Abstract: A frequency converter (100) is provided, comprising: a pulse generator (150) configured to receive a balanced local oscillator signal pair and to generate a balanced rectangular pulse signal pair having the reference frequency; and a mixer (160) configured to mix an input signal having an input frequency with the balanced rectangular pulse signal pair to generate an output signal having an output frequency. The input frequency is different from the output frequency, and the pulse generator and the mixer are formed on a single integrated circuit (120). The frequency converter may comprise a balanced local oscillator (110) configured to generate the balanced local oscillator signal pair. The balanced local oscillator may comprise: an unbalanced local oscillator (130) configured to provide an unbalanced local oscillator signal having the reference frequency; and a balun (140) configured to generate the balanced local oscillator signal pair based on the unbalanced local oscillator signal.

Abstract: A modulator is provided that comprises a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that is bias modulated by a baseband signal. A given logic state of the baseband signal determines a delay amount of a first carrier signal through the NLTL. The modulator further comprises an impulse forming network (IFN) that includes a first NLTL that receives the first carrier signal delayed by the determined delay amount and a second NLTL that receives a second carrier signal having a fixed delay amount. The first NLTL and second NLTL within the IFN have opposite diode polarity configurations. The modulator further comprises a power combiner that converts a delta delay of the first carrier signal relative to the second carrier signal to a sharp impulse that represents the given logic state of the baseband signal.

Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) balun and methods of making the same are provided. A primary spiral winding is spaced apart from a secondary primary winding by a gap in a substantially aligned stacked configuration forming a balun. The gap medium can be a low dielectric constant material if employing a multi-metal process or air if employing a wafer level packaging process.

Abstract: A ferroelectric loaded waveguide resonator capable of operation at microwave, millimeter-wave and higher frequencies and suitable for integration into a three-dimensional monolithic microwave integrated circuit (3D MMIC) is disclosed. The resonator includes a resonator cavity, which, in one form of the invention, is formed by two parallel metal layers and a metallized wall structure extending between the metal layers. The cavity is filled with dielectric material and includes a layer of ferroelectric material, which is used to control the resonant frequency by varying a voltage bias applied to the ferroelectric layer. The cavity includes a slot in one of the metal layers and a coupling strip formed adjacent to the slot to provide electromagnetic coupling to other components, such as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The invention can also be applied to other multi-metal semiconductor or wafer level packaging technologies.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a differential amplifier and a differential mixer. The differential amplifier is configured to receive a multi-octave differential input signal and output an amplified multi-octave differential output signal. The differential amplifier is also configured to substantially reduce second order harmonic distortion of the amplified multi-octave differential output signal through common mode rejection. The differential mixer configured to multiply the amplified multi-octave differential output signal with a local oscillator input signal and output an up-converted sub-octave differential output signal. The multi-octave differential input signal and the up-converted sub-octave differential output signal comprise a substantially same bandwidth.

Abstract: A modulator is provided that comprises a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) that is bias modulated by a baseband signal. A given logic state of the baseband signal determines a delay amount of a first carrier signal through the NLTL. The modulator further comprises an impulse forming network (IFN) that includes a first NLTL that receives the first carrier signal delayed by the determined delay amount and a second NLTL that receives a second carrier signal having a fixed delay amount. The first NLTL and second NLTL within the IFN have opposite diode polarity configurations. The modulator further comprises a power combiner that converts a delta delay of the first carrier signal relative to the second carrier signal to a sharp impulse that represents the given logic state of the baseband signal.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for synthesizing a waveform having pulse segments. An exemplary generator can include units having a time delay element and pulse generator generating the pulse segments. An input divider divides an input signal into signal instances that propagate through the units and an output combiner combines pulse segments to form the waveform. The pulse generators include a sharpening circuit for sharpening a rising edge and a falling edge of the pulse segments. The sharpening circuit includes a tunable delay element coupled to a non-linear transmission line (NLTL). Another NLTL can be coupled in parallel with the tunable delay element and the first NLTL. The NLTLs include input sections coupled to anodes or cathodes of Schottky diode elements, and the respective cathodes or anodes are coupled to a signal ground.

Abstract: A frequency converter (100) is provided, comprising: a pulse generator (150) configured to receive a balanced local oscillator signal pair and to generate a balanced rectangular pulse signal pair having the reference frequency; and a mixer (160) configured to mix an input signal having an input frequency with the balanced rectangular pulse signal pair to generate an output signal having an output frequency. The input frequency is different from the output frequency, and the pulse generator and the mixer are formed on a single integrated circuit (120). The frequency converter may comprise a balanced local oscillator (110) configured to generate the balanced local oscillator signal pair. The balanced local oscillator may comprise: an unbalanced local oscillator (130) configured to provide an unbalanced local oscillator signal having the reference frequency; and a balun (140) configured to generate the balanced local oscillator signal pair based on the unbalanced local oscillator signal.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for synthesizing a waveform having pulse segments. An exemplary generator can include units having a time delay element and pulse generator generating the pulse segments. An input divider divides an input signal into signal instances that propagate through the units and an output combiner combines pulse segments to form the waveform. The pulse generators include a sharpening circuit for sharpening a rising edge and a falling edge of the pulse segments. The sharpening circuit includes a tunable delay element coupled to a non-linear transmission line (NLTL). Another NLTL can be coupled in parallel with the tunable delay element and the first NLTL. The NLTLs include input sections coupled to anodes or cathodes of Schottky diode elements, and the respective cathodes or anodes are coupled to a signal ground.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a differential amplifier and a differential mixer. The differential amplifier is configured to receive a multi-octave differential input signal and output an amplified multi-octave differential output signal. The differential amplifier is also configured to substantially reduce second order harmonic distortion of the amplified multi-octave differential output signal through common mode rejection. The differential mixer configured to multiply the amplified multi-octave differential output signal with a local oscillator input signal and output an up-converted sub-octave differential output signal. The multi-octave differential input signal and the up-converted sub-octave differential output signal comprise a substantially same bandwidth.

Abstract: A pulse generating circuit and related method, for producing extremely narrow pulses for use in monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) for radar, high-speed sampling, pulse radio and other applications. A sinusoidal input signal is supplied to two nonlinear shock wave generators, which are oppositely biased to produce periodic outputs that are mirror images of each other, one with a very steep rising edge and one with a very steep falling edge. The combined outputs would cancel each other completely but for the introduction of a slight time delay in one of them, which results in a narrow peak in the combined signals.

Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) multi-push voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and methods of making the same is provided. The 3D MMIC multi-push oscillator includes a plurality of matching frequency oscillators coupled to a phasing ring in substantially equidistantly spaced apart locations. A combined VCO output signal is provided at a central output connection point of the phasing ring. The central output connection point resides on a first plane. An output conductor transition has a first end coupled to the central output connection point and a second end provided as an output to the quad-push VCO. The output conductor transition extends transverse to the first plane and terminates at a second plane separated from the first plane. The multi-push oscillator can be a push-push, quad-push or N-push type VCO based on a particular implementation.

Abstract: A comb frequency generator that is tunable to vary the width of the pulses in the output signal and achieve a maximum power output at different harmonic frequencies. A wavefront compression device receives a sinusoidal input signal and provides wavefront compression to create a compressed signal having a series of periodic fast edges. A delay device receives the fast-edge compressed signal and delays the fast-edge signal to create a delayed fast-edge signal. A combining device receives the original fast-edge compressed signal and the delayed fast-edge compressed signal to generate an output signal including a series of pulses having a width determined by the delay of the delayed signal. In one embodiment, the delay device is a shorted transmission line stub having a length selectively set by a series of MEM devices. In another embodiment, the delay device is an NLTL variable time delay device that delays the fast-edge signal.

Abstract: A nonlinear transmission-line waveform generator for generating a comb of frequencies and relatively short duration pulses, for example, in the range of picoseconds and tens of picoseconds, that are adapted to being utilized with ultra wideband radios in order to improve the bandwidth of such radios by an order of magnitude, for example, up to tens and even hundreds of GHz. In particular, the nonlinear transmission line waveform generator in accordance with the present invention consists of a microstrip or coplanar waveguide line. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the &Dgr;C/&Dgr;V characteristic of the nonlinear transmission line is matched to the frequency and amplitude of the input sinusoidal waveform.

Abstract: A time multiplexed multiple carrier transmitter includes a first data encoder that produces first transmit data and a second data encoder that produces second transmit data. In addition, the transmitter includes a digital multiplexer coupled to the first and the second data encoders. The digital multiplexer provides a transmit signal output. A transmit frequency upconverter coupled to a power amplifier and the transmit signal output provides a final upconversion (or direct upconversion) to a transmit frequency for each channel. The transmitter also includes a multiplexer control circuit coupled to the digital multiplexer through a multiplexer control input. The multiplexer control circuit produces a multiplexer control signal on the multiplex control input that selects between the first and second data encoders according to a transmit schedule. The transmit schedule determines when, at the frequency at which, the transmitter selects and transmits data from each data encoder.

Abstract: A nonlinear transmission-line waveform generator for generating a comb of frequencies and relatively short duration pulses, for example, in the range of picoseconds and tens of picoseconds, that are adapted to being utilized with ultra wideband radios in order to improve the bandwidth of such radios by an order of magnitude, for example, up to tens and even hundreds of GHz. In particular, the nonlinear transmission line waveform generator in accordance with the present invention consists of a microstrip or coplanar waveguide line. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the &Dgr;C/&Dgr;V characteristic of the nonlinear transmission line is matched to the frequency and amplitude of the input sinusoid. By matching the &Dgr;C/&Dgr;V characteristics of the nonlinear transmission line to the input sinusoid, the output of the nonlinear transmission line produces a comb of frequencies that are multiples of the input sinusoid frequency, making it suitable as a harmonic generator.