US4411022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated circuit mixer apparatus
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1982-01-27
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Granted: 1983-10-18
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Expires: 2002-01-27
Abstract
Abstract An integrated circuit mixer which is impedance matched to a fundamental waveguide, utilizes a slot coupler and a coplanar transmission line to apply an RF and local oscillator signal to a Schottky-barrier diode. The IF signal which is available at the output of the Schottky-barrier diode is filtered by means of an RF bypass capacitor that is located on the dielectric substrate surface. At 110 GHz, a mixer module when mounted in the end of a waveguide horn, has an uncooled double-sideband (DSB) mixer noise temperature of 339° K. and conversion loss of 3.8 dB.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian J. Clifton
- 👤 Gary D. Alley
- 👤 Ralph A. Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:02
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03D; H03D9/00; H03D9/06; H03D9/0608; H03D9/0633; H03D9/0641; H03D7/00; H03D7/02; H03D9/0616
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus comprising in combination: a dielectric substrate having a top and bottom surface, said dielectric substrate including a ground plane on said top surface, a slot coupler means formed on the top surface of said dielectric substrate, a coplanar transmission line means disposed on said top surface of said dielectric substrate, said coplanar transmission line means being electrically connected to said slot coupler means, a Schottky-barrier diode located on said top surface of said dielectric substrate, said Schottky-barrier diode having an anode and a cathode, said anode of said Schottky-barrier diode being connected by said coplanar transmission line to said slot coupler means, a bypass capacitor located on said top surface of said dielectric substrate, one plate of said bypass capacitor being electrically connected to the cathode of said Schottky-barrier diode, the other plate of said bypass capacitor being electrically connected to a portion of said ground plane, and, a bonding pad attached to said first capacitor plate to provide an IF signal output terminal, an RD signal and a local oscillator signal being applied to said dielectric substrate, said RF signal and said local oscillator signal propagating through said dielelectric substrate to said slot coupler means and by means of said coplanar transmission line means to said Schottky-barrier diode, an IF signal appearing in response to said RF and local oscillator signal at said If signal output terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus comprising in combination: a dielectric substrate having a top and bottom surface, said dielectric substrate including a ground plane on said top surface, a slot coupler means formed on the top surface of said dielectric substrate, a coplanar transmission line means disposed on said top surface of said dielectric substrate, said coplanar transmission line means being electrically connected to said slot coupler means, a Schottky-barrier diode located on said top surface of said dielectric substrate, said Schottky-barrier diode having an anode and a cathode, said anode of said Schottky-barrier diode being connected by said coplanar transmission line to said slot coupler means, a bypass capacitor located on said top surface of said dielectric substrate, one plate of said bypass capacitor being electrically connected to the cathode of said Schottky-barrier diode, the other plate of said bypass capacitor being electrically connected to a portion of said ground plane, and, a bonding pad attached to said first capacitor plate to provide an IF signal output terminal, an RD signal and a local oscillator signal being applied to said dielectric substrate, said RF signal and said local oscillator signal propagating through said dielelectric substrate to said slot coupler means and by means of said coplanar transmission line means to said Schottky-barrier diode, an IF signal appearing in response to said RF and local oscillator signal at said If signal output terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a waveguide horn to receive said RF and said local oscillator signal, said dielectric substrate being mounted at one end of said waveguide horn, said bottom surface of said dielectric substrate positioned to receive said RF and said local oscillator signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said waveguide horn comprises a TE 10 waveguide horn.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said dielectric substrate comprises semi-insulating GaAs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said coplanar transmission line has a length on the order of 0.2 λ g , where λ g is the wavelength of the applied RF signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said Schottky-barrier diode is surface-oriented and is formed on epitaxial layer of n material on an n + -GaAs layer which is grown on said dielectric substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said n + layer is approximately 3 μm thick with a carrier concentration of 3×10 18 cm -3 while n layer is 0.1-0.2 μm thick with a concentration 0.8-2×10 17 cm -3 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3678395A
Cited
US3963989A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-17 | 1987-04-18 | 1987-10-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-17 | 1991-04-18 | 1991-10-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-17 | 1995-04-18 | 1995-10-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |