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 speaker
Filter

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

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
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
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
𝜔1 , 𝜔2 Transfer Function 𝜔1 + 𝜔2 𝜔1 , 𝜔2 Variant System 𝜔1 + 𝜔2

5
 Mixer Implementation: Using Non-linearity
𝑣1 (𝑡)
Diode / BJT 𝑣𝑖 (𝑡)
𝑖𝑜 𝑡 = 𝑘𝑒 𝑛𝑣𝑇
𝑣2 (𝑡) + 𝑖𝑜 𝑡
Device
𝑣𝑖 Non-linear
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
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
7
 Mixer Non-idealities
Conversion Gain/Loss Spurious Response

(−4, 3) (−2, 3)
Noise Figure

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

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]

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
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

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
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
13
 Spurious Response
Spurious Response

Strong RF interference Harmonics of input RF signal mix

signal at input of mixer with harmonics of LO signal

𝑓𝐼𝐹 = 𝑚𝑓𝑅𝐹 + 𝑛𝑓𝐿𝑂

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

14
 Mixer Circuits

 Single Ended Mixers

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

15
 Mixer Devices: Diodes
𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝐷
𝜕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 Passive Mixers
𝜔𝐿𝑂 − 𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝜔𝐿𝑂 , … 𝜔𝑅𝐹
𝜔𝐿𝑂 + 𝜔𝑅𝐹
16
 Mixer Devices: FET
𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝐼𝐷
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
Passive and
Small Signal 𝑅𝑠 𝜔𝐿𝑂 − 𝜔𝑅𝐹 𝜔𝐿𝑂 , … 𝜔𝑅𝐹
Model 𝜔𝐿𝑂 + 𝜔𝑅𝐹 Active Mixers
17
 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
18
 Single Device Mixers: Using FETs
Single Ended Mixer using FET Single Ended Mixer using Dual-gate
MOSFET
IF
IF
Load
Load

RF LO
Source
LO

RF
Source

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

19
 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

20
 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

21
 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
22
 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

23
 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
24
 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
25
 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
26
 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

27
 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

28
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
29
Design Steps

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

30
 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
31
 Mixer Design Example
Desired Specifications
RF input frequency :1.8 GHz BW:450 MHz
IF: 600 MHz (fixed)
LO: 2.4 GHz
Conversion loss: no more than 7 dB
Isolation: LO/IF, RF/IF: at least 35 dB
LO/RF: at least 30 dB

Mixer Circuit Type: Single Balanced Mixer using 1800 Hybrid

32
 Mixer Design Example (Contd.)

Rat-race Hybrid Design

Mixer Output

33
 Mixer Design Example (Contd.)

IF Filter Design

BPF centered at 600 MHz

34
 MAX2680 Mixer IC
Image Source: MAX2680 Datasheet
Typical Operating Circuit
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
IIP3: -8.2dBm @ 1950MHz
Gain: 7.6 dB @1950MHz
Max. LO & RF level: +10 dBm
Isolation LO/IF = 22 dB
Isolation LO/RF = 26 dB
35
 Mixer Design using MAX2680
IF
MAX2680
RF
IF@ 808.7 MHz LO @ 1708 MHz
RF@ 900.9 MHz
Power LO

36