Frequency down-converter with vector control capability for receiving phased array applications

In this article, a simple and nonexpensive solution to be used as constitutive element in receiving phased arrays is proposed. Properly adjusting a PHEMT gate biasing voltage, when used in an active mixing topology, the fundamental component of its time‐varying transconductance may be controlled, bo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microwave and optical technology letters 2012-06, Vol.54 (6), p.1371-1375
Main Authors: Marante, R., García, J.A., Cabria, L., Rizo, L., Ruiz, M. N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
down converters
intermodulation distortion
mixers
nonlinearities
phased arrays
PHEMTs
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Summary:In this article, a simple and nonexpensive solution to be used as constitutive element in receiving phased arrays is proposed. Properly adjusting a PHEMT gate biasing voltage, when used in an active mixing topology, the fundamental component of its time‐varying transconductance may be controlled, both in magnitude and sign. In this way, a down‐converting I/Q architecture, implemented over two of such mixers, is shown to allow the desired level adjustment and phase shifting over the resulting intermediate frequency signal, either for beamsteering or beamforming purposes. The down‐converter performance may be accurately predicted, not only in terms of the desired but also of the intermodulation distortion components, based on the use of two‐dimensional converting transfer functions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1371–1375, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26806
ISSN:0895-2477
1098-2760
DOI:10.1002/mop.26806