Hybrid-Integrated Balanced Subharmonic Mixer of the Millimeter Range With Low Conversion Losses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64915/RADAP.2026.104.23-32Keywords:
balanced subharmonic mixer, millimeter wavelength range, hybrid-integrated circuit, conversion lossesAbstract
The paper comprehensively investigates the proposed topology of a hybrid-integrated circuit of a balanced subharmonic mixer, effective when used in the millimeter wavelength range. The principle of operation of the mixer is covered in detail, its model is proposed in terms of the theory of long lines, on the basis of which the dimensions of the elements of the topology of the integrated circuit are calculated in the first approximation. The dimensions are refined in the electrodynamic analysis program CST Microwave Studio. According to the results of the calculations, mixer samples were manufactured and their experimental study was conducted. The process of generating idle frequencies in the mixer circuit is separately considered in detail. It is theoretically proven that, unlike balanced mixer circuits that operate on the fundamental harmonic of the local oscillator, in the proposed mixer circuit, oscillations at the image frequency and the sum combination frequency arise as waves with the same field polarization, which propagate in the direction of the signal input of the mixer. In order to use the energy of these waves, a mixer circuit was developed and manufactured, which contained an image rejection filter. Experimental study of this hybrid integrated circuit demonstrated a significant reduction in conversion losses (by approximately 1.5 dB) compared to the circuit without a filter. The parameters of the mixer obtained as a result of the work – conversion losses at the level of 6 dB with the required local oscillator power of the order of 2.5 mW – allow the successful use of the developed hybrid integrated circuit of the mixer as part of millimeter-wave transceivers.
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Copyright (c) 2026 М. Ю. Омеляненко , Т. В. Романенко, О. В. Турєєва
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