Broadband balanced frequency converter
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorDaniel Gunyan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”) in signal communication with a frequency source is disclosed. The BBFC may include a mixer and an active balancing element in signal communication with the mixer.
Claims17
A broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”) in signal communication with a frequency source, the BBFC comprising:
- a mixer;
- an active balancing element in signal communication with the mixer, wherein the active balancing element drives the mixer in a balanced mode with the frequency source;
- a power splitting device in signal communication with the active balancing element and the frequency source, wherein the power splitting device receives a frequency reference signal from the frequency source and in response splits the frequency reference signal into a plurality of split frequency signals, wherein a first split frequency reference signal of the plurality of split frequency signals is passed to the active balancing element;
- a second mixer;
- and
- a second active balancing element in signal communication with both the second mixer and power splitting device, wherein the second active balancing element receives a second frequency reference signal from the plurality of split frequency signals and in response drives the second mixer in a balanced mode.
A method for up-converting a low-frequency input signal to a broadband output signal with a broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”), the method comprising:
- creating a balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a frequency reference signal from a frequency source with an active balancing element;
- mixing the balanced frequency reference signal with the low-frequency input signal to produce the broadband output signal splitting the frequency reference signal into a plurality of split frequency signals, wherein a first split frequency reference signal of the plurality of split frequency signals is balanced to create the balanced frequency reference signal;
- creating a second balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a second frequency reference signal from the plurality of split frequency signals with a second active balancing element;
- and
- mixing the second balanced frequency reference signal with another low-frequency input signal to produce another broadband output signal.
A method for down-converting a high-frequency input signal to a low-frequency output signal with a broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”), the method comprising:
- creating a balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a frequency reference signal from a frequency source with an active balancing element;
- mixing the balanced frequency reference signal with the high-frequency input signal to produce the low-frequency output signal;
- splitting the frequency reference signal into a plurality of split frequency signals, wherein a first split frequency reference signal of the plurality of split frequency signals is balanced to create the balanced frequency reference signal;
- creating a second balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a second frequency reference signal from the plurality of split frequency signals with a second active balancing element;
- and
- mixing the second balanced frequency reference signal with another high-frequency input signal to produce another low-frequency output signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.