Millimeter-Wave Frequency Quadrupler With Harmonic-Canceling Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequency multipliers at millimeter-wave frequencies face challenges in reducing surface area and signal loss due to the need for filtering structures and power combining, which complicates the generation of high output power.
Innovation Solution
A frequency multiplier design utilizing a pair of non-linear devices and transmission lines to generate and phase-shift harmonics, canceling the fundamental and lower harmonics to produce a frequency-multiplied output signal, with specific phase shifts and transmission line lengths to achieve efficient power delivery and reduced surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If filtering structures and power combining structures are used in frequency multipliers at millimeter-wave frequencies, then output power can be increased, but surface area increases and signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filtering function and power combining function into a single integrated transmission line structure. The transmission lines are configured to simultaneously perform harmonic rejection (filtering) and coherent power combination of the fourth harmonics from multiple non-linear devices, eliminating the need for separate filtering structures and power combiners that would increase surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission lines serve multiple functions: they act as impedance transformation networks, harmonic filters (rejecting fundamental and lower harmonics), and power combining structures. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity and surface area while maintaining high output power capability at millimeter-wave frequencies.
2Power
If filtering structures and power combining structures are used in frequency multipliers at millimeter-wave frequencies, then output power can be increased, but signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filtering function and power combining function into a single integrated transmission line structure. The transmission lines are configured to simultaneously perform harmonic rejection (filtering) and coherent power combination of the fourth harmonics from multiple non-linear devices, eliminating the need for separate filtering structures and power combiners that would increase surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission lines serve multiple functions: they act as impedance transformation networks, harmonic filters (rejecting fundamental and lower harmonics), and power combining structures. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity and surface area while maintaining high output power capability at millimeter-wave frequencies.
3Reliability
If traditional frequency multiplier designs are used at millimeter-wave frequencies, then filtering and power combining can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filtering function and power combining function into a single integrated transmission line structure. The transmission lines are configured to simultaneously perform harmonic rejection (filtering) and coherent power combination of the fourth harmonics from multiple non-linear devices, eliminating the need for separate filtering structures and power combiners that would increase surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission lines serve multiple functions: they act as impedance transformation networks, harmonic filters (rejecting fundamental and lower harmonics), and power combining structures. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity and surface area while maintaining high output power capability at millimeter-wave frequencies.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively increases signal frequency while minimizing signal loss and surface area, enabling efficient power delivery at millimeter-wave frequencies by canceling unwanted harmonics and simplifying the configuration, thus enhancing the performance of frequency multipliers.
Implementation Method 1
phase shifting bifurcated components of the two or more signals in transmission lines
Implementation Method 2
One component of each of the two bifurcated input signals reflects in the unterminated second transmission line
Implementation Method 3
non-linear devices configured to receive an input signal having a fundamental mode and to provide an output having one or more harmonics
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for increasing a signal frequency include generating two or more signals having a fundamental mode and one or more harmonics; phase shifting bifurcated components of the two or more signals in transmission lines; and combining the bifurcated components to create an output signal that cancels a fundamental mode, a second harmonic, and a third harmonic in the signals to produce a frequency-multiplied output signal.