Understanding Transformer Operation in Double-Balanced Diode Mixers

摘要

The double-halanced mixer has become very popular because of its many advantages over single-ended and single-balanced mixers. Those advantages include good isolation between the LO and RF ports, broadband performance and suppression of even-order harmonics of the LO and RE The mixer also has low VSWR at each port. Figure 1 shows the use of four diodes in a ring configuration. Although this mixer is considered broadband, its high frequency performance is limited by the transformers T1 and T2.