Bidirectional frequency translator and full duplex transceiver system employing same

A frequency translator apparatus including:

• a) a mixer having a low frequency port and a high frequency port, and being operable to:
• i) receive a transmit signal at said low frequency port and up-convert said transmit signal to produce an up-converted transmit signal at said high frequency port, while
• ii) receiving a receive signal at said high frequency port and down-converting said receive signal to produce a down-converted receive signal at said low frequency port;
• b) a duplexer for injecting said receive signal at said high frequency port while extracting said up-converted transmit signal from said high frequency port.

A communication system comprising:

• a) a first radio having a first frequency translator apparatus including:
• i) a first mixer having a first low frequency port and a first high frequency port, and being operable to:
• receive a first transmit signal at said first low frequency port and up-convert said first transmit signal to produce an up-converted first transmit signal at said first high frequency port, while
• receiving a first receive signal at said first high frequency port and down-converting said first receive signal to produce a down-converted first receive signal at said first low frequency port;
• and
• ii) a first duplexer for injecting said first receive signal at said first high frequency port while extracting said up-converted first transmit signal from said first high frequency port.

A frequency translator apparatus including:

• a) a mixer having a low frequency port and a high frequency port, and being operable to:
• i) receive a transmit signal at said low frequency port and up-convert said transmit signal to produce an up-converted transmit signal at said high frequency port, while
• ii) receiving a receive signal at said high frequency port and down-converting said receive signal to produce a down-converted receive signal at said low frequency port;
• and
• b) means for injecting said receive signal at said high frequency port while extracting said up-converted transmit signal from said high frequency port.