Patent ID: 8212602

Claim:
A method for mixing an input signal with high-order harmonics of a local oscillation signal, the method comprising: proving a plurality of phase-shifted local oscillation signals, wherein the plurality of phase-shifted local oscillation signals are associated with a plurality of phase offsets with respect to the local oscillation signal; mixing the input signal with each of the plurality of phase-shifted local oscillation signals to generate a plurality of intermediate signals; weighting the plurality of intermediate signals by a plurality of weighting factors to form a plurality of weighted intermediate signals; and combining the plurality of weighted intermediate signals to form a high-order harmonic mixed signal, wherein the high-order harmonic mixed signal contains a lowest harmonic mixed signal and a plurality of higher harmonic mixed signals, wherein the lowest harmonic mixed signal has a first harmonic frequency at least three times local oscillation frequency, and wherein each of the plurality of higher harmonic mixed signals has a second harmonic frequency higher than the first harmonic frequency.