Master 2nd year Applied Micro & Nano-technologies ESIEE

Master 2nd year Micro-technologies UPEMLV

Shermila Mostarshedi
Assistant professor Universit Paris-Est Marne-la-Valle
 Mixers
A mixer is a three-port device that uses a nonlinear or time varying element to
achieve frequency conversion. The output of the mixer is ideally proportional to
the product of the two inputs. This leads, for two harmonic input signals, to the
sum and the difference of their frequencies.

A nonlinear element can produce different frequencies other than the sum and
the difference of the two input frequencies, so filtering must be used.

Up-conversion Down-conversion

Sometimes several mixers and filters are needed in a transceiver to perform the
frequency conversion correctly.

Chapter 4: Mixers 2
 Ideal frequency convergence
Up-conversion

vLO = cos 2f LOt

vIF = cos 2f IF t
Frequency conversion loss
K
vRF = KvIF vLO = K cos 2f IF t cos 2f LO t = [cos 2 ( f IF f LO )t + cos 2 ( f IF + f LO )t ]
2
Double-sideband (DSB) signal
Lower sideband (LSB)
Upper sideband (USB)
A single-sideband (SSB) signal can be obtained by filtering.

Down-conversion

vRF = cos 2f RF t

K
vIF = KvRF vLO = K cos 2f RF t cos 2f LOt = [cos 2 ( f RF f LO )t + cos 2 ( f RF + f LO )t ]
2

Chapter 4: Mixers 3
 Image frequency
VRF

VIF
IM RF
VLO
IF IF
IF

LO

RF : Desired RF signal
IM : Undesired RF signal which is situated at IF below LO
RF LO = IF
Mixing:
IM LO = (LO IF ) LO = IF
In frequency spectrum the image frequency would be shifted to the same
frequency location as the desired RF frequency.
Place image filter before the mixer or use image rejection mixer.

Chapter 4: Mixers 4
 Single-ended mixer (1)

The combined RF and LO signal is injected into a nonlinear device. The active
device can be a diode or a transistor.
The interference between the input (RF) and the output (IF) signal is minimized by
two short circuited reactive elements.
The design procedure of matching networks for amplifiers is applicable for
mixers as well.
Challenge: Important difference between RF, LO and IF frequencies
Important parameters to consider:
Conversion loss or conversion gain
Noise figure
Isolation between RF and LO ports
Nonlinearity
Chapter 4: Mixers 5
 Single-ended mixer (2)
Diode mixer FET mixer

Diode

FET

Nonlinear device: Diode Nonlinear device: Transistor

Transfer function: exponential Transfer function: quadratic
Passive device Conversion loss Active device Conversion gain

Chapter 4: Mixers 6
 Conversion loss Noise Figure
Conversion loss accounts for resistive losses and loss in frequency conversion.
Resistive losses exist in peripheral circuit of the active component of mixer.
Frequency conversion loss consists in losing the input power over generating other
frequency combination of the three ports because of the nonlinearities.

available RF input power

In dB: CL = 10 log
available IF output power

Since the RF stage in receiver operates at much lower power levels than in
transmitter, minimizing the convergence loss is more critical in the receiver.
Diode mixer: 4-7 dB in 1-10 GHz range
Transistor mixer: lower conversion loss or even conversion gain of a few dB
BJT mixers have better conversion gain than FET mixers.

Pn,out Pn,out: output noise power at output frequency

Noise figure: F =
G.Pn,in Pn,in: input noise power at input frequency
G: conversion gain

FET mixers have larger noise figure compared to diode mixers and lower noise figure
compared to BJT mixers.

Chapter 4: Mixers 7
 Nonlinearity

Conversion compression P1dB

Similar to 1dB compression point for amplifiers
Intermodulation distortion PIP3
For example a down-converter:
desired input frequency fRF
unwanted input frequency f2
desired output frequency fRF fLO
third order intermodulation term 2f2 fRF fLO

Chapter 4: Mixers 8
 Diode mixer
Small-signal model
q
I = I S (eV 1) where =
nkT
V: voltage across diode
I: current through diode
IS: reverse saturation current 10-6 to 10-15 A
q: charge of an electron 1.610-19 C
k: Boltzmanns constant 1.3810-23 J/K
T: temperature in Kelvin 290 K
n: diode ideality factor 1 to 2

I = I 0 + i (t )
DC bias + small AC signals: where: I (V0 ) = I 0
V = V0 + v(t ) Interesting for
frequency conversion
dI 1 d 2I
Taylor series: I = I0 + v(t ) + 2
v 2 (t ) +
dV V =V0 2 dV V =V
0

dI d 2I
where: = (I0 + I S ) and 2
= 2
(I0 + IS )
dV V =V0 dV V =V
0
Chapter 4: Mixers 9
Down-converting single-ended diode mixer (1)

Diplexer combines the RF and the LO signals and provides isolation between
the inputs. It can be a directional coupler.
Low-pass filter retrieves the IF signal at the output.
Using the small-signal diode model, the first term (DC) will be blocked by RF
capacitor. The second term (replication of RF and LO signals) will be blocked by
the low-pass filter at the output. The third nonlinear term gives:
vRF = VRF cos RF t
vLO = VLO cos LOt

1 d 2I 1 2
i (t ) = 2
( v RF + v LO ) 2
= ( I S + I 0 )(VRF cos RF t + VLO cos LO t ) 2
2 dV V =V 2
0

Chapter 4: Mixers 10
Down-converting single-ended diode mixer (2)
i (t ) = (VRF cos RF t + VLO cos LOt ) 2
2 (IS + I0 )
= 2
(VRF cos 2 RF t + 2VRFVLO cos RF t cos LO t + VLO
2
cos 2 LOt )
2
2 (IS + I0 )
= 2
[VRF (1 + cos 2RF t )
4
+ 2VRFVLO cos( RF LO )t IF output where IF = RF LO
+ 2VRFVLO cos( RF + LO )t
+ VLO
2
(1 + cos 2 LO t )]

DC terms will be blocked by the RF capacitors.

2RF, 2LO and RF+LO will be filtered by the low-pass filter.

Chapter 4: Mixers 11
 FET mixers
Advantage: Disadvantage:
Conversion gain Greater noise figure
Higher dynamic range
Better nonlinear properties
Easy integration with other circuitry

Typical values:
Mixer type Conversion gain Noise figure 1dB compression 3rd order intercept

Diode 5 dB 5-7 dB 6 to 1 dBm 5 dBm

FET 6 dB 7-8 dB 5 to 6 dBm 20 dBm

Single-ended FET mixer

Chapter 4: Mixers 12
 Balanced mixer
Single-ended mixers have poor RF input matching and RF-LO isolation.
Balanced mixers can solve this problem to some extent. Besides, due to their
inherent configuration, they can provide some noise suppression and spurious
rejection properties.
Two nonlinear components + one branch line coupler

Example : balanced diode mixer

The VSWR and the isolation quality between different accesses (RF, LO and IF) is
guaranteed by the type of the coupler.

Chapter 4: Mixers 13
 Diode balanced mixer (1)

0 j 1 0
vRF = VRF cos RF t
Hybrid junction 1 j 0 0 1
S=
vLO = VLO cos LOt
(branch line coupler) 2 1 0 0 j

0 1 j 0

1 1
V1 = ( jV RF+VLO ) v1 (t ) = [VRF cos( RF t 90) VLO cos LOt ]
2 2
1 1
V2 = (V RF+ jVLO ) v2 (t ) = [VRF cos RF t + VLO cos(LO t 90)]
2 2
Chapter 4: Mixers 14
 Diode balanced mixer (2)
Small-signal diode model with only quadratic term:
K 2
i1 (t ) = Kv12 (t ) = [VRF sin 2 RF t + VLO
2
cos 2 LOt 2VRFVLO sin RF t cos LOt ]
2
K 2
i2 (t ) = Kv22 (t ) = [VRF cos 2 RF t + VLO
2
sin 2 LO t 2VRFVLO cos RF t sin LOt ]
2
K 2
i1 (t ) + i2 (t ) = [VRF cos 2 RF t VLO
2
cos 2 LO t + 2VRFVLO sin( RF LO )t ]
2
IF output where IF = RF LO
The DC terms in diode currents cancel by combining.
The second harmonics will be filtered by the low-pass filter.
If only RF is inserted (LO=0) and the output reflection coefficient is :
1
V1 = V1 = jVRF VRF = ( jV1 + V2 ) = VRF + VRF = 0
2 2 2 2
1 1
V2 = V2 = VRF VLO = (V + jV2 ) = jVRF + jVRF = jVRF
2 2 2 2
Perfect match at RF port.
Isolation between LO and RF depends on the reflection coefficients of the diodes.
Chapter 4: Mixers 15
 FET balanced mixer
Output
matching
Input network
matching Wilkinson
fLO power
90 network
hybrid Output 180 combiner
junction matching phase
fRF Input network shifter
matching fIF
network

The 180 phase shift is needed since the second FET cannot be easily reversed
biased as the second diode in the previous diode balanced mixer.

This circuit presents RF-LO and LO-IF isolation but not a RF-IF isolation. A low-
pass filter is often put at the output matching network of each transistor.

Chapter 4: Mixers 16
 Image rejection mixer (1)
Small-signal model

Matched port

v RF (t ) = VU cos( LO + IF )t + VL cos( LO IF )t ]

Desired RF frequency Image frequency

Hybrid junction:
0 j 1 0 1

A
vRF (t ) = [VU cos( LOt + IF t 90) + VL cos(LO t IF t 90)]
1 j 0 0 1 2
S=
2 1 0 0 j 1
B
vRF (t ) = [VU cos( LOt + IF t ) + VL cos( LO t IF t )]
2
0 1 j 0

Chapter 4: Mixers 17
 Image rejection mixer (2)
After mixing with LO frequency and low-pass filtering:
KVLO KVLO
A
vIF (t ) = (VU VL ) sin IF t = (VU VL ) cos( IF t 90)
2 2 2 2
KVLO
B
vIF (t ) = (VU + VL ) cos IF t
2 2
The two signals meet again a 90 hybrid junction:
1 KVLO KVLOVL
v1 (t ) = [(VU VL ) cos( IF t 90 + 90) (VU + VL ) cos IF t ] = cos IF t
2 2 2 2
1 KVLO KV V
v2 (t ) = [(VU VL ) cos( IF t 90) + (VU + VL ) cos(IF t 90)] = LO U sin IF t
2 2 2 2

A 90 phase shift is obtained between the two sidebands.

Difficulty: second good hybrid junction at low IF frequencies, important loss and
noise figure.

Chapter 4: Mixers 18
 Other mixer circuits
Differential mixer Gilbert cell mixer
(Single balanced active mixer) (Double balanced active mixer)

Balun: Transition between a two-conductor line

which is balanced with respect to the ground Excellent isolation between accesses
and a single-conductor line which is High dynamic range
unbalanced with respect to the ground.
Suppression of even intermodulation
products
Chapter 4: Mixers 19
 References for this chapter
From the list of references:

Pozar, chapter 7
Ludwig and Bogdanov , chapter 10
De Dieuleveult et Romain, chapter 7
Villegas, chapter 15

Chapter 4: Mixers 20