Patent ID: 7904050

Claim:
An integrated circuit mixer apparatus, comprising: a multiplier having an input side and an output side; an input port coupled to the input side of the multiplier; an output port coupled to the output side of the multiplier; a first local oscillator (LO) port coupled, via a first switch, to a first side of the multiplier between the input side and the output side; and a second local oscillator (LO) port coupled, via a second switch which is distinct and separate from the first switch, to a second, opposing side of the multiplier between the input side and the output side, wherein: the multiplier mixes an input signal applied to the input port with a local oscillator (LO) signal applied to one of the first and second local oscillator (LO) ports to produce an output signal at the output port, said input port, said output port, said first local oscillator port and said second local oscillator port are distinct and separate ports coupled to the multiplier, and the apparatus constitutes a downconversion apparatus, wherein the input port further comprises a radio frequency (RF) port, the output port further comprises an intermediate frequency (IF) port, and the multiplier mixes an RF signal applied to the RF port with the local oscillator (LO) signal applied to the local oscillator (LO) port to produce an IF signal at the IF port.