US5642071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transit mixer with current mode input
Assignee: JVCO TAM HOLDING Ltd
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Filing: 1995-11-07
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Granted: 1997-06-24
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Expires: 2015-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A differential mixer (DM) used in a telecommunication radio transmitter able to operate with a 3 Volt supply includes a silicon bipolar cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) for receiving a first input voltage (LO) at a high frequency, a pair of current sources (I1; I2), and a voltage-to-current MOS converter (VIC) for receiving a second input voltage (VIN) at a lower frequency. The converter is adapted to convert the low frequency voltage to a differential current (INN) and is coupled to the junction points of the amplifiers and the current sources. The converter further includes a regulated differential cascode circuit (P1; P2) to which the low frequency input voltage (VIN) is applied via resistors (RI1; RI2) and which is coupled to the supply terminals (VCC; GND) of the mixer via two pairs of constant current sources (PB1, PB2; NB1, NB2) respectively. Preferably, a constant reference voltage terminal (VCC/2) is applied to the gate electrode of the transistors (P1; P2) of the cascode circuit via an operational amplifier (O1; O2).
Inventors
- 👤 Joannes Mathilda Josephus Sevenhans
- 👤 Jean-Luc Donat Maurice R. Bacq
- 👤 Damien Luc Francois Macq
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:54
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03D; H03D7/00; H03D7/14; H03D7/1425; H03D7/145; H03D7/1433; H03D7/1441; H03D7/1491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
Differential mixer (DM) coupled between a first (VCC) and a second (GND) voltage supply terminal for multiplying a first differential input voltage supplied at a first differential voltage input (LO) with a second differential input voltage supplied at a second differential voltage input (VIN), said differential mixer (DM) including a cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) responsive to said first differential voltage input and coupled between said first (VCC) voltage supply terminal and a differential pair of mixing input terminals (J1; J2) to which are also coupled a voltage-to-current converter means (VIC) and a current source (I1; I2), said current source including two identical parallel current branches, each connected between distinct differential amplifiers (A; B) via a distinct mixing input terminal (J1; J2) and said second (GND) voltage supply terminal, said parallel current branches each comprising a series connection of a transistor (T1; T2) and a resistor (R5; R7) and said voltage-to-current converter means responsive to said second differential voltage input for converting said second differential input voltage to a differential current (INN) supplied to said differential mixing input terminals, said voltage-to-current converter means including a differential cascode circuit of transistors (P1; P2) having input terminals (J3; J4) to which said second differential voltage input are connected via resistors (RI1; RI2), output terminals connected to said mixing input terminals which are current output terminals (TI1; TI2), and control terminals to which a constant reference voltage terminal (VCC/2) is coupled, said voltage-to-current converter means further including a first pair of constant current sources (PB1, PB2) coupling said first (VCC) voltage supply terminal to the input terminals of said transistors, and a second pair of constant current sources (NB1, NB2) coupling the output terminals of said transistors to said second (GND) voltage supply terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
Differential mixer (DM) coupled between a first (VCC) and a second (GND) voltage supply terminal for multiplying a first differential input voltage supplied at a first differential voltage input (LO) with a second differential input voltage supplied at a second differential voltage input (VIN), said differential mixer (DM) including a cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) responsive to said first differential voltage input and coupled between said first (VCC) voltage supply terminal and a differential pair of mixing input terminals (J1; J2) to which are also coupled a voltage-to-current converter means (VIC) and a current source (I1; I2), said current source including two identical parallel current branches, each connected between distinct differential amplifiers (A; B) via a distinct mixing input terminal (J1; J2) and said second (GND) voltage supply terminal, said parallel current branches each comprising a series connection of a transistor (T1; T2) and a resistor (R5; R7) and said voltage-to-current converter means responsive to said second differential voltage input for converting said second differential input voltage to a differential current (INN) supplied to said differential mixing input terminals, said voltage-to-current converter means including a differential cascode circuit of transistors (P1; P2) having input terminals (J3; J4) to which said second differential voltage input are connected via resistors (RI1; RI2), output terminals connected to said mixing input terminals which are current output terminals (TI1; TI2), and control terminals to which a constant reference voltage terminal (VCC/2) is coupled, said voltage-to-current converter means further including a first pair of constant current sources (PB1, PB2) coupling said first (VCC) voltage supply terminal to the input terminals of said transistors, and a second pair of constant current sources (NB1, NB2) coupling the output terminals of said transistors to said second (GND) voltage supply terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Differential mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that said constant reference voltage terminal (VCC/2) is coupled to the control terminal of each of said transistors (P1; P2) via a distinct operational amplifier (O1; O2) of which another input is connected to the input terminal (J3; J4) of said transistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
Differential mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that said first differential input voltage has a relatively high frequency, in that said second differential input voltage has a relatively low frequency, and in that said cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) is coupled to said differential pair of mixing input terminals. (J1; J2) via low pass filters (R3, C1; R4, C2).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Differential mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that said transistors (P1; P2) of said voltage-to-current converter means (VIC) are MOS transistors and in that said input (J3; J4), output and control terminals are the source, drain and gate electrodes of said transistors respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Differential mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that said cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) includes silicon bipolar transistors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
Differential mixer according to claim 1, characterized in that said differential mixer (DM) includes, coupled between said first (VCC) and said second (GND) voltage supply terminal, a series connection of load resistors (R1; R2), said cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B), said differential mixing input (J1; J2) and said current source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Differential mixer according to claim 6, characterized in that low pass filters (R3, C1; R4, C2) are located between said cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) and said differential mixing input (J1; J2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
Differential mixer according to the claim 4, characterized in that said cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) and said current source (I1; I2) are integrated in a first electronic chip, and said voltage-to-current converter means (VIC) is integrated in a second electronic chip, said first and second electronic chips being interconnected via said differential pair of mixing input terminals (J1; J2).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
Differential mixer according to the claim 5, characterized in that said cross-connected pair of differential amplifiers (A; B) and said current source (I1; I2) are integrated in a first electronic chip, and said voltage-to-current converter means (VIC) is integrated in a second electronic chip, said first and second electronic chips being interconnected via said differential pair of mixing input terminals (J1; J2).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-23 | 2000-12-23 | 2001-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-23 | 2004-12-23 | 2005-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-23 | 2008-12-23 | 2009-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |