Chapter5 Mixer and VCO

MICROWAVE INTERGRATED CIRCUITS
Chapter 5
Mixer and Oscillator
Huynh Phu Minh Cuong

hpmcuong@hcmut.edu.vn
Department of Telecommunications
Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Ho Chi Minh city University of Technology
Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT
Mixer
What is a mixer
Frequency translation device
Convert RF frequency to a lower IF or base band for easy
signal processing in receivers
Convert base band signal or IF frequency to a higher IF or
RF frequency for efficient transmission in transmitters
Creative use of nonlinearity or time-variance

These are usually harmful and unwanted
They generates frequencies not present at input
Used together with appropriate filtering

Remove unwanted frequencies
An ideal nonlinearity mixer

If
x(t ) A cos 1t
x(t)y(t)
x(t)
y (t ) B cos 2t
y(t)
Then the output is
AB
AB
A cos 1t B cos 2t
cos(1 2 )t
cos(1 2 )t
2
2
down convert
up convert
Mixer
Mixer
Mixer
Mixer Fundamentals
Mixer
IF
RF
VRF
VIF = A IFcos( IF t)
LO
VLO = A LOcos(LO t)
A IFA LO
VRF =
cos(IF + LO ) + cos(IF - LO )
2
High sideband
Low sideband
Mixer
Mixers can be implemented using:
Nonlinear circuits
Commutating (switching) circuits.
VLO
Non-linear
component
V
VIF +VLO +-
I
RL
switching circuit
VRF
VRF
Switch
VIF +
-
RL
I = a 0 + a1V + a 2V2 + a 3V3 + S t 4 Cos(LO t) 4 Cos(3LO t) 4 Cos(5LO t) . . .
Mixer
Mixer
Mixer Metrics
Conversion gain lowers noise impact of following
stages
Noise Figure impacts receiver sensitivity
Port isolation want to minimize interaction between
the RF, IF, and LO ports
Linearity (IIP3) impacts receiver blocking
performance
Spurious response
Power match want max voltage gain rather than
power match for integrated designs
Power want low power dissipation
Sensitivity to process/temp variations need to make
it manufacturable in high volume
Mixer
Conversion Gain
Conversion gain or loss is the ratio of the desired IF
output (voltage or power) to the RF input signal
value ( voltage or power).
r.m.s. voltage of the IF signal
Voltage Conversion Gain
r.m.s. voltage of the RF signal
IF power delivered to the load

Power Conversion Gain
Available power from the source
If the input impedance and the load impedance of the mixer are
both equal to the source impedance, then the voltage conversion
gain and the power conversion gain of the mixer will be the
same in dBs.
Mixer
Port-to-Port Isolations
Isolation
Isolation between RF, LO and IF ports

LO/RF and LO/IF isolations are the most important
features.
Reducing LO leakage to other ports can be solved
by filtering.
IF
RF
LO
Mixer
12
Mixer
LO Feed through
Feed through from the LO port to IF output port due to

parasitic capacitance, power supply coupling, etc.
Often significant due to strong LO output signal
If large, can potentially desensitize the receiver due to the extra
dynamic range consumed at the IF output
If small, can generally be removed by filter at IF output
Mixer
Reverse LO Feed through
Reverse feed through from the LO port to RF input

port due to parasitic capacitance, etc.
If large, and LNA doesnt provide adequate isolation, then
LO energy can leak out of antenna and violate emission
standards for radio
Must insure that isolation to antenna is adequate
Self-Mixing of Reverse LO Feedthrough
LO component in the RF input can pass back through

the mixer and be modulated by the LO signal
DC and 2fo component created at IF output
Of no consequence for a heterodyne system, but can cause
problems for homodyne systems (i.e., zero IF)
Mixer
Noise Figures: SSB vs DSB

NF =
SNR RF
SNR IF
Signal
band
Signal
band
Image
band
Thermal
noise
Thermal
noise
LO
LO
IF
Single side band
Double side band
Mixer
SSB Noise Figure
Broadband noise from mixer or front end filter will be located

in both image and desired bands
Noise from both image and desired bands will combine in
desired channel at IF output
Channel filter cannot remove this
Mixer
DSB Noise Figure
For zero IF, there is no image band

Noise from positive and negative frequencies combine, but the signals
combine as well
DSB noise figure is 3 dB lower than SSB noise figure

DSB noise figure often quoted since it sounds better
Mixer
Mixer Classification
Diode MOSFET
Active - Passive
Single-balanced Double-Balanced
Discrete implementations:
Single-diode and diode-ring mixers
IC implementations:
MOSFET passive mixer

Active mixers
Gilbert-cell based mixer
Square law mixer
Sub-sampling mixer
Harmonic mixer
Mixer
Single-Ended Diode Mixer
20
Mixer
Single-Ended FET Mixer
I ds Iss. VGS VT
21
Mixer
Single-Ended FET Mixer
VDD
IF Filter
Cmatch
RL
VBB2
RS
Cl arg e
Lg
I ds K SQ . VGSQ VT 0
RLO
Rb
VRF
VBB1
Cl arg e
Matching
Network
Le
MOSFET Mixer (with impedance matching)

VLO
22
Mixer
23
Mixer
24
Mixer
25
Mixer
Adding these two currents at the input to the low-pass filter gives
Note that the DC components of the diode currents cancel upon

combining. After low-pass filtering, the IF output is
26
Mixer
Single-Balanced Active Mixer
RL
RL
VLO
M2
Vout
M3
VLO
I DC I RF
VRF
M1
The transistor M1 converts the RF voltage signal to the current signal.
I1 = I DC + I1,RF = I DC + g m .VRF
Transistors M2 and M3 commute the current between the two branches.
The mixing operation of the mixer is performed by turning on and off two transistors
Q2 and Q3 in the switching stage using the large LO signal, VLO. The LO signal can be a
square wave or sinusoidal signal.
27
Mixer
VLO
M2
VIF = -RL(IDC + gmVRF) , VLO > 0
RL
RL
+ Vout -
M3
VIF = RL(IDC + gmVRF) , VLO < 0
VLO
It is observed that the IF signal is obtained

from toggling the signal term RL(IDC+gmVRF)
between positive and negative values. This is
equivalent to multiplying the term
RL(IDC+gmVRFF) with a bipolar square wave
S(t) having the amplitude of 1 and frequency
of fLO.
I DC I RF
VRF
S(t)
M1
The IF output signal is then

expressed as
1/FLO
+1
t
-1
VIF (t) = RL(IDC + gmVRF)S(t)
28
Mixer
S(t)
1/FLO
+1
In form of Fourier series, S(t) is expressed as

4
4
4
S t Cos(LO t) Cos(3LO t) Cos(5LO t) . . .
3
5
-1
Then, VIF(t) is expressed as

VRF(t) = RL(I0 + GmVIF)
4
4
4
Cos(
t)
Cos(3
t)
Cos(5
t)
.
.
.
LO
LO
LO
3
5
With the first harmonic LO mixing, the fundamental component of S(t) is considered.
VIF (t) R L
4
I DC gmARFCos(RFt) Cos(LO t)
VIF (t) I DC R L
4
2g R A
2G m R L A RF
Cos(LO t) m L RF Cos(LO RF t)
Cos(LO RF t)
Gain:
2g m R L
Av =
Disadvantage:
LO feedthrough
29
Mixer
Double Balanced Mixer Gilbert Mixer

RL
VLO
M2
VRF
RL
VOUT
M3
I DC I RF
VLO
M2
VRF
M3
I DC I RF
Strong LO-IF feed suppressed by double balanced mixer.

All the even harmonics cancelled.
All the odd harmonics doubled (including the signal).
VLO
Mixer
Double Balanced Mixer Gilbert Mixer

VDD
I1 =I 0 +G m
RL
VRF-
Q4
Q3
LO+
V IF
m
LO-
I 2 = I 0 -G
Q1
VIF+
VIF R L (I 2 -I1 ) g m R LVRF
Q6
Q5
LO+
I1 = I 0 + G
VIF
I 2 =I0 -G m
2
RL
VRF+
Q2
Ze
Ze
2I0
VRF (t)
VIF
2
V IF
m
VIF R L (I1 -I2 ) gm R LVRF
, VLO > 0
, VLO < 0
VIF-
VRF (t)
VRF (t) G m R LVIF (t)S(t)

4
G m R L AIFCos(IF t)Cos(LO t)
2G m R LA IF
2G m R LA IF
Cos(LO IF t)
Cos(LO IF t)
31
Oscillator
Introduction
RF and microwave oscillators provide signal sources for frequency
conversion and carrier generation.
A solid-state oscillator uses an active nonlinear device, such as a diode
or transistor, in conjunction with a passive circuit to convert DC to a
sinusoidal steady-state RF signal.
Diodes or transistors are biased to provide a negative resistance then are
used with resonators using cavity, transmission line, or dielectric to
produce oscillations.
Frequency multipliers, in conjunction with a lower frequency source,
can be used to produce power at millimeter wave frequencies.
Because of the requirement of a nonlinear active device, the rigorous
analysis and design of oscillator circuits can be difficult, and is usually
carried out today with sophisticated CAD tools.
At startup, oscillation is triggered by transient or noise and then it
reaches a stable oscillation state.
32
Oscillator
Introduction
Important considerations for oscillators used in RF and
microwave systems :
Tuning range (specified in MHz/V for voltage-tuned
oscillators)
Frequency stability (specified in PPM/C) ppm: partsper million, typical 2 ~ 0.5 PPM/oC
Phase noise (specified in dBc/Hz below carrier, offset
from carrier), typical 80 ~ -110 dBc/Hz @ 10 KHz offset
Harmonics (specified in dBc below carrier)
33
Oscillator
Various types of RF oscillators: Hartley, Colpitts, Clapp, and
Pierce, using transistor and a feed back network.
Focus on MICROWAVE OSCILLATORS
34
Oscillator
35
Oscillator
36
Oscillator
The process of oscillation is critically dependent on the nonlinear behavior of Zin, as follows.
37
Oscillator
Oscillation stability requires that any variation in current or frequency will be
damped out, allowing the oscillator to return to its original state.
38
Oscillator
39
Oscillator
40
Oscillator
41
Oscillator
42
Oscillator
43
Oscillator
44
Oscillator
45
Oscillator
46
Oscillator
47
Oscillator
48
Oscillator
49
Oscillator
50
Oscillator
51
Oscillator
52
Oscillator
53

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Chapter5 Mixer and VCO

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MICROWAVE INTERGRATED CIRCUITS

Mixer and Oscillator

Huynh Phu Minh Cuong

Creative use of nonlinearity or time-variance

Used together with appropriate filtering

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

An ideal nonlinearity mixer

Then the output is

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Mixers can be implemented using:

I = a 0 + a1V + a 2V2 + a 3V3 + S t 4 Cos(LO t) 4 Cos(3LO t) 4 Cos(5LO t) . . .

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

IF power delivered to the load

Isolation between RF, LO and IF ports

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Feed through from the LO port to IF output port due to

Reverse LO Feed through

Reverse feed through from the LO port to RF input

Self-Mixing of Reverse LO Feedthrough

LO component in the RF input can pass back through

Noise Figures: SSB vs DSB

Single side band

Double side band

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

SSB Noise Figure

Broadband noise from mixer or front end filter will be located

DSB Noise Figure

For zero IF, there is no image band

DSB noise figure is 3 dB lower than SSB noise figure

MOSFET passive mixer

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

MOSFET Mixer (with impedance matching)

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Note that the DC components of the diode currents cancel upon

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

The transistor M1 converts the RF voltage signal to the current signal.

VIF = -RL(IDC + gmVRF) , VLO > 0

VIF = RL(IDC + gmVRF) , VLO < 0

It is observed that the IF signal is obtained

The IF output signal is then

VIF (t) = RL(IDC + gmVRF)S(t)

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

In form of Fourier series, S(t) is expressed as

Then, VIF(t) is expressed as

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Double Balanced Mixer Gilbert Mixer

Strong LO-IF feed suppressed by double balanced mixer.

Double Balanced Mixer Gilbert Mixer

VIF R L (I 2 -I1 ) g m R LVRF

VIF R L (I1 -I2 ) gm R LVRF

VRF (t) G m R LVIF (t)S(t)

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT

Dr. Cuong HuynhTelecommunications DepartmentHCMUT