Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for extending the dynamic range of a frequency mixer

US6339701B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
28References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 1998
Grant dateJan 15, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03D2200/0088
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A frequency mixing system that provides an expanded dynamic range when compared to the dynamic range(s) of an individual mixer(s) that makes up the frequency mixing system. The frequency mixing system adjusts the amplitude of an input signal to be frequency mixed to produce a frequency converted signal with an acceptable and/or lower (when compared to the amplitude of intermodulation distortion produced by mixing the input signal without amplitude adjustment) amplitude of intermodulation distortion. If the input signal were frequency mixed without the amplitude adjustment, an unacceptable and/or higher level of intermodulation distortion would result (when compared to the corresponding intermodulation distortion if the amplitude-adjusted signal were mixed by an individual mixer). Adjusting the amplitude of the input signal creates an adjusted signal with signal distortion on the first path. The frequency mixing system uses a feed-forward arrangement to reduce the signal distortion created by adjusting the amplitude of the input signal, thereby producing the desired frequency converted signal with the lower and/or acceptable level of intermodulation distortion. For example, the sign…

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