High dynamic range mixer

A singularly-balanced mixer comprising:

• a transformer having a first, a second and a third winding;
• a variable conductance element connected to an end of said first and the beginning of said second winding, each said first and second windings having an end unconnected to said variable conductance element;
• first port means comprising means to control the conductance of said variable conductance element;
• second port means comprising said third winding of said transformer;
• and
• third port means comprising the unconnected ends of said first and second winding.

A doubly-balanced mixer comprising:

• a transformer having a first winding, a second winding and a third winding wherein said first and second windings comprise split windings each having isolated first and second portions;
• a pair of variable conductance elements, the first being connected to a beginning and an end of different portions of the first winding of said transformer and the second variable conductance element being connected to a beginning and end of different portions of said second winding, said variable conductance elements being oppositely excited so as to produce a decrease in conductance in one of said pair while increasing the conductance in the other of said pair;
• first port input means comprising means to oppositely excite said variable conductance pair;
• second port means comprising said third winding of said transformer;
• and
• third port means having two terminals, the first terminal being connected to an unconnected end of one portion of said first winding and to an unconnected end of one portion of said second winding of said transformer, the second terminal being connected to an unconnected end of the other portion of said first winding and to an unconnected end of the other portion of said second winding.