Patent ID: 6940920

Claim:
A multiplier arrangement comprising a pair of input terminals that receive analog phase information, said multiplier arrangement receiving a set of high-frequency local oscillator signals which are phase-shifted 90 degrees with respect to each other, said multiplier arrangement generating, from said analog phase information and from said high-frequency local oscillator signals, components of a high-frequency phase vector and synthesizing said high-frequency phase vector from said components within a summing means, wherein said multiplier arrangement receives a set of differential high frequency local oscillator signals and provides said high-frequency phase vector as a vector that is making an excursion alongside the contours of a square within a complex plane during a first category of predetermined transitions of a phase signal on which said analog phase information is dependent, said multiplier arrangement further comprising: a pair of output terminals on which said high-frequency phase vector is output as a differential high-frequency phase vector; a plurality of multipliers, each multiplier of said plurality having a respective input terminal that is coupled to a first terminal of an associated switch, a second terminal of said associated switch being coupled to one of said pair of input terminals of said multiplier arrangement or to a ground reference terminal under control of a respective control signal; and a set of control input terminals to which said respective control signals are provided.