Patent ID: 8350630

Claim:
A method for processing communication signals, the method comprising: generating an output local oscillator signal from a non-sinusoidal input local oscillator signal at a first frequency by communicating said input local oscillator signal at said first frequency to a microstrip filter; tuning a bandpass frequency range of said microstrip filter by adjusting an air gap between said microstrip filter and a substrate underlying said microstrip filter; providing said output local oscillator signal to an output terminal such that an output voltage at said output terminal is sinusoidal and comprises only one integer harmonic frequency of said first frequency; wherein: said first frequency is outside of said bandpass frequency range of said microstrip filter; said integer harmonic frequency is within said bandpass frequency range of said microstrip filter; and said microstrip filter comprises a plurality of resonator sections, wherein each one of said plurality of resonator sections is coupled to each other one of said plurality of resonator sections via one of a plurality of programmable impedances.