Patent ID: 11601092

Abstract:
Radio frequency (RF) mixer circuits having a complementary frequency multiplier module that requires no balun to multiply a lower frequency base oscillator signal to a higher frequency local oscillator (LO) signal, and which has a significantly reduced IC area compared to balun-based frequency multipliers. In one embodiment, the complementary frequency multiplier module includes a complementary pair of FETs controlled by an applied base oscillator signal. The complementary FETs are coupled to a common-gate FET amplifier and alternate becoming conductive in response to the base oscillator signal. The alternating switching of the complementary FETs in response to the opposing phases of the base oscillator signal cause the common-gate FET amplifier to output a higher frequency local oscillator (LO) signal. The LO signal is coupled to the LO input of a mixer or mixer core of a type suitable for use in conjunction with a frequency multiplier.