Mixer Design

Mixer Design
Introduction to mixers
Mixer metrics
Mixer topologies
Mixer performance analysis
Mixer design issues
1
What is a mixer
Frequency translation device
Convert RF frequency to a lower IF or base band for
easy signal processing in receivers
Convert base band signal or IF frequency to a higher
IF or RF frequency for efficient transmission in
transmitters
Creative use of nonlinearity or time-variance

These are usually harmful and unwanted
They generates frequencies not present at input
Used together with appropriate filtering

Remove unwanted frequencies
2
Two operation mechanisms

Nonlinear transfer function
Use device nonlinearities creatively!
Intermodulation creates the desired
frequency and unwanted frequencies
Switching or sampling
A time-varying process
Preferred; fewer spurs
Active mixers
Passive mixers
3
An ideal nonlinearity mixer

If
x(t ) A cos 1t
y (t ) B cos 2t
x(t)y(t)
x(t)
y(t)
Then the output is
AB
AB
A cos 1t B cos 2t
cos(1 2 )t
cos(1 2 )t
2
2
down convert
up convert
Commutating switch mixer
VRF (t )
VLO (t )
VLO (t )
VIF (t )
VRF (t ) VLO (t )
ARF sin RF t sq LO t
2
1
ARF cos( RF LO )t cos 3( RF LO )t
A non-ideal mixer
Mixer Metrics
Conversion gain lowers noise impact of
following stages
Noise Figure impacts receiver sensitivity
Port isolation want to minimize interaction
between the RF, IF, and LO ports
Linearity (IIP3) impacts receiver blocking
performance
Spurious response
Power match want max voltage gain rather than
power match for integrated designs
Power want low power dissipation
Sensitivity to process/temp variations need to
make it manufacturable in high volume
7
Conversion Gain
Conversion gain or loss is the ratio of the
desired IF output (voltage or power) to the RF
input signal value ( voltage or power).
r.m.s. voltage of the IF signal
Voltage Conversion Gain
r.m.s. voltage of the RF signal
IF power delivered to the load
Power Conversion Gain
Available power from the source
If the input impedance and the load impedance of the
mixer are both equal to the source impedance, then the
voltage conversion gain and the power conversion gain of
the mixer will be the same in dBs.
8
Noise Figures: SSB vs DSB
Signal
band
Signal
band
Image
band
Thermal
noise
Thermal
noise
LO
LO
IF
Single side band
Double side band
SSB Noise Figure
Broadband noise from mixer or front end filter will be

located in both image and desired bands
Noise from both image and desired bands will combine
in desired channel at IF output
Channel filter cannot remove this
10
DSB Noise Figure
For zero IF, there is no image band

Noise from positive and negative frequencies combine, but the
signals combine as well
DSB noise figure is 3 dB lower than SSB noise figure

DSB noise figure often quoted since it sounds better
11
Port-to-Port Isolations
Isolation
Isolation between RF, LO and IF ports
LO/RF and LO/IF isolations are the most
important features.
Reducing LO leakage to other ports can be
solved by filtering.
IF
RF
LO
12
LO Feed through
Feed through from the LO port to IF output port due to

parasitic capacitance, power supply coupling, etc.
Often significant due to strong LO output signal
If large, can potentially desensitize the receiver due to the extra
dynamic range consumed at the IF output
If small, can generally be removed by filter at IF output
13
Reverse LO Feed through
Reverse feed through from the LO port to RF

input port due to parasitic capacitance, etc.
If large, and LNA doesnt provide adequate isolation,
then LO energy can leak out of antenna and violate
emission standards for radio
Must insure that isolation to antenna is adequate
14
Self-Mixing of Reverse LO Feedthrough
LO component in the RF input can pass back

through the mixer and be modulated by the LO
signal
DC and 2fo component created at IF output
Of no consequence for a heterodyne system, but can
cause problems for homodyne systems (i.e., zero IF)
15
Nonlinearity in Mixers
Ignoring dynamic effects, three nonlinearities around an

ideal mixer
Nonlinearity A: same impact as LNA nonlinearity
Nonlinearity B: change the spectrum of LO signal
Cause additional mixing that must be analyzed
Change conversion gain somewhat
Nonlinearity C: cause self mixing of IF output

16
Focus on Nonlinearity in RF Input Path
Nonlinearity B not detrimental in most cases

LO signal often a square wave anyway
Nonlinearity C avoidable with linear loads

Nonlinearity A can hamper rejection of interferers
Characterize with IIP3 as with LNA designs
Use two-tone test to measure (similar to LNA)
17
Spurious Response
IF m RF n LO
IF
LO
IF LO
n
m, 0
1
RF
RF
RF RF
y n x m 0 y x 1
y IF RF
IF Band
x LO RF
18
Mixer topologies
Discrete implementations:
Single-diode and diode-ring mixers
IC implementations:
MOSFET passive mixer
Active mixers
Gilbert-cell based mixer
Square law mixer
Sub-sampling mixer
Harmonic mixer
19
Single-diode passive mixer

VLO
VLO
L
RL
VIF
VRF
ID
VIF
VD
Simplest and oldest passive mixer

The output RLC tank tuned to match IF
Input = sum of RF, LO and DC bias
No port isolation and no conversion gain.
Extremely useful at very high frequency (millimeter wave band)
20
Single-balanced diode mixer

VLO
VIF
VLO
L
RL
t
VRF
VIF
Poor gain
Good LO-IF isolation
Good LO-RF isolation
Poor RF-IF isolation
Attractive for very high frequency applications where
transistors are slow.
21
Double-balanced diode mixer

VLO
VLO
VIF
VRF
VIF
Poor gain (typically -6dB)

Good LO-IF LO-RF RF-IF isolation
Good linearity and dynamic range
Attractive for very high frequency applications where
transistors are slow.
22
CMOS Passive Mixer
RS
VLO
M1
M2
VLO
M4
VLO
VIF
VLO
M3
M1 through M4 act as switches

23
CMOS Passive Mixer
Use switches to perform the mixing operation

No bias current required
Allows low power operation to be achieved
24
CMOS Passive Mixer

RFLO+
LO-
IF
RF+
Same idea, redrawn
RC filter not shown
IF amplifier can be frequency selective
[*] T. Lee
25
CMOS Passive Mixer

I M1
VLO
LO
RF
VOUT
GC
Vout IF 4
VRF RF
4
4
4
Cos LOt Cos 3 LOt

Cos 5 LOt ...
3
5

Vout VRF .Cos RF t
26
CMOS Passive Mixer

Non-50% duty cycle of LO results in no DC offsets!!
I M1
VLO
t
DC-term of LO
LO
RF
VOUT
t
4
4
4
Vout VRF .Cos RF t DC Cos LOt

Cos 3 LOt
Cos 5 LOt ...
3
5
27
CMOS Passive Mixer with Biasing

VLO
200
VLO
VLO
Cbias 1nF
RS 200
VS
Vgg
Rsd
Rgg
VLO
M1
VLOCbias 1nF
Rgg
RL 2k
M2
Vsd
CL
M 2'
M 1'
Rsd
Cbias 1nF
28
A Highly Linear CMOS Mixer
Transistors are alternated between the off and triode regions by the LO
signal
RF signal varies resistance of channel when in triode
Large bias required on RF inputs to achieve triode operation
High linearity achieved, but very poor noise figure
29
Simple Switching Mixer (Single Balanced Mixer)

The transistor M1
converts the RF
voltage signal to the
current signal.
Transistors M2 and
M3 commute the
current between the
two branches.
RL
RL
VLO
M2
Vout
M3
VLO
I DC I RF
VRF
M1
30
Single balanced active mixer, BJT
Single-ended input
Differential LO
Differential output
QB provides gain
for vin
Q1 and Q2 steer the

current back and
forth at LO
VCC
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
vin + DC
Q1
Q2
LO-
QB
vout = gmvinRL
31
Double Balanced Mixer

RL
VLO
M2
VRF
RL
VOUT
M3
I DC I RF
VLO
M2
VRF
M3
VLO
I DC I RF
Strong LO-IF feed suppressed by double balanced mixer.

All the even harmonics cancelled.
All the odd harmonics doubled (including the signal).
32
Gilbert Mixer
Use a differential pair to achieve the transconductor

implementation
This is the preferred mixer implementation for most radio
systems!
33
Double balanced mixer, BJT

Basically two SB mixers
One gets +vin/2, the other gets vin/2
VCC
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
LO+
LOQB1
+ vin -
QB2
34
Mixers based on MOS square law

Cl arg e
I ds K SQ . VGSQ VT 0
Rb
VLO
VBB1
VRF
I ds K SQ . Vbias VRF VLO VT 0
K SQ . Vbias VT 0 VRF VLO 2 Vbias VT 0 . VRF VLO

2
(VRF VLO ) 2 gives rise to

cos( RF LO )t and cos( RF LO )t
35
Practical Square Law Mixers

Cl arg e
Rb
VRF
Cl arg e
VBB1
I BIAS
VLO
The conversion gain can be shown to be

CoxW
K sqVLO
VLO
2L
36
Practical Bipolar Mixer

Cl arg e
IC ICO . e
Rb
VRF
VBE
VT
Cl arg e
VBB1
I BIAS
VLO
The conversion gain can be shown to be
I CQ
2
T
VLO
37
MOSFET Mixer (with impedance matching)

VDD
Cmatch
IF Filter
RL
VBB2
RS
Cl arg e
Lg
RLO
Rb
VRF
VBB1
Le
Cl arg e
Matching
Network
VLO
38
Sub-sampling Mixer
Properly designed track-and-hold circuit works

as sub-sampling mixer.
The sampling clocks jitter must be very small
Noise folding leads to large mixer noise figure.
High linearity
39
Harmonic Mixer
Emitter-coupled BJTs work as
two limiters.
Odd symmetry suppress even
order distortion eg LO selfmixing.
Small RF signal modulates zero
crossing of large LO signal.
Output rectangular wave in PWM
LPF demodulate the PWM
Harmonic mixer has low self-mixing DC offset, very
attractive for direct conversion application.
The RF signal will mix with the second harmonic of the LO.
So the LO can run at half rate, which makes VCO design
easier.
Because of the harmonic mixing, conversion gain is
usually small
40
Features of Square Law Mixers

Noise Figure: The square law MOSFET mixer can be
designed to have very low noise figure.
Linearity: true square law MOSFET mixer produces only
DC, original tones, difference, and sum tones
The corresponding BJT mixer produces a host of nonlinear components due to the exponential function
Power Dissipation: The square law mixer can be designed
with very low power dissipation.
Power Gain: Reasonable power gain can be achieved
through the use of square law mixers.
Isolation: Square law mixers offer poor isolation from LO
to RF port. This is by far the biggest short coming of the
square law mixers.
41
Mixer performance analysis

Analyze major metrics
Conversion gain
Port isolation
Noise figure/factor
Linearity, IIP3
Gain insights into design constraints and

compromise
42
Common Emitter Mixer
Single-ended input
Differential LO
Differential output
QB provides gain
for vin
Q1 and Q2 steer the

current left and
right at LO
VCC
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
vin + DC
Q1
Q2
LO-
QB
43

Conversion gain
VCC
Two output component:
RL
RL
vout1 = gmvinRL
vout2 = IQBDCRL
+ out -
LO+
Q1
Q2
LO-
IF signal is the RF LO
component in vout1
vin + DC
QB
So gain = ?
44

Port isolation
VCC
At what frequency is
Vout2 switching?
RL
RL
+ out -
vout2 = IQBDCRL
LO+
Q1
Q2
LO-
vout2 = SW(LO)IQBDCRL
This is feed through from
LO to output
vin + DC
QB
45

Port isolation
VCC
How about LO to RF?

RL
This feed through is

much smaller than LO
to output
RL
+ out -
LO+
vin + DC
Q1
Q2
LO-
QB
46

Port isolation
VCC
How about RF to LO?

RL
If LO is generating a
square wave signal, its
output impedance is
very small, resulting in
small feed through
from RF to LO to
output.
RL
+ out -
LO+
vin + DC
Q1
Q2
LO-
QB
47

Port isolation
VCC
What about RF to output?

RL
Ideally, contribution to
output is:
RL
+ out -
SW(LO)*gmvinRL
LO+
What can go wrong and

cause an RF component
at the output?
vin + DC
Q1
Q2
LO-
QB
48
Noise Components:
1. Noise due to loads
2. Noise due to the
input transistor (QB)
3. Noise due to
switches (Q1 and Q2)
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
49

1. Noise due to loads:
Each RL contributes
vRL2 = 4kTRLf
Since they are
uncorrelated with
each other, their noise
powers add
Total contribution of
RLs: voRL2 = 8kTRLf
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
50

2. Noise due input
transistor (the
transducer):
From BJT device
model, equivalent
input noise voltage
of a CE amplifier is:
2
in CE
1
f
4kT rb
2gm
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
51

2. Noise due to input
transistor:
If this is a differential
amplifier, QB noise
would be common
mode
But Q1 and Q2 just
switching, the noise just
appears at either
v
terminal of out:
in(CE)
2
out ,QB
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
gain v
2
2
in CE
52

2. Noise due to input
transistor:
Noise at the two
terminals dependent?
Accounted for by
incorporating a factor
n.
2
out ,QB
n gain v
2
out ,QB
g m RL 4nkT
v
v
2
in CE
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
vin(CE) 2
1
f
rb
2gm
53
Total Noise due to RL

and QB:
RL
If we assume rb is very
small:
g m RL
vT2
8kTRL 1
f
4
When:
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
rb << 1/(2gm) and

n=1
54

3. What about the noise due
to switches?
When Q2 is off and Q1 is

on, acting like a cascode or
more like a resister if LO is
LO+
strong
Can show that Q1s noise
has little effect on vout
VE1~VC1, VBE1 has similar
noise as VC1, which cause
jitter in the time for Q1 to
turn off if the edges of LO
are not infinitely steep
RL
RL
+ out LOQ1
Q2
QB
55

3. What about the noise
due to switches:
RL
Transition time jitter

in the switching signal:
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
no noise
noise
Effect is quite complex, quantitative analysis later
56
How to improve Noise

Figure of mixer:
Reduce RL
Increase gm and
reduce rb of QB
Faster switches
Steeper rise or fall
edge in LO
Less jitter in LO
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
57
IP3:
The CE input transistor
(QB) converts vin to Iin
BJTs cause 3rd-order

harmonics
Multiplying by RL is
linear operation
Q1 & Q2 only modulate
the frequency
IP3mixer = IP3CEs Vbe->I
I QB I s e
(VBB vin ) / vt
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
LOQ1
Q2
QB
1
1 2
1 3
I DC (1 vin 2 vin 3 vin ...)
vt
2v t
6v t
58

Basically two CE mixers
One gets +vin/2, the other gets vin/2
VCC
RL
RL
+ out -
LO+
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
LO+
LOQB1
+ vin -
QB2
59
+1
-1
Local Oscillator
vout = gmvinRL
vout = gmvinRL
60

Benefits:
Fully Differential
No output signal at LO
Three stages:
CE input stages
Switches
Output load
61

Noise:
Suppose QB1 & QB2
give similar total gm
Similar to CE Mixer
VCC
RL
RL
+ out -
IP3:
Similar Taylor series
LO+
expansion of
transducer transistors
Vin split between two
Qs, it can double
before reaching the
same level of
nonlinearity
IIP3 improved by 3 dB
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
LO+
LOQB1
+ vin -
QB2
62
Common Base Mixers

Similar operation to CE
mixers
Different input stage
QB is CB
VC C
RL
+ out -
LO+
Slightly different output

noise
Different CB input noise
Better linearity
RL
V Bias
Q1
Q2
LO-
QB
vin
IDC
63
Mixer Improvements
Debiasing switches
from input transistors:
To lower NF we want
high gm, but low Q1
and Q2 current
Conflicting!
We can set low ISwitches

and high IQb using a
current source
g m RL
2c
NF 1 2
1
g m RL RS
4
64
MOS Single Balanced Mixer

The transistor M1
converts the RF
voltage signal to the
current signal.
Transistors M2 and
M3 commute the
current between the
two branches.
RL
RL
VLO
M2
Vout
M3
VLO
I DC I RF
VRF
M1
65

I M1
VLO
t
VOUT
t
66

VOUT
t
IF Filter
VOUT
67

IF Filter
RF
IF
LO
LO RF
RF LO
LO RF
LO RF
68

RF
SMIX
SLO LO
LO RF
RF LO
2 LO
3 LO
69
Single Balanced Mixer

(Incl. RF input Impd. Match)
RL
VLO
RS
VS
RL
Vout
M3
M2
Cl arg e
Lg
VLO
GM VRF
Rb
VGG
Ls
This architecture, without impedance matching for the LO port, is very

commonly used in many designs.
70
Single Balanced Mixer

(Incl. RF & LO Impd. Match)
VGG 2
VLO
VGG 2
RL
Lg
RL
Vout
M3
M2
Lm2
RS
VS
Cl arg e
Lg
Lg
VLO
Lm3
GM VRF
Rb
VGG1
Ls
This architecture, with impedance matching for the LO port,

maximizes LO power utilization without wasting it.
71
Single Balanced Mixer Analysis: Linearity

RL
VLO
RS
Lg
Rb
VGG
Vout
M3
M2
Cl arg e
VS
RL
VLO
GM VRF
Ls
Linearity of the Mixer primarily depends on the linearity of the transducer

(I_tail=Gm*V_rf). Inductor Ls helps improve linearity of the transducer.
The transducer transistor M1 can be biased in the linear law region to improve
the linearity of the Mixer. Unfortunately this results in increasing the noise
figure of the mixer (as discussed in LNA design).
72
Single Balanced Mixer Analysis: Linearity

RL
VLO
M2
Vout
RL
VLO
M3
VGG
RS
Ibias
Cc
VS
Using the common gate stage as the transducer improves the linearity of
the mixer. Unfortunately the approach reduces the gain and increases
the noise figure of the mixer.
73
Single Balanced Mixer Analysis: Isolation

RL
VLO
RL
Vout
M3
M2
VLO
0.5TLO
LO-RF Feed through
RS
VS
Cl arg e
Lg
Rb
VGG
GM VRF
Ls
0.5TLO
0.5TLO
0.5TLO
The strong LO easily feeds through and ends up at the RF port in the
above architecture especially if the LO does not have a 50% duty
cycle. Why?
74

VLO
M3
M2
VLO
GM VRF
VBB2
RS
Cl arg e
VS
Lg
Rb
VBB1
Weak LO-RF Feed through
Ls
The amplified RF signal from the transducer is passed to the commuting switches
through use of a common gate stage ensuring that the mixer operation is unaffected.
Adding the common gate stage suppresses the LO-RF feed through.
75

RL
LO-IF Feed through
VLO
RS
Lg
Rb
VBB1
Vout
M3
M2
Cl arg e
VS
RL
VLO
GM VRF
Ls
The strong LO-IF feed-through may cause the mixer or the amplifier following the
mixer to saturate. It is therefore important to minimize the LO-IF feed-through.
76

RL
VLO
M2
VRF
RL
VOUT
M3
I DC I RF
VLO
M2
VRF
M3
VLO
I DC I RF
Strong LO-IF feed suppressed by double balanced mixer.

All the even harmonics cancelled.
All the odd harmonics doubled (including the signal).
77

RL
VLO
M2
RL
VOUT
Vout
M3
VLO
M2
I DC I RF
VRF
VRF
Vout
M3
VLO
I DC I RF
The LO feed through cancels.

The output voltage due to RF signal doubles.
78
Double Balanced Mixer: Linearity

RL
VLO
M3
M2
VRF
RL
VOUT
M1
VLO
M3
M2
I DC I RF
I DC I RF
M1
VLO
VRF
Show that:
K SQ 1/ 2
K SQ
1
VIF 2 I DC RL
*VRF .
2
I
2
2
I
DC
DC

3/ 2
3
RF
...
IIP3 in volts
8 I DC
3K SQ
79
Mixer Input Match

RS Rg T LS
RL
VLO
RS
Cl arg e
VS
Vout
1
Cgs
RL
M3
M2
VLO
Lg
Rb
VBB1
Lg Ls
Ls
80
Mixer Gain
RL
VLO
Vout
RL
M3
M2
VLO
I sig GM VRF GM ARF cos RF t

VRF
M1
GM
1
2 RS
TLO
0
: Vout Vcc I DC I sig .RL Vcc I DC I sig .RL
2
TLO
TLO : Vout Vcc Vcc I DC I sig .RL I DC I sig .RL
2
Vout sig I sig RL * SW I sig RL
4
1
1
1
cos
cos
3
cos
5
cos 7 LO t
LO
LO
LO
3
5
7
81
Mixer Output Match

Heterodyne Mixer:
If IF frequency is low (100-200MHz) and signal
bandwidth is high (many MHz), output impedance
matching is difficult due to:
The signal bandwidth is comparable to the IF
frequency therefore the impedance matching would
create gain and phase distortions
Need large inductors and capacitors to impedance
match at 200MHz
82
Mixer Output Match (IF)

400
L par 2nH
VCC 3.0V
RL 400
VLO
M2
VRF
Vout
M3
VLO
M1
83
Mixer Output Match (direct conversion)
RL CL
VLO
RS
Cl arg e
VS
M3
Vout
VLO
Lg
Rb
VBB1
M2
RL
Ls
84
Mixer Noise Analysis

RL
Vout
M3
M2
VLO
Instantaneous Switching
RL
VLO
VOUT
t
I DC ,mix I RF I Noise
VRF
M1
Noise in RF signal band and

in image band both mixed
into IF signal band
LO RF
RF LO
LO RF
85

RL
Vout
M3
M2
VLO
Finite Switching Time
RL
VLO
VOUT
t
VRF
M1
If the switching is not instantaneous, additional noise from the switching pair will
be added to the mixer output.
Let us examine this in more detail.
86

Noise analysis of a single balanced mixer cont...:
RL
VLO
Vout
M 2 on
RL
M 3 off
VLO
VOUT
t
VRF
M1
When M2 is on and M3 is off:

M2 does not contribute any additional noise (M2 acts as
cascode)
M3 does not contribute any additional noise (M3 is off)
87

RL
VLO
Vout
M 2 off
RL
M 3 on
VLO
VOUT
t
VRF
M1
When M2 is off and M3 is on:

M2 does not contribute any additional noise (M2 is off)
M3 does not contribute any additional noise (M3 acts as
cascode)
88

RL
VLO
Vout
M 2 on
RL
M 3 on
VLO
VOUT
t
VRF
M1
When VLO+ = VLO- (i.e. the LO is passing through zero), the noise
contribution from the transducer (M1) is zero. Why?
However, the noise contributed from M2 and M3 is not zero
because both transistors are conducting and the noise in M2 and
M3 are uncorrelated.
89
Optimizing the mixer (for noise figure):

RL
VLO
M 2 on
Vout
RL
M 3 on
Trise
VOUT
VLO
g m W ... fixed I DC
VRF
M1
1
T
... fixed I DC
W
Design the transducer for minimum noise figure.
Noise from M2, M3 minimized by fast switching :

making LO amplitude large
making M2 and M3 short (i.e. increasing fT of M2 and M3)
Noise from M2, M3 can be minimized by using wide M2/M3 switches.
90

Noise Figure Calculation:
Trise
RL
VLO
Vout
M 2 on
RL
M 3 on
VOUT
VLO
VRF
M1
Let us calculate the noise figure including the contribution

of M2/M3 during the switching process.
91
Mixer Noise Analysis: RL Noise

Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (RL noise):
RL
VLO
Vout
M2
RL
M3
VLO
2
vnoise
RL 4kT 2 RL
VRF
M1
IF
RF LO
92
Mixer Noise Analysis: Transducer Noise
Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (Transducer noise):

RL
VLO
Vout
M2
RL
M3
VLO
VRF
VLO
t
M1
inoise M 1 switch inoise M 1 t .SW t

4
4
4
Cos LOt
Cos 3 LO t
Cos 5 LOt ...
3
5

inoise M 1 t .
93
Mixer Noise Analysis: Transducer Noise
Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (Trans-conductor noise):
inoise M 1 switch inoise M 1 t .SW t

4
4
4
Cos LO t
Cos 3 LO t
Cos 5 LO t ...
3
5

inoise M 1 t .
IF
2
noise M 1
SW f
3 LO
LO
4kT
f .
.4kTg m1
Rch
5 LO
2
inoise
M 1 IF 2.
4
4
LO 3 LO ...
4
1 1
. 1 2 2 .. . 4kTg m1
3 5

2
inoise
M 1 IF 4. 4kTg m1
94
Mixer Noise Analysis: Switch Noise
Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (switch noise):

id
VLO
M 2 on
M 3 on
id 2 id 3
4 kT
4 kTgm
Rch
VLO
vgn .
4kT
gm
gm vgs
id
gm vgs
95
Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (switch noise):

iout iout
RL
VLO
Vout
M2
RL
M3
VLO
VLO
VRF
Gm
M1
Gm 0
VLO
Show that:
Gm g m 2 g m 3 g m 2,3
2.I DC ,mix
V
96
Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (switch noise) cont...:

VLO
vn m 2,3
TLO
2
Gm
iout
iout t Gm t .vn m 2,3 t
97
Gm t
TLO
2
2
p
T
/
2
LO
Gm f
T
Gm t Gm 0 .
T
/
2
LO
p 2 p
3 p
T p
Sin
k.
2
1
T .Gm 0 .
.2Cos k pt
LO k 1
p
k
.
2
2
vn m 2,3 vn2 m 2 vn2 m 3
vn m 2,3 f
vn m 2,3 2. .
2 p
4kT
g m 2,3
3 p
98
Gm f
p 2 p
Gm f
vn m 2,3 f
3 p
vn m 2,3 f
p 2 p
3 p
1
2
inoise
.Gm2 0 .T .vn2m 2,3

M 2,3
IF
TLO
2
99
1
2.I DC ,mix
.Gm2 0 .T .vn2 m 2,3 G g g g
m
m2
m3
m 2,3
TLO
V
2 I DC ,mix
2
Gm 0
V Slope. T
VLO t ALO Cos LO t
V
dVLO t
4kT
Slope t 90
vn m 2,3 2. .
LO LO
LO
dt
g m 2,3
LOt 90
1
1
4kT
2
2
2
2
inoise M 2,3 IF
.Gm 0 .T .vn m 2,3
.Gm 0 .T . 2. .
TLO / 2
TLO / 2
g
m 2,3
2.I
1
1
.Gm 0 .T . 2. .4kT
. DC ,mix .T . 2. .4kT
TLO / 2
TLO / 2 V
2
inoise
M 2,3 IF
2 I DC ,mix
T 2 I DC ,mix
1
. 2. .4kT .
. 2. .4kT .
TLO / 2
V
TLO / 2
ALO LO
I DC ,mix
4. 4kT
A
LO
Total Noise Contribution due to switches M2 and M3
100
Mixer Noise Analysis: Total Noise
Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (total noise):

2
noise RL
2
noise M 1
4kT 2 RL
g m short
dI DS short 1
I DS short
WCox vsat
dVGS
2
VGSQ VT 0
IF 4. 4kTg m1 4. 4kT .
I DC ,mix
GSQ
VT 0
I DC ,mix
A
LO
2
inoise
M 2,3 IF 4. 4kT
2
2
2 2
2 2
vnoise
MIX IF vnoise RL RL inoise M 1 RL inoise M 2,3
2
noise MIX
IF 4kTRL
1 4. .
I DC ,mix
GSQ
VT 0
.RL 4. .
I DC , mix
ALO
.RL
101
Mixer Noise Analysis: Total Noise
Noise Analysis of Heterodyne Mixer (total noise):

2
noise MIX
IF 4kTRL
1 4. .
I DC ,mix
GSQ
VT 0
.RL 4. .
I DC , mix
ALO
.RL
(VGSQ-VT0) M1 linearity and noise

ALO noise contribution from M2/M3
2
vnoise
MIX IF
VGSQ 0.8V
VGSQ 1.6V
VLO
102
Homodyne Mixer Noise Analysis: Transducer Noise
Noise Analysis of Homodyne Mixer (noise from transducer M1):
RL
VLO
Vout
M2
RL
M3
VLO
VRF
M1
LO
RF
103
Homodyne Mixer Noise Analysis: RL Noise
Noise Analysis of Homodyne Mixer (noise from RL):
RL
VLO
Vout
M2
RL
Noise from RL
M3
VLO
VRF
M1
LO
RF
104
Homodyne Mixer Noise Analysis: non-50% duty LO
Noise Analysis of Homodyne Mixer (M2,M3 mismatched or non-50% duty

cycle of LO)}:
TLO
TLO
2
RL
VLO
Vout
RL
M2
VRF
VLO
M3
VLO
M1
I M 1
DC
4
4
Cos LO t
Cos 3 LO t ...
105

cycle of LO)--{Noise from M1}:
RL
VLO
Vout
M2
VRF
RL
M3
VLO
I Noise M1
I Noise 1/ f
I Noise thermal
M1
DC , mix
I RF I Noise thermal I Noise 1/ f
106

cycle of LO)--{Noise from M1}:
RL
VLO
Vout
M2
DC-term of LO
RL
M3
VLO
VRF
M1
LO
RF
3 LO
4
4
I
.
DC
Cos
Cos
3
...
DC ,mix RF Noisethermal Noise 1/ f

LO
LO
107

cycle of LO)--{Noise from M2/M3}:
id id thermal id 1/ f
VLO
M 2 on
id 1/ f
M 3 on
id 2 id 3
Kf
.g .
CoxWL
f
VLO
vgn 1/ f
2
m
Kf
1
CoxWL f
.
gm vgs
gm vgs
108

RL
vgn 1/ f
VLO
M2
DC , mix
Vout
RL
M3
VLO
I RF I Noise thermal I Noise 1/ f

vgn 1/ f
VLO
109

vgn 1/ f
VLO
iout
iout iout no noise inoise 1/ f
110

VLO
cycle of LO)--{Noise from M2/M3}: vgn 1/ f
iout
iout iout no noise inoise 1/ f

v
t Slope 2 A
T t gn 1/ f
LO LO
Slope
iout
T t
vgn 1/ f t
2 ALO LO
111

vgn 1/ f t
TLO
T LO
Noise Energy T t .I DC ,max . t k
.
I
.
k
DC ,max
2
2
A
k 0
k 0
LO LO
vgn 1/ f f
inoise 1/ f
.I DC ,max
2 ALO
vgn 1/ f f
vgn 1/ f t
I DC , mix
1
0.5TLO
iout
0.5TLO
I DC ,mix
iout
t
1
0.5TLO
112
Increasing Headroom in DBM (Option 1)

Vb
Q21 Q2 2 Rb
Rb
Vin
Q2' 2 Q2' 1
Vin
Cc
VLO
Cc
VLO
Vgnd
Vcc
Q1
Le
Q1'
Vgdcom
Le
L par 2nH
113

VCC 3.0V
Vgg
RL
RL
RL 200
VS
RS 200
Vin
C 10nF
I BQ
Lb
Vb
Rb
Q21 Q2 2
Rb
Rb Rb '
'
Q2 2 Q21
Vb
Vb
Cc Q '
1
Cc
Q1
VLO VLO
Le
Vgdcom
I BQ
Lb
Vin
C 10nF
VS
Le
L par 2nH
114

VCC 3.0V
Vgg
RL
RL
RL 200
VS
RS 200
Vin
C 10nF
I BQ
Lb
Vb
Rb
Q21 Q2 2
Rb
Rb Rb '
'
Q2 2 Q21
Vb
Vb
Cc Q '
1
Cc
Q1
VLO VLO
Le
Vgdcom
I BQ
Lb
Vin
C 10nF
VS
Le
L par 2nH
115

Mixer Design

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Mixer Design

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Mixer Design

Creative use of nonlinearity or time-variance

Used together with appropriate filtering

Two operation mechanisms

An ideal nonlinearity mixer

Then the output is

Commutating switch mixer

ARF cos( RF LO )t cos 3( RF LO )t

Noise Figures: SSB vs DSB

Single side band

Double side band

SSB Noise Figure

Broadband noise from mixer or front end filter will be

DSB Noise Figure

For zero IF, there is no image band

DSB noise figure is 3 dB lower than SSB noise figure

Feed through from the LO port to IF output port due to

Reverse LO Feed through

Reverse feed through from the LO port to RF

Self-Mixing of Reverse LO Feedthrough

LO component in the RF input can pass back

Ignoring dynamic effects, three nonlinearities around an

Nonlinearity C: cause self mixing of IF output

Focus on Nonlinearity in RF Input Path

Nonlinearity B not detrimental in most cases

Nonlinearity C avoidable with linear loads

Single-diode passive mixer

Simplest and oldest passive mixer

Single-balanced diode mixer

Double-balanced diode mixer

Poor gain (typically -6dB)

CMOS Passive Mixer

M1 through M4 act as switches

CMOS Passive Mixer

Use switches to perform the mixing operation

CMOS Passive Mixer

CMOS Passive Mixer

Cos LOt Cos 3 LOt

Vout VRF .Cos RF t

CMOS Passive Mixer

Vout VRF .Cos RF t DC Cos LOt

CMOS Passive Mixer with Biasing

A Highly Linear CMOS Mixer

Simple Switching Mixer (Single Balanced Mixer)

Single balanced active mixer, BJT

Q1 and Q2 steer the

Double Balanced Mixer

Strong LO-IF feed suppressed by double balanced mixer.

Use a differential pair to achieve the transconductor

Double balanced mixer, BJT

Mixers based on MOS square law

I ds K SQ . Vbias VRF VLO VT 0

K SQ . Vbias VT 0 VRF VLO 2 Vbias VT 0 . VRF VLO

(VRF VLO ) 2 gives rise to

Practical Square Law Mixers

The conversion gain can be shown to be

Practical Bipolar Mixer

The conversion gain can be shown to be

MOSFET Mixer (with impedance matching)

Properly designed track-and-hold circuit works

Features of Square Law Mixers

Mixer performance analysis