Patent GB-632658-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to mixing circuit arrangements
IPC: H04B1/16
Filed: 1946-09-06
Abstract: 632,658. Valve circuits. PHILIPS LAMPS, Ltd. Sept. 6, 1946, Nos. 26858, 26859, 26860 and 26861. Convention dates, March 27, 1943, May 13, 1943, Oct. 21, 1943, and Nov. 9, 1943. [Classes 40 (v) and 40 (vi)] In an U.S.W. mixing circuit in which an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced. damping is obtained by applying the incoming signals in push-pull and the local oscillations in phase to a pair of valves, the damping of the local oscillation frequency is further reduced by tuning the circuit comprised by the parallel connection of the two halves of the push-pull circuit ; the input impedances of the valves and the impedances common to the input circuits, to the local oscillator frequency. Fig. 2 shows an arrangement in which incoming signals from dipole aerials 2 are applied to the mixer valves in push-pull via Lecher lines 3 which are tuned to the frequency of the incoming signals by the short-circuiting bridge 4, the local oscillator 0 being applied in phase to the mixer valves by a cathode injection circuit. The in-phase circuits are tuned to the local oscillator frequency by the tuning of an extension of the Lecher lines by a further earthed shorting-bridge 7. In a modification, Fig. 3 (not shown), the extension of the Lecher lines is reduced by connecting a variable impedance between the shorting bridge 7 and earth, the lines being screened by a shielding can which is earthed at the end remote from the mixing valves. In a further modification, Fig. 4 (not shown), the short-circuiting bridge 7 is connected not only across the extension of the Lecher lines but also across the inside of the shielding can and is connected directly to earth. To obtain optimum matching of the aerial to the Lecher system and to prevent radiation of the local oscillations, the aerial is connected at a voltage node at the local oscillator frequency, obtained by adjusting impedances connected between the local oscillator and the mixing valves and between the shorting bridge 7 and earth so that the whole of the in-phase circuit is tuned to the local oscillator frequency, Fig. 5 (not shown). Fig. 7 shows the application to a superheterodyne receiver the I.F. being taken in push-pull from the circuit 21, 22. The in-phase and parallel connected circuits are tuned as previously described to give minimum' damping of the local oscillations, optimum matching of the aerial and negligible radiation of the local oscillator frequency. The damping of the local oscillator circuit may be further reduced by positive feed-back from the inductor 28 in the common cathode circuit, this feed-back may be increased to generate the local oscillations. In a modification, Fig. 8 (not shown), positive feed-back is provided at both local oscillator and incoming signal frequencies by using an inductor in each anode circuit the ratio of back-coupling at the two frequencies being adjusted by a variable capacitor connected in the common cathode circuit of the mixer valves or by increasing the capacitive impedance of the output circuit. In a further modification the junction of the cathode circuit of the mixer valves and the centre of the push-pull circuit are earthed, Fig. 10, to facilitate the power supply arrangements and enable a cavity resonator to be used as inductor 28. In this way the circuit is made self-oscillatory so that the in-phase circuit generates the local oscillator frequency determined by the network 34, 35 between the aerial junctions and earth on the one hand and the network 36, 37 between the corresponding input electrodes of the mixing valves and the centre of the pushpull system on the other hand, the Lecher system 3 being tuned to the incoming signals by the shorting bridge 4. Optimum matching of the aerial circuit is obtained by connecting an impedance between the input electrodes of the mixing valves and retuning the Lecher system. The network 36, 37 may be replaced by inductors coupled together in each of the conductors. 3<1>, 3<11> and preferably located close to the aerial input junctions. To prevent the Lecher system forming a parallel resonant with the capacity of the in-phase circuit between the aerial junctions and earth at the local oscillator frequency, the Lecher system may be rendered aperiodic by earthing the shorting bridge through a resistor equal to the value of the surge resistance of the parallel connected Lecher lines to earth, Fig. 12 (not shown). In a modification, Fig. 11 (not shown), the incoming signal is applied in push-pull to the cathodes of the mixer valves, the control grids being commoned and connected via an inductor to earth. The circuit is self-oscillatory at the local oscillator frequency and damping is further reduced by inductors in the anode circuits of the mixers. The aerial is inductively coupled to the input circuit which is tuned to the incoming signal frequency, two points on the tuning inductors which are equivalent to the aerial junction points being connected via a network as described in connection with Fig. 10 to the earthed mid-point of the push-pull system. The incoming signals may first be amplified, Fig. 13, and to ensure a voltage minimum at the local oscillator frequency on the mixer control grids the variable capacitor 17 and the variable impedance 41 are provided to tune to the local oscillator frequency. The single-phase output impedance of the pushpull amplifier which is included in the singlephase circuit of the mixer is short circuited at the local oscillator frequency by the series connection of capacitor 17 and the parallel connected coils 14<1>, 14<11> to avoid affecting the tuning of the single-phase circuit. In a modification, Fig. 14 (not shown) the anodes of the push-pull amplifiers are connected via inductors to the control grids of the mixer valves, thus inserting the amplifier in the push-pull circuit. Between corresponding points on these inductors which are at a voltage minimum with respect to each other at the local oscillator frequency are connected two inductors from whose junction a variable capacitor is connected to earth, two further inductors are connected between the mixer valve control grids and their function is connected via a variable capacitor to the common cathode circuit. The push-pull circuit including the output of the push-pull amplifier is tuned to the incoming signals, the circuit being rendered self-oscillatory at the local oscillator frequency by positive feed-back and the whole of the singlephase circuit is tuned to the local oscillation frequency. Specification 609,542 is referred to.