Microwave Mixers

Vinay B. Narayane
Ph.D. Student,
Electrical Engineering Department, IIT Bombay
vinaynarayane21@gmail.com

Supervisor: Prof. Girish Kumar

Electrical Engineering Department, IIT Bombay
gkumar@ee.iitb.ac.in, prof.gkumar@gmail.com
(022) 2576 7436
 Mixer: Introduction
RF Receiver Chain

𝑓𝑅𝐹 RF
𝑓𝑅𝐹 𝑓𝐼𝐹 Channel Display
Mixer Select Amplifier Demodulator device/
Amplifier Filter speaker

LO

𝑓𝑅𝐹
GSM 𝑓𝑅𝐹 ~ 900 𝑀𝐻𝑧 ∆𝑓~ 200 𝑘𝐻𝑧 𝑄𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = = 4500
∆𝑓
𝑓𝐼𝐹 ~ 76.8 𝑀𝐻𝑧 𝑓𝐼𝐹
𝑄𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = = 384
∆𝑓

Mixer Device used to translate a signal from one frequency to another

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 2
 Mixer Ports

RF IF
0 𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓1 0 𝑓 −𝑓 𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓2 + 𝑓1
2 1

LO 𝑓2 Ideal Mixer Output

Upconversion Mixer
Input signal at IF port, Output at RF port 𝑓𝑅𝐹 = 𝑓𝐿𝑂 +𝑓𝐼𝐹
Downconversion Mixer
Input signal at RF port, Output at IF port 𝑓𝐼𝐹 = 𝑓𝐿𝑂 −𝑓𝑅𝐹
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 3
 Image Frequency
Example: Downconversion Mixer 𝑓𝑅𝐹 = 900 𝑀𝐻𝑧, 𝑓𝐼𝐹 = 76.8 𝑀𝐻𝑧, 𝑓𝐿𝑂 =?

𝑓𝐿𝑂 = 𝑓𝑅𝐹 ± 𝑓𝐼𝐹 → 𝑓𝐿𝑂 = 900 + 76.8 = 976.8 𝑀𝐻𝑧

𝑓𝐿𝑂 > 𝑓𝑅𝐹 Superheterodyne downconversion

′
For 𝑓𝑅𝐹 = 1053.6 𝑀𝐻𝑧, 𝑓𝐼𝐹 = 𝑓𝐿𝑂 − 𝑓𝑅𝐹 = 76.8 𝑀𝐻𝑧

′
0 𝑓𝑅𝐹 𝑓𝐿𝑂 𝑓𝑅𝐹 𝑓𝐼𝐹 𝑓𝑅𝐹 𝑓𝐿𝑂

Image Frequency
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 4
 Mixer Implementation
?
𝑉1 𝑡 = 𝐴1 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 , 𝑉2 𝑡 = 𝐴2 cos 𝜔2 𝑡 → 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡 ⇒ 𝜔1 − 𝜔2 , 𝜔1 + 𝜔2
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡 = 𝑉1 𝑡 . 𝑉2 𝑡 = 𝐴1 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 . 𝐴2 cos 𝜔2 𝑡
1 1
= ( 𝐴1 . 𝐴2 ) cos 𝜔1 − 𝜔2 𝑡 + ( 𝐴1 . 𝐴2 ) cos 𝜔1 + 𝜔2 𝑡
2 2

Mixer ≡ Multiplier

Mixing using non-linear transfer function Mixing using switching devices

Two tone Two tone 𝜔1 − 𝜔2

Non-linear 𝜔1 − 𝜔2 Linear Time
signal signal
Transfer Function 𝜔1 + 𝜔2 𝜔1 , 𝜔2 Variant System 𝜔1 + 𝜔2
𝜔1 , 𝜔2

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 5

 Mixer Implementation: Using Non-linearity
𝑣1 (𝑡)
Diode / BJT 𝑣𝑖 (𝑡)
𝑖𝑜 𝑡 = 𝑘𝑒 𝑛𝑣𝑇
𝑣2 (𝑡) + Device
Non-linear 𝑖𝑜 𝑡
𝑣𝑖
Device Series Expansion
-

𝑖𝑜 𝑡 = 𝐼0 + 𝑎𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑏[𝑣𝑖 𝑡 ]2 + 𝑐[𝑣𝑖 𝑡 ]3 + ⋯

𝑣𝑖 𝑡 = 𝑣1 𝑡 + 𝑣2 (𝑡) = 𝑘1 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 + 𝑘2 cos 𝜔2 𝑡

𝑖𝑜 𝑡 =
𝐼0 + 𝑘1 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 + 𝑘2 cos 𝜔2 𝑡 + 𝑏𝑘1 2 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑘2 2 cos 𝜔2 𝑡 2 + 2𝑏𝑘1 𝑘2 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 . cos 𝜔2 𝑡 + ⋯
DC + 2nd Harmonics of Input Desired Mixing
DC Input frequencies
frequencies
Desired mixing component is selected by filtering the output
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 6
Mixer Implementation: Using Switching devices
𝑣2
𝜔2 , 3𝜔2 , 5𝜔2 , …
𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑡) = 𝑣1 (𝑡), when switch is on
𝑣1 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡
= 0, when switch is off
𝜔1
𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑡) = 𝑣1 (𝑡). 𝑣2 (𝑡)
Diode or FET
𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡
⇓
𝐾1 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 . cos 𝜔2 𝑡 + 𝐾2 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 . cos 3𝜔2 𝑡 + 𝐾3 cos 𝜔1 𝑡 . cos 5𝜔2 𝑡 + ⋯
Desired Mixing Mixing with harmonics of 𝜔2
Desired mixing component is selected by filtering the output
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 7
 Mixer Non-idealities
Conversion Gain/Loss Spurious Response

(−4, 3) (−2, 3)
Noise Figure

𝜔 𝜔
𝜔1 𝜔2 0 𝜔1 𝜔2 2𝜔1 2𝜔2
𝜔2 − 𝜔1 2𝜔1 − 𝜔2 𝜔2 + 𝜔1
(1, 1)
Port-to-Port (−1, 1) (2, −1) 2𝜔2 − 𝜔1
Isolation (−1, 2)
𝜔
𝜔1 𝜔2 Linearity

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 8

 Conversion Gain
Operating Frequency Range
Depends on the devices (diodes, transistors) and components used in mixer circuit

Conversion Gain
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝐼𝐹)
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐺𝑎𝑖𝑛( 𝑜𝑟 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠) =
𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 (𝑅𝐹)
𝑓𝑅𝐹 𝑓𝐼𝐹
(𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑
𝑓𝐿𝑂 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑥. 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟)

Conversion gain [dB] = Output IF power delivered to the load [dBm]– RF input power [dBm]

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 9

 Port-to-port Isolation
Port-to-port Isolation RF-IF LO-RF LO-IF

More significant
RF IF

LNA IF Amp
LO

Inadequate LO-RF isolation Reduction in dynamic range of the LNA

Interference to other communication channel

Saturation of subsequent Highly selective

Inadequate LO-IF isolation
IF amplifier IF filter required
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 10
 Noise Figure
𝑆𝑁𝑅𝑖𝑛
Noise Figure 𝑁𝐹 = Passive Mixer: NF = Insertion Loss
𝑆𝑁𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑡
Noise Figure → Noise added by mixer devices and components + Noise
added due to conversion process

Single Side Band (SSB) NF Double Side Band (DSB) NF

RF signal present on only one side of LO RF signal present on both sides of LO in
𝜔𝐿𝑂 Image noise 𝜔𝐿𝑂
In-band noise In-band noise
Noise level
𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝜔𝐼𝐹 𝜔𝑅𝐹 0
𝜔𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒

𝑁𝐹𝑆𝑆𝐵 = 2 × 𝑁𝐹𝐷𝑆𝐵 𝑁𝐹𝑆𝑆𝐵 𝑑𝐵 = 𝑁𝐹𝐷𝑆𝐵 𝑑𝐵 + 3 𝑑𝐵

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 11
 Linearity
Linearity Diodes or Nonlinear Distortion at output above certain input
Transistors Devices power levels or for multi-tone input signal

Mixer is linear as long as RF (input) 1-dB compression point (𝑃1𝑑𝐵 ),

signal is very small compared to the
LO signal

How small?

High 𝑃1𝑑𝐵 ⇒ High Linearity ⇒ Better Mixer

Image Source: http://www.markimicrowave.com/assets/appnotes/mixer_basics_primer.pdf
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 12
 Linearity (Contd.)
Linearity Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) Third order input intercept point
(IIP3)/Third order intercept (TOI)
Two tone intermodulation

High IP3 ⇒ High Linearity ⇒ Better Mixer

Image Source: http://www.markimicrowave.com/assets/appnotes/mixer_basics_primer.pdf
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 13
 Spurious Response
Spurious Response General Mixer Equation
𝑓𝐼𝐹 = 𝑚𝑓𝑅𝐹 + 𝑛𝑓𝐿𝑂

Strong RF interference Harmonics of input RF signal mix

signal at input of mixer with harmonics of LO signal

Low order mixing Strong interferer 𝑓𝐼𝐹 close to desired

(low values of m and n) close to RF band IF band

Example: 𝑓𝑅𝐹 = 2.4 𝐺𝐻𝑧, 𝑓𝐿𝑂 = 3 𝐺𝐻𝑧, 𝑓𝐼𝐹 = 600 𝑀𝐻𝑧

𝑚, 𝑛 = (4, −3) → 4𝑓𝑅𝐹 − 3𝑓𝐿𝑂 = 4 × 2.4 − 3 × 3 = 600 𝑀𝐻𝑧 Same as the IF

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 14

 Mixer Fundamentals: Review
Downconversion Upconversion
RF IF
0 𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓1 0 𝑓 −𝑓 𝑓1 𝑓2 𝑓2 + 𝑓1
2 1

LO 𝑓2

Diode, BJT, FET

(−4, 3) (−2, 3)
Conversion Gain/Loss
Port-to-Port Isolation 𝜔
0 𝜔1 𝜔2 2𝜔1
Noise Figure 2𝜔2
𝜔2 − 𝜔1 2𝜔1 − 𝜔2 𝜔2 + 𝜔1
Linearity (−1, 1)
(1, 1)
(2, −1) 2𝜔2 − 𝜔1
Spurious Response (−1, 2)
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 15
 Mixer Circuits

 Single Ended Mixers

 Single Balanced Mixers
 Double Balanced Mixers
 Sub-harmonically Pumped Mixers
 Image Reject Mixers

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 16

 Mixer Devices: Diodes
𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝐷 Diode conductance
𝜕𝐼𝐷 (𝑡)
𝑔 𝑡 =
𝜕𝑉𝐷 (𝑡)
Schottky
Diode Fundamental freq.
𝜔𝐿𝑂

𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝑉𝐷

Small Signal 𝑐 𝑡 𝑔 𝑡
Model 𝑖𝐼𝐹 (𝑡) = 𝑔(𝑡). 𝑣𝑅𝐹 (𝑡) Used in
𝑅𝑠 𝜔𝐿𝑂 − 𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝜔𝐿𝑂 , … 𝜔𝑅𝐹 Passive Mixers
𝜔𝐿𝑂 + 𝜔𝑅𝐹
17
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay
 Mixer Devices: FET
𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝐷 Transconductance
D 𝐼𝐷 𝜕𝐼𝐷 (𝑡)
𝑔𝑚 𝑡 =
G 𝜕𝑉𝐺𝑆 (𝑡)
+ Fundamental freq.
𝑉𝐺𝑆 S 𝜔𝐿𝑂
−
𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝐶𝑔𝑑 𝑡 𝑉𝐺𝑆
𝑅𝑔 𝑅𝑑

𝐶𝑔𝑠 𝑡 𝑅𝑑𝑠 𝑡
𝑔𝑚 𝑡 𝑣𝑔𝑠 𝑡 𝑖𝑑 (𝑡) = 𝑔𝑚 𝑡 𝑣𝑔𝑠 𝑡 Used in
𝜔𝐿𝑂 − 𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝜔𝐿𝑂 , … 𝜔𝑅𝐹 Passive and
Small Signal 𝑅𝑠
𝜔𝐿𝑂 + 𝜔𝑅𝐹 Active Mixers
Model
18
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay
 Single Device Mixers: Using Diode

𝑣𝑖 𝑡 = 𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑡 + 𝑣𝐿𝑂 (𝑡)

= 𝐴𝑅𝐹 cos 𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝑡 + 𝐴𝐿𝑂 cos 𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝑡 Image Source: D.M. Pozar, ‘Microwave Engineering’, p.642

𝑖𝐼𝐹 𝑡 = 𝐼0 + 𝑎𝑣𝑖 𝑡 + 𝑏[𝑣𝑖 𝑡 ]2 + 𝑐[𝑣𝑖 𝑡 ]3 + ⋯

𝑖𝐼𝐹 𝑡 = 𝑏𝐴𝑅𝐹 𝐴𝐿𝑂 cos 𝜔𝑅𝐹 − 𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝑡
𝑏𝐴𝑅𝐹 𝐴𝐿𝑂 ×𝑅𝐿
Conversion Loss= = 𝑏𝐴𝐿𝑂 𝑅𝐿 Depends on LO power level
𝐴𝑅𝐹
Port-to-port Isolation Depends on diplexer, IF filter
Noise Figure & Intermodulation Response Depend on diode characteristics
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 19
 Single Device Mixers: Using FETs
Single Ended Mixer using FET Single Ended Mixer using Dual-gate
MOSFET
IF
Load Square law devices Better linearity IF
Load

RF LO
Source
LO

RF
Source

Conversion gain & LO-RF isolation Improved LO-RF isolation

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 20
 Single Balanced Mixer
1:2 𝐷1
𝐷1
+ If the center tap is
𝑅𝑆 𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑣𝐼𝐹
𝑣𝑅𝐹 ideal 𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑣𝐼𝐹
𝑣𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑠 − 𝑅𝐿
𝐷2 𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐿
𝑣𝐿𝑂 𝐷2
𝑣𝐿𝑂

𝐿𝑂 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 ≫ 𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑝(𝑡)

𝑣𝐿𝑂 > 0 𝑇 = 1/𝑓𝐿𝑂
+1
𝑣𝐿𝑂 > 0 ⇒ 𝐷1 𝑖𝑠 𝑂𝑁 𝑣𝐼𝐹 = 𝑣𝐿𝑂 + 𝑣𝑅𝐹
𝑡
𝑣𝐿𝑂 < 0 ⇒ 𝐷2 𝑖𝑠 𝑂𝑁 𝑣𝐼𝐹 = 𝑣𝐿𝑂 − 𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑇 2𝑇
−1
𝑣𝐼𝐹 = 𝑣𝐿𝑂 + 𝑣𝑅𝐹 . 𝑝(𝑡) 𝑣𝐿𝑂 < 0

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 21

 Single Balanced Mixer (Contd.)
∞ ∞
4 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝑛 + 1)𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝑡 4 cos(2𝑛 + 1)𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝑡 × cos(𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝑡)
𝑝 𝑡 = 𝑣𝑅𝐹 . 𝑝 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑅𝐹
𝜋 2𝑛 + 1 𝜋 2𝑛 + 1
𝑛=0 𝑛=0

𝑣𝐼𝐹 = 𝑣𝐿𝑂 + 𝑣𝑅𝐹 . 𝑝(𝑡)

𝑣𝐼𝐹 (𝑡)
∞
2𝐴𝑅𝐹 cos [ 2𝑛 + 1 𝜔𝐿𝑂 − 𝜔𝑅𝐹 ]𝑡 + cos [ 2𝑛 + 1 𝜔𝐿𝑂 + 𝜔𝑅𝐹 ]𝑡
= 𝐴𝐿𝑂 cos(𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝑡) +
𝜋 2𝑛 + 1
𝑛=0

Mixer output does not contain RF signal, however LO

signal appears in the output
n = 0 : desired sum and difference frequencies, n > 0: Spurious mixing products

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 22

 Single Balanced Mixer using Hybrid Coupler
𝑖1
∑
RF 3
2 1800 Hybrid
IF
LPF/BPF
4 Coupler 1
LO
∆ ∑ ∆
𝑖2

𝑖𝐼𝐹 = 𝑖1 − 𝑖2 RF signal: Applied in-phase to the diodes IF currents in-phase

LO signal: Applied out of phase to the diodes IF currents out of phase

• All (m, n) spurious responses, with both m and n even, are eliminated
• (2, 1) response is eliminated, but (1, 2) is not
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 23
 Double Balanced Mixer
Neither LO nor input signal appears at the mixer output
𝐷1
𝑣𝑅𝐹 + 2:1
𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝐷2
𝑅𝑠 −
𝑅𝐿𝑂
𝑣𝐿𝑂 𝑣𝐿𝑂 > 0 ⇒ 𝐷2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷3 𝑂𝑁
𝐷4
𝑣𝑠 1:2 𝑣𝐿𝑂 < 0 ⇒ 𝐷1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷4 𝑂𝑁

𝐷3

𝑣𝐼𝐹
𝑅𝐿

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 24

 Double Balanced Mixer
𝑟𝑑
𝑣𝐿𝑂 > 0 Only 𝐷2 and 𝐷3 conducting
+
𝑖1
𝑣𝑅𝐹 + 2:1 𝑣𝐿𝑂 Rearranging
𝑣𝑅𝐹
𝑟𝑑
𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑣𝐿𝑂
𝑅𝑠 − 𝑅𝐿𝑂 𝑅𝐿 −
+
𝑣𝑠 1:2 LO 𝑣𝐼𝐹 +
𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑟𝑑
−
𝑣𝑅𝐹 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 𝑅𝐿 − 𝑣𝐿𝑂 + 𝑖1 𝑟𝑑
𝑣𝐿𝑂
𝑣𝐼𝐹
𝑟𝑑 𝑖2 −

𝑅𝐿
𝑣𝑅𝐹 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 𝑅𝐿 + 𝑣𝐿𝑂 + 𝑖2 𝑟𝑑

2𝑣𝑅𝐹 = 2 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 𝑅𝐿 + 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 𝑟𝑑 𝑅𝐿
𝑣𝐼𝐹 = −(𝑖1 + 𝑖2 )𝑅𝐿 𝑣𝐼𝐹 = −𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑟𝑑
𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐿 +
𝑖1 + 𝑖2 = 𝑟 2
𝑅𝐿 + 𝑑
2
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 25
 Double Balanced Mixer
𝑅𝐿
𝑣𝐿𝑂 < 0 Only 𝐷1 and 𝐷4 conducting 𝑣𝐼𝐹 = 𝑣𝑅𝐹 𝑟𝑑
𝑅𝐿 +
2 𝑝(𝑡)
Mixer output
𝑅𝐿 ∞ +1
𝑣𝐼𝐹 𝑡 = 𝑣𝑅𝐹 . 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝑛 + 1)𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝑡
𝑟𝑑 . 𝑝 𝑡 . 𝑝 𝑡 = 0 𝑇 2𝑇 𝑡
𝑅𝐿 + 𝜋 2𝑛 + 1 −1
2 𝑛=0

𝐼𝑓 𝑣𝑅𝐹 = 𝐴𝑅𝐹 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝑡),

∞
𝑅𝐿 2𝐴𝑅𝐹 cos [ 2𝑛 + 1 𝜔𝐿𝑂 − 𝜔𝑅𝐹 ]𝑡 + cos [ 2𝑛 + 1 𝜔𝐿𝑂 + 𝜔𝑅𝐹 ]𝑡
𝑣𝐼𝐹 𝑡 = 𝑟
𝑅𝐿 + 𝑑 𝜋 2𝑛 + 1
2 𝑛=0

Mixer o/p contains upper and lower sidebands + infinite no. of spurious terms
centered at odd harmonics of the LO frequency
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 26
 Sub-harmonically Pumped Mixer
Very high frequency mixers (e.g. mm wave): difficult to generate LO (stability, power, cost)
𝜔𝐿𝑂
2
𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝜔𝐼𝐹
BPF for RF LPF for IF & LO LPF for IF
𝜔𝐿𝑂
2
Anti-parallel diode arrangement function
as frequency doubler
𝜔𝐿𝑂
Mixing (2 × , 𝜔𝑅𝐹 ) = (𝜔𝐿𝑂 , 𝜔𝑅𝐹 ): producing desired IF
2
Each diode terminates the other in a short circuit at the mixing
𝜔𝐿𝑂 𝜔𝐿𝑂
frequencies associated with fundamental ( , 𝜔𝑅𝐹 ) and odd 2×
2
2
𝜔
harmonics of LO ((2n + 1) 𝐿𝑂 , 𝜔𝑅𝐹 )
2
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 27
 Image Reject Mixer
𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝑀
𝑉𝑅𝐹 ∠ −900 +𝑉𝐼𝑀 ∠ −900 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠900 + 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠ −900

LO
𝑉𝑅𝐹 ∠00 + 𝑉𝐼𝑀 ∠00
00 900 LSB IF
900 LO
Hybrid PD Hybrid
USB IF
LO

𝑉𝑅𝐹 ∠ −1800 +𝑉𝐼𝑀 ∠ −1800 𝑅𝐹

𝑉𝐼𝐹 𝐼𝑀
∠1800 + 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠1800

𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝑀 𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝑀 𝑅𝐹
LSB IF → 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠00 + 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠ −1800 +𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠00 + 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠00 → 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠00

𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝑀 𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝑀 𝐼𝑀
USB IF → 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠ −900 +𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠ −2700 +𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠900 + 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠900 → 𝑉𝐼𝐹 ∠900

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 28

 Comparison of Mixer Circuits
Mixer Type VSWR Port-to-Port Isolation LO Power IIP3
RF LO IF RF-IF LO-RF LO-IF
Single-diode Depends on IMN Depends on filters Low Low
Single Balanced Same as single-diode mixer Depends = hybrid Depends Moderate Moderate
(1800 ) on filters isolation on filters
Single Balanced Good Good IMN Depends Poor Depends Moderate Moderate
(900 ) on filters on filters
Double Good Good Good Good Good Good High High
Balanced
Sub-harmonic Depends on IMN Depends Good Depends Moderate Low
on filters on filters

Image Reject Good Good Good Good Good Good Very high High

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 29

Mixer Design: Specifications
1. RF, LO and IF frequencies
2. RF and IF Bandwidth
3. Minimum Conversion Gain (or Max. Loss)
4. LO Power Requirement
5. Port VSWR
6. LO-RF, LO-IF Isolation Levels
7. Noise Figure
8. 1-dB Gain Compression Point and IIP3

Depend on Application
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 30
 Design Steps

1. Choice of Device
2. Choice of Circuit
3. Circuit Design
4. Simulation
5. Optimization

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 31

 Mixer Design: Basic Approach
RF
RF-LO RF/LO IF Matching IF
LO Isolator Circuit Matching N/W N/W or Filter

Mixing Device

1. Selection and design of RF-LO isolation circuit

2. RF and IF Impedance Matching N/W Design: Must match the RF source and
load impedances to the junction input and output impedances, respectively.
Device junction parameters Depend on LO signal and DC bias
Estimate junction Vary LO level and Optimize input
impedances DC bias and output match
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 32
 Single Diode Mixer Design Example
Desired Specifications
RF :4.25 GHz RF RF/LO
IF Matching
IF: 500 MHz (fixed) Matching IF
LO N/W or Filter
LO: 3.75 GHz N/W

BAT15-03W
Chip Diode

NI Microwave Office (AWR)

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 33

 SPICE Model of Diode
NI Microwave Office (AWR)

SPICE Model dataset available from the manufacturer

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 34

Diode Biasing and Impedance Matching
Diode_S11 S(1
Swp Max Diod

1.0
0.8
5GHz

6
0.

0
2.
4
0.
0
3.

0
4.
5.0
0.2

m1: 10.0

4.25 GHz ref

10.0
r 0.678958 ref

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0
5.0
0
x -0.223845 ref

-10.0

2
-0. 0
-5.
.0
-4

.0
.4
-3
-0

0 .
-2
.6
-0
Swp Min

-0.8

-1.0
0.1GHz

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 35

 Mixer Circuit

IMN for RF
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 36
 Mixer Circuit Output without IF Filter
m6:
3.75 GHz Mixer IF Output Power Spectrum
0
0 dBm
m3:
-20 4.25 GHz
m1: -16.16 dBm
0.5 GHz
-40
-31.16 dBm Isolation
0
-60

-10
-80

LO-RF
-100 -20

-120 -30 LO-IF

0 10 20 30 35.25
Frequency (GHz)
-40 RF-IF

-50

-60
3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency (GHz)

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 37

 Mixer Circuit with IF Filter

BPF at IF: Center = 500 MHz,

IMN for RF
BW = 100 MHz
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 38
 IF Output and Isolation
Mixer IF Output Power Spectrum
0
m1:
-20 0.5 GHz
-26.419 dBm
-40 Isolation
m5: 0
3.75 GHz
-60 LO-RF
-87.526 dBm

-80 m3: LO-IF

-50
4.25 GHz
-100 -110.04 dBm
RF-IF

-120
-100
0 10 20 30 35.25
Frequency (GHz)

-150
3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Frequency (GHz)

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 39

 Conversion Loss and Noise Figure
Mixer Conversion Loss
-10
Conversion Loss
Large_Signal_Test_Bench.AP_HB
-15

-20

NF vs LO Power
-25 30

-30 Noise Figure

25
Noise_Simulation_Test_Bench.AP_HB

-35 20

-40 15
6 9 12 15 18 m1:
LO Power (dBm) 6.018 dBm
10 6.962 dB

0
6 9 12 15 18
LO Power (dBm)

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 40

 MAX2680 Mixer IC
Specifications
Supply: +2.7V to +5.5V
RF input = 400MHz to 2.5GHz
LO input = 400MHz to 2.5GHz
IF output = 10 to 500 MHz
NF: 8.3dB @ 1950MHz
Image Source: MAX2680 Datasheet
IIP3: -8.2dBm @ 1950MHz
Gain: 7.6 dB @1950MHz
Max. LO & RF: +10 dBm
Typical Operating Circuit Isolation LO/IF = -22 dB
Isolation LO/RF = -26 dB
Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 41
 Mixer Design using MAX2680
IF
MAX2680
RF IF@ 808.7 MHz LO @ 1708 MHz
RF@ 900.9 MHz
Power LO

Microwave Theory and Techniques | Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay 42