Balanced reflection transformer

Claim 2

A reflection transformer, comprising: a transmission line transformer having first and second ports, said first and second ports connected such that nearly complete coupling of a signal between said ports relies on substantially complete reflection of energy at a reference plane of the transformer, and a third port for connection to a phase selector switch means for inducing said substantially complete reflection of energy at said reference plane by switchably creating an impedance mismatch at a first end of a transmission line, said transmission line having a second end connected to at least one of said first and second ports wherein said energy propagates in opposite directions over said transmission line due to said reflection at said reference plane.

Claim 3

The transformer of claim 1, wherein: one of said first and second ports comprises means for inputting a radio frequency (RF) signal; another of said first and second ports comprises means for outputting an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; and said phase selector switch means includes a phase selector switch, said phase selector switch being operative to provide said impedance mismatch at said first end of said transmission line by switchably adjusting impedance of said third port relative to a characteristic impedance of said transmission line, thereby producing said substantially complete reflection of said energy at said reference plane.

Claim 4

The transformer of claim 2, wherein: said phase selector switch means is responsive to a local oscillator (LO) frequency; and said complete reflection of energy at said reference plane of the transformer comprises a first reflection and a second reflection, the first reflection coincident with a first phase of said LO frequency and said second reflection coincident with a second phase of said LO frequency.

Claim 5

A reflection transformer, comprising: a transmission line transformer having at least two ports, said ports connected such that nearly complete coupling of a signal between said ports relies on substantially complete reflection of energy at a reference plane of the transformer, the transformer being comprised of a plurality of transmission lines which transmit energy from a radio frequency (RF) port to an intermediate frequency (IF) port of the transformer, wherein said complete reflection of energy at a reference plane of the transformer occurs at a phase selector switch connected to a phase switching port of the transformer, said reference plane being defined by said phase switching port; and said transmission lines comprise a first through a sixth transmission line, the transformer belonging to a system that has a system impedance of Z 0 , said first, second, fourth, and fifth transmission lines being coupled to said RF port and having a transmission line characteristic impedance of Z 0 , said third and sixth transmission lines being coupled to said phase switching port and having a transmission line characteristic impedance of two times Z 0 , said first transmission line being positioned such that a zero degree incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a 180° reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of 180° at said IF port, said second transmission line being positioned such that a zero degree incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a zero degree reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of zero degrees at said IF port, said fourth transmission line being positioned such that a 180° incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a 180° reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of zero degrees at said IF port, and said fifth transmission line being positioned such that a 180° incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a zero degree reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of 180° at said IF port.

Claim 6

A reflection transformer, comprising: a transmission line transformer having at least two ports, said ports connected such that nearly complete coupling of a signal between said ports relies on substantially complete reflection of energy at a reference plane of the transformer, the transformer being comprised of a plurality of transmission lines which transmit energy from a radio frequency (RF) port to an intermediate frequency (IF) port of the transformer, wherein said complete reflection of energy at a reference plane of the transformer occurs at a phase selector switch connected to a phase switching port of the transformer, said reference plane being defined by said phase switching port; and said transmission lines comprise a first through a sixth transmission line, the transformer belonging to a system that has a system impedance of Z 0 , said first, second, fourth, and fifth transmission lines being coupled to said RF port and having a transmission line characteristic impedance of Z 0 , said third and sixth transmission lines being coupled to said phase switching port and having a transmission line characteristic impedance of two times Z 0 , said first transmission line being positioned such that a zero degree incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a 180° reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of 180° at said IF port, said second transmission line being positioned such that a zero degree incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a zero degree reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of zero degrees at said IF port, said fourth transmission line being positioned such that a 180° incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a 180° reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of zero degrees at said IF port, and said fifth transmission line being positioned such that a 180° incident wave relative phase angle at said RF port and a zero degree reflected wave relative phase angle at said phase switching port causes a resultant relative phase angle of 180° at said IF port.

Claim 7

A reflection transformer, comprising: a transmission line transformer having at least first and second ports, said first and second ports connected such that nearly complete coupling to said second port of an input signal applied to said first port relies on substantially complete reflection, at a reference plane of the transformer, of energy induced to propagate in a first direction over a transmission line in response to application of said input signal to said first port, said reflection transformer having a third port for connection to a phase selector switch means for inducing said substantially complete reflection of energy at said reference plane of the transformer by switchably creating an impedance mismatch at said third port of the transformer defined by a first end of said transmission line wherein said energy reflected at said reference plane propagates, in a first direction over said transmission line, to a second end of said transmission line at which is located said second port.

Claim 8

A reflection transformer, comprising: a transmission line transformer having at least first and second ports, said first and second ports connected such that nearly complete coupling to said second port of an input signal applied to said first port relies on substantially complete reflection, at a reference plane of the transformer, of energy induced to propagate in a first direction over a transmission line in response to application of said input signal to said first port, said reflection transformer having a third port for connection to a phase selector switch means for inducing said substantially complete reflection of energy at said reference plane of the transformer by switchably creating an impedance mismatch at said third port of the transformer defined by a first end of said transmission line wherein said energy reflected at said reference plane propagates, in a first direction over said transmission line, to a second end of said transmission line at which is located said second port.

Claim 9

The transformer of claim 5, wherein: said first port comprises means for inputting a radio frequency (RF) signal; said second port comprises means for outputting an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; and said third port of the transformer is connected to a phase selector switch.

Claim 10

The transformer of claim 6 wherein said phase selector switch means causes impedance at said first end of said transmission line to differ from a predefined characteristic impedance of said transmission line.

Claim 11

The transformer of claim 7 wherein said predefined characteristic impedance is approximately equivalent to 50Ω.