Abstract: A radio-frequency mixer and a local oscillator integrated into a single housing, and including a Gunn-type oscillator coupled to the mixer by a section of microstrip transmission line and a section of suspended stripline. A broadside coupler in the suspended stripline provides dc and intermediate-frequency isolation for the mixer, and a block of dielectric material on the microstrip provides improved temperature compensation for the diode oscillator. The entire compact assembly has good conversion loss performance over a relatively wide frequency band, and is relatively insensitive to temperature changes.

Abstract: A hybrid ring mixer includes an annular conducting ring on a gallium arsenide substrate coated on the bottom with a conducting layer to comprise a strip transmission line. Three conductors spaced by 120.degree. extend radially outward from the annular ring to define local oscillator, signal input and i-f ports, respectively. A pair of conductors spaced by substantially 120.degree. extend radially inward to comprise diode ports. A conducting surface inside the annular ring is grounded and has circular sectors of different radius bounded by radii extending from the center of the ring and bisecting the signal and local oscillator ports, respectively. The sector of larger radius is located in the 120.degree. sector between the signal and local oscillator ports. Mesa diodes are connected between each of the diode ports and the sector of smaller radius.

Abstract: A prescaler input circuit for a frequency converter unit uses a strip line type of directional coupler to isolate the prescaler unit from the frequency converter unit, eliminate beat interference and erroneous frequency dividing operation, and provide a simple and economical structure. The coupler has the prescaler input line inductively coupled to a local oscillator injection element and grounded through a resistor. An earth line is arranged in proximity to the injection lead to provide impedance matching for the coupler.

Abstract: A mixer including a plurality of mixer diodes arranged at a junction formed by first, second and third waveguides. The first waveguide is a slot transmission line including spaced-apart conductive layers on each of the opposite sides of a dielectric substrate. The second waveguide is a coplanar transmission line including spaced-apart conductive layers and a central conductive layer on each side of the substrate. The third waveguide is a parallel plate transmission line including extended portions of the central conductive layers, which extend toward the slot in the first waveguide. The diodes electrically connect the extended portion of the central conductive layers to the spaced-apart conductive layers of the first waveguide.

Abstract: A single balanced planar mixer is disclosed suitable for use in the reception of electromagnetic waves of extremely high frequencies including millimeter waves. The mixer may be combined with an antenna, the combination being particularly suitable for use in antenna arrays. The arrangement is planar combining coplanar strip, coplanar line, and microstrip transmission lines formed on an insulating substrate in a single balanced arrangement providing isolation between the antenna port on the one hand and the local oscillator and IF ports on the other hand. Additional filters suitable for fabrication on a substrate are employed to provide isolation between the local oscillator and intermediate frequency ports. At lower frequencies, the arrangement may be in a hybrid format using an insulating substrate and discrete diodes. At higher frequencies the arrangement may be monolithically integrated using a gallium arsenide substrate with integrated diodes.

Abstract: A first 3 dB quadrature coupler is connected to an RF input terminal and its outputs are connected to first and second antiphase power dividers. The outputs of the first and second antiphase power dividers are individually connected to the first gate of four dual-gate field effect transistors (FET's). A second 3 dB quadrature coupler is connected to an LO input terminal and its outputs are connected to third and fourth antiphase power dividers. The outputs of the third and fourth antiphase power dividers are individually connected to the second gates of the four FET's. The drains of two of the FET's are connected together and to a low pass filter, and the drains of the other two FET's are connected together and to a second low pass filter. The outputs of the filters are connected to the two inputs of a differential amplifier, and the IF signal is taken at the output of the differential amplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for a balanced mixer having a fifth port capable of removing the intermediate frequency and the upper sideband frequency while acting as an open circuit to the RF and local oscillator input signals. The upper sideband signal is then dissipated in a distributed load designed so as not to reflect the upper sideband signal back into the transmission ring. Thus, a balanced mixer is disclosed that provides IF signals and removes other unwanted signals without corrupting later signals.

Abstract: A 3 dB quadrature coupler is connected to an RF input terminal and an LO input terminal, and its outputs are connected to first and second antiphase power dividers. The outputs of the first and second antiphase power dividers are individually connected to the gates of four field effect transistors (FET's). The drains of two of the FET's are connected together and to a low pass filter, and the drains of the other two FET's are connected together and to a second low pass filter. The outputs of the filters are connected to the two inputs of a differential amplifier, and the IF signal is taken at the output of the differential amplifier.

Abstract: In a microwave mixer circuit, two diodes connected in series are formed in a semi-insulating semiconductor substrate. A power distributing circuit is connected across the series circuit of the diodes. One of the connecting points is connected to a first signal terminal. A line connecting the two diodes in series is connected to the second signal input terminal and through a low-pass filter element to an intermediate frequency output terminal.

Abstract: A compact satellite broadcasting receiver comprises a circular waveguide, a strip-line-shaped probe projected into the circular waveguide, a reflecting element provided downstream of the probe in the circular waveguide and a microwave circuit having a strip line provided around the circular waveguide and connected with the probe. Furthermore, a satellite broadcasting receiver capable of simultaneously receiving two kind of microwaves polarized perpendicularly to each other is realized by joining two compact satellite broadcasting receivers as mentioned above with their strip-line-shaped probes placed at a right angle.

Abstract: A horn antenna construction, particularly for use in microwave radar detector circuits, comprises a molded horn element that is open at its bottom side, with a ridge molded into its flared top surface, and being electrically conductive at least at microwave frequencies such as in the X-band and K-band. The open bottom of the horn element mates to a conductive upper surface on a mounting board, and the horn is drawn down onto the mounting board so that its upper surface forms the bottom of the horn. Thus, the ridge is brought into physical and electrical contact with a feed strip formed in a microstrip board on the mounting board, that has a mixing diode or diodes associated therewith. By this construction, there is a positive and dimensionally stable association of the throat of the horn and the ridge to the feed strip and the mixing diode(s), without the necessity of any solder, inserted connectors or mounting pins, or the provision of any tuning posts or screws.

Abstract: A multifunction ultra-high frequency circuit and bidirectional transmission means using such a circuit. The circuit according to the invention comprises a directional coupler, two diodes, a transistor and an access connected to the diodes. The state of the transistor defines several functions of the circuit: modulation, mixing and transmission-reception separation. Application to half-duplex transmission.

Abstract: A single planar doped barrier diode is grown by the selective deposition of gallium arsenide using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) in the center of a gallium arsenide dielectric waveguide member mounted on a ground plane. The waveguide member includes two portions which extend in opposite directions and terminating in respective metal to dielectric waveguide transition sections which are coupled to an RF input signal and local oscillator signal, respectively. The planar doped barrier diode operates as an intrinsic subharmonic mixer and accordingly the local oscillator signal has frequency of one half the input signal frequency. An IF output signal is coupled from the mixer diode to a microstrip transmission line formed on an insulating layer fabricated on the ground plane. Dielectric waveguide isolators are additionally included on the dielectric waveguide segments to mutually isolate the input signal and local oscillator signal.

Abstract: A monolithic 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 Schotty-barrier diode. The dielectric substrate is utilized to create a dielectric surface wave resonance which is utilized by centering a slot coupler with respect thereto, to provide a reactive image termination at the upper sideband and thereby enhance single and double sideband mixer operation. 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.

Abstract: An R.F. circuit with at least one R.F. transmission line including a strip conductor (15) and a ground plane (13) on an insulating substrate (3) and having two diodes (24, 25) respectively D.C.-connected to two portions (38,39) of the ground plane (13). The two portions are mutually D.C.-isolated by a slot (37) to enable the diodes (24, 25) to be biased. The substrate (3) is mounted in a housing (1, 2) of conductive material, and the two portions (38, 39) of the ground plane (13) are mutually R.F.-coupled via the conductive material. One of the portions (39) is electrically-connected to an adjacent housing member (2) and the other portion (38) is separated therefrom by a thin insulating layer. The slot (37) inhibits coupling of R.F. energy out of the circuit into the slot (37), suitably being very narrow, e.g. 20 .mu.m, so as to form a further transmission line with a very low characteristic impedance and also to have a high attenuation along its length for operation at mm-wavelengths.

Abstract: An R.F. balanced mixer comprises on an insulating substrate (3) with opposed major surfaces a balanced first transmission line having a pair of conductors (18, 19) on a first major surface and an unbalanced second transmission line having a strip conductor (15) on one major surface and a ground conductor (13) on the side of the substrate (3) remote from the strip conductor (15). Two diodes (24, 25) are electrically connected between the pair of conductors (18, 19) of the first line and the strip conductor (15) of the second line to form an arrangement operable as a 180.degree. hybrid junction, the first line coupling an R.F. signal to the diodes (24, 25) and the second line coupling an L.O. signal to and an I.F. signal from the diodes (24, 25). To reduce the impedance of the I.F.

Abstract: The transmitter-receiver module includes a four-terminal coupler (2). An oscillator (1) and two diodes (4, 4') are connected to three of the terminals, while the fourth is connectable to an antenna (3). The diodes are used as a modulator during transmit, and as a mixer during receive. When transmitting, the oscillator is used as a signal source, and when receiving, it is used as a local oscillator. The module is implemented using fin-line technology. Several ways of realizing the oscillator are given.

Abstract: A mixer circuit in which resonance characteristics of a resonance circuit coupled to the RF input terminal are prevented from entering the mixer circuit, and in which negative resistance characteristics in the local oscillator circuit are prevented from causing spurious oscillations in the mixer circuit. The mixer circuit comprises a main strip line connecting an RF input terminal to an output terminal through a frequency mixing diode and a low pass filter. The IF signal is short circuited where the mixer diode is connected to the main strip line, by a high frequency short-circuiting technique. An IF interrupt circuit is provided in the main strip line near the RF input. A resistor ended low pass filter is connected between the RF terminal and the IF interruption circuit. The local oscillator includes a strip line having a length equal to one quarter of the wavelength of the spurious oscillation which is to be prevented.

Abstract: A microwave integrated circuit frequency converter includes a first filter (30) for a signal frequency and a second filter (32) for a local oscillator frequency connected at one terminal thereof with one terminal of the signal frequency filter (30) by a line (38), (40) having a predetermined electrical length. A parallel stub line (42) is short-circuited at one end thereof. A diode (34) is connected at its one end to a third filter (36) which is adapted to reflect the signal and local oscillator frequencies while passing an intermediate frequency. The diode (34) is connected at the other end to a line (41).

Abstract: A microwave oscillator and a combination microwave oscillator/single balanced mixer for a satellite television receiver includes a cylindrical dielectric resonator located on one side of a ground plane formed by a conductive foil on a substrate with microstrip transmission lines formed by foil patterns on the opposite side of said substrate. A gallium arsenide FET is disposed in a hole through said substrate with its source electrode connected to the ground plane and its drain and gate electrodes coupled to first and second transmission line strips, portions of which are following the contours of said dielectric resonator. Two sets of coupling slots are formed in the ground plane for permitting magnetic coupling between the dielectric resonator and the opposite transmission line strips. In one embodiment an additional coupling slot in the ground plane couples the dielectric resonator to an output transmission line strip.

Abstract: The mixer comprises a microelectronic circuit composed of one or a number of active electronic elements having a nonlinear characteristic and carried on a substrate, the elements being supplied by waveguide lines placed on the substrate. The microelectronic circuit is fixed within a closed casing and connected to terminals placed on the casing in order to mix an incident wave S having a frequency F.sub.S applied to a first terminal of the casing with a mixing wave OL having a frequency F.sub.L applied to a second terminal of the casing and in order to restitute a mixed wave OR having a frequency F.sub.O on a third terminal. The cavity formed by the internal space of the casing is tuned to a "sum" frequency representing the sum of the frequency of the mixing wave F.sub.L and of the frequency of the incident wave F.sub.S.

Abstract: A frequency conversion unit comprising a local oscillator, first and second mixers, first and second hybrid circuits. The mixers receive, via the first hybrid circuit, local oscillation outputs from the local oscillator, and the second hybrid circuit receives outputs from the first and second mixers, producing a frequency conversion output signal therefrom. Intermediate frequency signals used in the first and second mixers are .pi. radians out of phase with each other. The first hybrid circuit produces outputs for the first and second mixers having a predetermined phase difference of .phi..sub.1 therebetween. The second hybrid circuit receives outputs from the first and second mixers and combines them after making a phase difference of (.pi.-.phi..sub.1) therebetween.

Abstract: An integrated planar antenna-mixer device for microwave reception utilizes a slot-ring antenna and a diode quad connected thereto. The device comprises a planar metallic sheet backed on one side by a dielectric layer. A circular ring pattern is cut from the metallic sheet forming a slot ring antenna with a central disc and a surrounding ground plane. Diodes of a diode quad are connected between the central disc and the ground plane with adjacent diodes being separated by 90.degree.. The incoming microwave signal is directed perpendicular to the device plane and polarized in a direction orthogonal to a local oscillator signal similarly directed. Operation is quasi-optical without waveguides.

Abstract: A millimeter-wave, planar, balanced mixer having optical means for coupling radio frequency waves to the mixer circuit. The optical coupling means may comprise a dielectric lens and particularly a spherical dielectric lens. The spherical lens not only provides a gain for the radio frequency energy but overcomes the severe tolerance requirements and size restrictions encountered in fabrication of conventional waveguides for millimeter waves in the range of 100 to 300 GHz.

Abstract: In an RF receiver, the unsymmetric RF input to a single balanced mixer is provided from the preceding portion of the receiver by means of a hybrid coupler to provide DC decoupling and impedance transformation at the RF and image frequencies. The hybrid coupler includes first and second microstrip conductors on the first side of a circuit board, each respectively coupled to the preceding portion of the receiver such as to a preamplifier and to the mixer and mutually electromagnetically coupled. On a second side of the circuit board is located a slot etched in the circuit board's conductive ground plane providing the single balanced mixer with a symmetric oscillator frequency source. The ground plane in which the slot is located forms one wall of a cavity in which a dielectric resonator is contained which, coupled to either end of the slot and in combination with an active device, forms the oscillator frequency source.

Abstract: A stripline tuning fork microwave balanced mixer circuit which includes two diodes (21, 22) and a differential transformer (61) whereby matching is accomplished in the differential transformer (61) and in the circuit arrangement between the differential amplifier and the diodes (21, 22) for matching the resistance to the input terminals (1, 2) and a transforming circuit (24, 25, 26) which suppresses the frequency range of the input signals following the diodes and has simultaneous high frequency blocking for matching to the intermediate frequency signal output at terminal (3). This latter circuit can be utilized so that it functions as a blocker for the sum frequencies of the two input signals and the balanced push-pull mixer circuit of the invention can be used in sensitive receivers used in the microwave range.

Abstract: A hybrid ring useful in the microwave and millimeter wave regions as a mixer for producing an IF output signal in response to applied LO and RF input signals. The ring is designed to exhibit a narrow bandwidth at the LO signal port and a moderately broad bandwidth at the RF signal port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixer for use at high microwave frequencies (typically 21.8.times.23.2 GHz) in a low cost communications application. The invention utilizes low cost microwave components, including a low cost compartmented waveguide, shared by the signal and local oscillator and extensive microstrip circuitry. The provision of a pair of novel 1/4 wave impedance transformers coupled into the waveguide compartments provides efficient antenna and local oscillator input filtering, and efficient coupling from the waveguide sections to the microstrip circuitry. The mixer operation is carried out in the microstrip circuitry, which contains a hybrid coupler, a balanced diode detector, and the required mixer output filter. The arrangement is of low cost, and provides a low noise figure (7 db including the preamplifier), good band selectivity (15 db return loss over the communications band), and low local oscillator radiation.

Abstract: A microwave mixing circuit comprises a main transmission line having an input port for receiving an input high frequency and an output port, a band pass filter responsive to a local oscillation frequency, first and second band stop filters, and a mixing diode connected to the output port. The local oscillation frequency applied via the band pass filter to the main transmission line is prevented from being transmitted toward the input port because of the first band stop filter, while an image frequency produced by the diode is reflected by the second band stop filter to be applied to the diode.

Abstract: A millimeter-wave stripline planar mixer to provide a means for mixing a local oscillator signal with a radio frequency signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal, the mixer utilizing beam lead schottky-barrier diodes in a balanced configuration.

Abstract: Microwave circuit layout structure is disclosed for a diode mixer frequency converter. Each mixer port is provided by balun circuitry, and the diodes are isolated from, and on the opposite side of the substrate from, the primary circuits of the baluns. Single and double sideband versions are disclosed, including various combinations of dual and single baluns and porting structure.

Abstract: Microwave circuit layout structure is disclosed for a diode mixer bridge. The circuit layout structure is compact and symmetric, and enables short orthogonal equal length leads from a diode ring quad mixer bridge. The configuration also affords equal path lengths through the diodes to provide precise 180.degree. phase differential image frequency cancellation. The structure also affords precise and consistent mounting of the mixer bridge, to further improve performance.

Abstract: Microwave circuit layout structure is disclosed for a diode mixer frequency converter. The circuit layout structure is compact and symmetric, and enables coplanar diode lead connection.

Abstract: An up converter having on the one hand an ultrahigh-frequency ring receiving one of the waves to be mixed and on the other hand a transformer receiving the other wave to be mixed whose frequency is in the radio-electric range. The transformer is connected to the ring through a bridge of mixer diodes which are placed with this transformer and a capacitor for tuning this latter inside the ring. The resulting wave exits from the ring through a waveguide having two traps tuned to the frequency of the wave applied to the ring.

Abstract: Microwave circuit layout structure is disclosed for a diode quad mixer frequency converter with separate, isolated sections, each supplied by a respective half of dual balun port structure. The circuit layout structure is compact and symmetric, and enables coplanar diode connection.

Abstract: A simplified, compact, flat microwave frequency converter assembly utilizes a flat quad diode bridge, and has two pairs of opposed flat conductors, each with a respective one of the opposed conductors on a respective side of a flat dielectric substrate . Each of the pair extends orthogonally from their intersection at the bridge. The bridge is connected at opposite corners thereof to adjacent ends of the conductors at the intersection on a first side of the substrate. These first-side conductors are in electrical continuity with a conductive layer extending about the periphery of the substrate on the first side thereof. This layer is, in turn, in contact with a conductive carrier plate by means of which the layer is grounded. On the second side of the substrate, each of the pair of capacitors affixed to the substrate is connected between respective opposite corners of the bridge, and the adjacent ends of the conductors of one of said pairs.

Abstract: A mixer comprising two microstrip plates, each having an earth plane, a dielectric layer and an etched layer. One of the etched layers carries the mixer ring and input guides. The outer etched layer carries the output guide and the tuning members. The plate are joined by their earth planes and the mixer diodes are placed in the holes connecting the two etched faces.

Abstract: A microwave frequency converter is provided with a diode mixer bridge having a balanced port connected to a dual balun. The dual balun is provided by two pairs of balanced secondary conductors juxtaposed a common primary conductor, each pair contributing to the field between balanced conductors leading to the mixer bridge. The dual balun and microstrip circuit layout enable a wider gap to be used between the balanced conductors to the bridge, which enables manufacturably cost efficient implementation.

Abstract: A balun coupled microwave frequency converter is provided by a mixer using a single diode pair with one port balanced and the other port unbalanced. The balanced port is provided by first and second coplanar conductors extending toward a common area and juxtaposed in spaced parallel relation with a transmission line interacting therewith to couple a field balanced between the first and second conductors across the common area. The unbalanced port to the mixer is provided by a third conductor. The diode pair is connected in series between the first and second conductors, and a point between the diodes is connected to the third conductor. One implementation is an up converter with an LO and an IF signal applied on the third conductor and input to the mixer to generate an RF signal between the first and second conductors and hence an induced output RF signal on the transmission line.

Abstract: An improved broadband mixer includes a first balun (11) with a first signal port (12), a second balun (14) with a second signal port (15), a third balun (17) with a third signal port (18), and a frequency converter (19) coupled between the first, second, and baluns. The first balun means, which preferably receives an RF signal via said first signal port, includes two juxtaposed ground plane baluns 31 and 32 each having opposed, spaced, strip conductors in different planes. The second balun, which preferably receives an LO signal via the second signal port, has a coplanar balun (44) including three strip conductors in the same plane which in turn connects to two juxtaposed ground plane baluns (45 and 46) each having opposed, parallel spaced, strip conductors.

Abstract: A microwave integrated circuit (MIC) quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulator uses a novel arrangement of couplers to permit the IF ports to be adjacent one another so that, in mixer applications, it is unnecessary for the circuitry to leave the plane of the MIC. A symmetrical arrangement of the MIC ensures near-perfect phase orthogonality of the RF.sub.2 split and the power/phase identity of the RF.sub.1 split.

Abstract: A microwave frequency converter is provided by a single mixer of the diode-quad bridge type which circulates generated image frequency within the bridge. The bridge is connected between balun coupled RF microstrip conductors and unbalanced LO microstrip conductors. There is zero connection length between the diode pairs to reduce conversion loss by preventing a phase shift between the image frequencies. Mutual isolation is provided between the RF, LO and IF signals over a broad frequency range. In an alternate utilization, the converter accepts transposed RF and LO signals, for broader bandwidth operation. The circuit may also be implemented as an up converter.

Abstract: A double-balanced mixer circuit includes a diode ring, wherein each side of the diode ring is provided with a stripline to bypass high frequency signals.

Abstract: A radiated input mixer for converting a radio frequency (RF) signal into an intermediate frequency (IF) signal with the aid of a local oscillator (LO) signal includes, in combination, an antenna having balanced feed terminals, a diode quad, and a balun with balanced terminals orthogonally positioned with respect to the antenna terminals to provide a less complex and more efficient device of the type described than has heretofore been known in the art.

Abstract: A microwave integrated circuit (MIC) quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) demodulator uses a novel arrangement of couplers to permit the IF ports to be adjacent one another so that, in mixer applications, it is unnecessary for the circuitry to leave the plane of the MIC. A symmetrical arrangement of the MIC ensures near-perfect phase orthogonality of the RF.sub.2 split and the power/phase identity of the RF.sub.1 split.

Abstract: The invention is a cross-bar signal mixer suitable for low-cost high-yield mass production. The mixer configuration consists of a balanced planar taper section supported upon a dielectric substrate placed across the carrier and local oscillator wave guides perpendicular to the direction of electromagnetic energy propagation. Beam lead mixer diodes are connected across the feed-point of the taper section. The local oscillator energy is injected in transverse electric mode relation at the junction of the two mixer diodes, thereby effectively decoupling the local oscillator from the carrier signal input. The intermediate frequency energy is abstracted from the same point as the local oscillator energy is injected and is decoupled by a low-pass filter. The local oscillator and the intermediate frequency circuits are incorporated on the same planar substrate as the carrier signal circuit and are therefore not critical in design.

Abstract: The converter consists of a waveguide through which passes at right-angles a dielectric wafer for a microstrip. On each side of the waveguide this strip forms a microstrip line section. In the waveguide two chip diodes in series connecting the middles of the large walls of the guide have their common point connected to the strip.

Abstract: A microwave device is disclosed comprising a microstrip line pattern including an open ring forming a 1/2.lambda. resonator having a narrow gap in which the electromagnetic field is closely tied to the ring.

Abstract: A mixer circuit formed of a micro strip line for converting an input signal in SHF band into an intermediate frequency signal in UHF band is disclosed which includes an arch-shaped half-wavelength line having a length equal to one half of the wavelength of the input signal and a series circuit of two diodes connected between both ends of the half-wavelength line, and in which the input signal and a local oscillation signal are applied respectively to the junction point of the diodes and one end of the half-wavelength line, and the intermediate frequency signal is delivered from a given point on the half-wavelength line.

Abstract: A singly-balanced active mixer circuit is disclosed for developing an IF signal by combining an RF signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal. The RF and LO signals are applied to a strip transmission line ring which provides balanced components of the LO signal to a pair of active devices arranged in a singly-balanced active mixer. The active devices are coupled directly, or via a balanced PI-network to the primary winding of an output transformer for application to the following IF stage of the radio receiver. The singly balanced active mixer circuit may be advantageously utilized in a radio having a receiver with broadband front-end RF selectivity.