Patent ID: 8428544
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: H03D

Abstract:
1. A heterodyne commutating mixer, comprising: a plurality of local oscillator inputs; a plurality of switches for transferring a radio frequency input signal during a plurality of sequential local oscillator period timeslots to at least one output capacitor, wherein the plurality of switches are controlled to be on for a given state of a local oscillator waveform; at least one output inductor connected to one or more pairs of differential output terminals, wherein values of inductance and capacitance are set to achieve resonance at an output intermediate frequency; and a radio frequency input, wherein a first terminal of the radio frequency input is at ground potential and a second terminal of the radio frequency input connects to a first terminal of each of two switches, wherein output of the mixer is taken differentially at second terminals of each of the two switches and wherein at least one capacitor and at least one inductor are connected to the differential output, wherein each of the at least one capacitor or the at least one inductor on each of the differential outputs has another terminal connected to ground or a direct current potential so as to provide a return path to ground, wherein the values of the at least one capacitor and the at least one inductor are chosen such that resonance is achieved at a desired output intermediate frequency, and wherein local oscillator signal waveforms at a local oscillator frequency are used to control the switches such that each switch is on with a duty cycle of less than fifty percent and neither switch is on at the same time.