Design of a full V‐band fundamental mixer with an ultra‐wide IF from 0.01 to 22 GHz

Abstract

Abstract Design of a low cost Schottky diode based single‐balanced mixer (SBM) in full V‐band with an ultra‐wide intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth is presented here. By loading multiple quarter‐wavelength short‐ended stubs at both radio frequency (RF) and local oscillator (LO) frequency on the multistage stepped impedance matching networks, a broadband grounding circuit is provided for IF signal and thus output power nulls are eliminated over an ultra‐wide IF band. The hybrid network is constructed by a 3 dB branch coupler and a 90‐degree delay line, which enables the required balanced outputs with equal amplitude and 180‐degree phase difference. A prototype of the SBM is designed, fabricated and tested. Measured results demonstrate that, for RF and LO frequency over entire V‐band, the mixer has a conversion loss from 6.8 to 11.4 dB with an ultra‐wide IF range of 0.01–22 GHz.

Keywords

• Modulators, demodulators, discriminators and mixers
• Pulse circuits
• Waveguide and microwave transmission line components
• Microwave circuits and devices
• Semiconductor integrated circuit design, layout, modelling and testing
• Junction and barrier diodes