Patent · US Expired

Differential mixer with improved linearity

US6242963A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
8References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 9, 1999
Grant dateJun 5, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03D2200/0043
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A mixing apparatus includes a Gilbert cell connected to a first load and a second load. In one embodiment each load contains transistors that are configured as a diode and a triode, where these circuits are additively combined to achieve substantially linear voltage-current characteristics over a predetermined range. The mixing apparatus takes two pairs of differential inputs and produces a pair of differential outputs. Because of the substantial linearity of the loads, the inputs and outputs of the mixing apparatus are acceptable over a relatively large range of input settings. In other embodiments each load may contain a transistor configured as a triode and a resistor, where these circuits are likewise additively combined to achieve substantially linear voltage-current characteristics over a predetermined range.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.