Balun coupled microwave frequency converter with single pair of diodes

A balun coupled frequency converter having a diode pair mixer comprising, in combination:

• first and second balanced conductors extending toward a common area;
• a transmission line situated adjacent said first and second conductors for at least a portion of the length of each of said first and second conductors for interacting therewith to electromagnetically balun couple a field balanced between said first and second conductors across said common area;
• a third conductor adjacent said common area;
• and
• diode mixer means having a single pair of diodes interconnecting said first, second and third conductors for heterodyne modulation product signal generation.

A balun coupled frequency converter comprising, in combination:

• ground plane means;
• first and second conductors extending from said ground plane means toward a common area;
• a transmission line situated adjacent said first and second conductors for at least a portion of the length of each of said first and second conductors for interacting therewith to electromagnetically balun couple a field between said first and second conductors across said common area;
• a third conductor adjacent said common area;
• and
• diode mixer means having a single pair of diodes interconnecting said first, second and third conductors for heterodyne modulation product signal generation and isolating signal on said first and second conductors from signals on said third conductor.

A balun coupled frequency converter comprising, in combination:

• a planar dielectric substrate;
• ground plane means on said substrate;
• first and second conductors on one side of said substrate extending from said ground plane means toward a common area;
• a transmission line on the other side of said substrate situated adjacent said first and second conductors for at least a portion of the length of each of said first and second conductors for electromagnetically interacting therewith to balun couple a field balanced between said first and second conductors across said common area;
• a third unbalanced conductor on said substrate adjacent said common area;
• and
• diode mixer means having a pair of diodes interconnecting said first, second and third conductors for heterodyne modulation product signal generation.

A balun coupled frequency converter comprising, in combination:

• a dielectric substrate of low relative dielectric constant substantially less than 9;
• ground plane means on said substrate;
• first and second conductors on said substrate extending from said ground plane means toward a common area;
• a transmission line on said substrate situated adjacent said first and second conductors for at least a portion of the length of each of said first and second conductors for interacting therewith to electromagnetically balun couple a field balanced between said first and second conductors across said common area;
• a third conductor on said substrate adjacent said common area;
• and
• diode mixer means having a pair of diodes interconnecting said first, second and third conductors for heterodyne modulation product signal generation.