal supplying means for supplying a first signal of a first frequency to be mixed connected to said third terminal means of said circuit means; second signal supplying means for supplying a second signal of a second frequency to be mixed connected to one of said fourth and fifth terminal means; apparatus output means for supplying a resultant mixed signal of a third frequency connected to the other one of said fourth and fifth terminal means; and null adjustment means adjustably juxtaposed said ring means for minimizing the amplitude of signals of one of said first and second frequencies appearing at said apparatus output means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
207 words
Microwave mixer apparatus comprising, in combination: rat-race hybrid circuit ring means having first, second, third, and fourth terminal means attached thereto; first and second non-linear mixer means connected respectively to said first and second terminal means of said hybrid circuit means; microwave filter means connected to each of said first and second miXer means; potentiometer means including first and second ends and slider means; reference potential means; means connecting said slider means to said reference potential means; fifth terminal means including means for connecting said first and second ends, respectively, of said potentiometer means to said first and second mixer means; first signal supplying means for supplying a first signal of a first frequency to be mixed connected to said third terminal means of said circuit means; second signal supplying means for supplying a second signal of a second frequency to be mixed connected to one of said fourth and fifth terminal means; apparatus output means for supplying a resultant mixed signal of a third frequency connected to the other one of said fourth and fifth terminal means; and null adjustment means adjustably juxtaposed said ring means for minimizing the amplitude of signals of one of said first and second frequencies appearing at said apparatus output means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
The method of reducing the amplitude of local oscillator frequency output signals from a rat-race hybrid ring of a microwave mixer circuit using mixer diodes comprising the single step of: adjustably juxtaposing the distance of a field distortion means on the circumference of the ring whereby a portion of the local oscillator signal is reflected to compensate for at least one of: a) the operating characteristic differences of the mixer diodes, and b) imperfect hybrid balance.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
76 words
The method of reducing the amplitude of local oscillator frequency output signals from a rat-race hybrid ring of a microwave mixer circuit using mixer diodes comprising the single step of: adjustably juxtaposing the distance of a field distortion means on the circumference of the ring whereby a portion of the local oscillator signal is reflected to compensate for at least one of: a) the operating characteristic differences of the mixer diodes, and b) imperfect hybrid balance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |