Wideband frequency converter

A method of operating a frequency converter, comprising:

• outputting, by a first switch, a first input signal to either (i) a first output terminal of the first switch, in response to a controller indicating that a frequency of the first input signal is not to be changed by the frequency converter, or (ii) a second output terminal of the first switch, in response to the controller indicating that the frequency of the first input signal is to be changed by the frequency converter;
• in response to the controller indicating that the frequency of the first input signal is to be changed, mixing the first input signal with a second input signal to generate a modified input signal;
• filtering the modified input signal using a filter circuit comprising a plurality of programmable filters, to output a filtered signal;
• receiving, at a second switch, (i) the filtered signal from the filter circuit, and (ii) an output from the first output terminal of the first switch;
• and
• outputting, by the second switch, one of (i) the filtered signal from the filter circuit, or (ii) the output from the first output terminal of the first switch.

An apparatus for converting frequency of signals, comprising:

• a first switch having (i) a first input terminal, (ii) a first output terminal, and (iii) a second output terminal;
• a mixer circuit coupled to the second output terminal of the first switch;
• a filter circuit comprising (i) a plurality of high-pass filters arranged in parallel, and (ii) a plurality of low-pass filters arranged in parallel, wherein each high and law pass filter has a corresponding plurality of operation states, such that each state of a high-pass or low-pass filter is associated with a corresponding passband;
• and
• a second switch having (i) a second input terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the first switch, (ii) a third input terminal coupled to an output of the filter circuit, and (iii) a third output terminal.