RF frequency multiplier without balun

An integrated circuit transmitter and/or receiver including a signal path including at least one of a receiver path Rx or a transmitter path Tx, the signal path including at least one frequency mixer circuit configured to shift signals from a first frequency range to a second frequency range, wherein at least one frequency mixer circuit includes:

• (a) an input configured to receive an applied lower frequency base oscillator signal having a first phase;
• (b) a first complementary frequency multiplier module coupled to the input and configured to generate a first output signal at a higher frequency than the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, the first complementary frequency multiplier module including:
• (1) an N-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a drain configured to be coupled to a first voltage potential, and a source;
• (2) a P-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a source configured to be coupled to the first voltage potential, and a drain;
• and
• (3) a first amplifier including a source coupled to the source of the N-type transistor and to the drain of the P-type transistor, and including a drain;
• and
• (c) a second complementary frequency multiplier module coupled to the input and configured to generate a second output signal at a higher frequency than the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, the second complementary frequency multiplier module including:
• (1) an N-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a source configured to be coupled to a second voltage potential, and a drain;
• (2) a P-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a drain configured to be coupled to the second voltage potential, and a source;
• and
• (3) a second amplifier including a source coupled to the drain of the N-type transistor and to the source of the P-type transistor, and including a drain;
• (d) a parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit including a first input coupled to the drain of the first amplifier to receive the first output signal and a second input coupled to the drain of the second amplifier to receive the second output signal, the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit being configured to provide a high impedance to the frequency of the first and second output signals and a low impedance at other frequencies, to provide a DC short between the first and second complementary frequency multiplier modules, to output the first and second output signals as balanced first and second output signals having opposite phasing, and to provide a ground return path to circuit ground for current from intermediate frequencies applied to the first and second inputs of the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit;
• and
• (e) a mixer core having a first input node coupled without a balun to the first output and the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit, and a second input node coupled without a balun to the second output and the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit.

A radio frequency mixer driver circuit, including:

• (a) an input configured to receive an unbalanced applied lower frequency base oscillator signal;
• (b) a first complementary frequency multiplier module coupled to the input and configured to generate a first output signal at a higher frequency than the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, the first complementary frequency multiplier module including:
• (1) an N-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a drain configured to be coupled to a first voltage potential, and a source;
• (2) a P-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a source configured to be coupled to the first voltage potential, and a drain;
• and
• (3) a first amplifier including a source coupled to the source of the N-type transistor and to the drain of the P-type transistor, and including a drain;
• (c) a second complementary frequency multiplier module coupled to the input and configured to generate a second output signal at a higher frequency than the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, the second complementary frequency multiplier module including:
• (1) an N-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a source configured to be coupled to a second voltage potential, and a drain;
• (2) a P-type transistor including a gate controlled by the applied lower frequency base oscillator signal, a drain configured to be coupled to the second voltage potential, and a source;
• and
• (3) a second amplifier including a source coupled to the drain of the N-type transistor and to the source of the P-type transistor, and including a drain;
• and
• (d) a parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit including:
• (1) a first input coupled to the drain of the first amplifier to receive the first output signal;
• (2) a second input coupled to the drain of the second amplifier to receive the second output signal;
• (3) a first inductor and a second inductor series coupled between the first input and the second input of the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit;
• (4) a capacitor coupled between the first input and the second input of the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit and in parallel with the first and a second inductors;
• and
• (5) a shunt capacitor coupled between circuit ground and a node between the first and a second inductors;
• wherein the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit is configured to filter out harmonic frequencies from the first and second output signals, to provide a DC short between the first and second complementary frequency multiplier modules, to output the first and second output signals as balanced first and second output signals having opposite phasing, and to provide a ground return path to circuit ground for current from intermediate frequencies applied to the first and second inputs of the parallel resonant filter/coupling circuit.