Millimeter-Wave Frequency Quadrupler With Integrated Harmonic Cancellation
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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 components, which complicate 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 optimizing the output impedance and power delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If filtering structures and power combining components are used in frequency multipliers, then output power can be enhanced, 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 and power addition from multiple non-linear devices, eliminating the need for separate filter and combiner components, thus reducing surface area while maintaining output power capability
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission lines are designed to serve multiple functions: they act as impedance transformation elements, harmonic filters, and power combining networks simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high output power without requiring additional dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall surface area
2Power
If filtering structures and power combining components are used in frequency multipliers, then output power can be enhanced, but signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the filter and power combiner into a single transmission line structure, the patent eliminates multiple connection interfaces and component boundaries where signal loss would occur. The direct transmission line path from non-linear devices to output reduces cumulative insertion loss compared to cascaded filter and combiner stages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate power combiner component from the traditional architecture. By using the transmission lines directly to combine powers from multiple non-linear devices through their inherent impedance transformation properties, the design removes an entire lossy component stage while maintaining power combining capability
3Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional frequency multiplier designs are used, then filtering can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filtering function into the power combining transmission lines themselves. The transmission lines are configured with specific electrical lengths and impedances that naturally reject harmonics while combining fundamental frequencies, eliminating the need for separate filter sections and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission lines are designed as universal elements that simultaneously perform impedance matching, harmonic filtering, and power combining functions. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of discrete components and simplifies the overall device architecture compared to traditional designs using separate filters and combiners
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 reduces signal losses and surface area, enabling efficient power delivery at millimeter-wave frequencies by canceling unwanted harmonics and simplifying the output matching process, while maintaining high output power at multiple ports.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of non-linear devices configured to receive an input signal having a fundamental mode and to provide an output having one or more harmonics
Implementation Method 2
a set of transmission lines configured to receive two bifurcated input signals from the pair of non-linear devices and further configured to combine components of the bifurcated input signals into a frequency-multiplied output signal
Implementation Method 3
One component of each of the two bifurcated input signals reflects in the unterminated second transmission line
Implementation Method 4
three collinear transmission lines, each having a length of about one quarter of an input wavelength, configured to receive the outputs of the non-linear devices and configured to combine bifurcated components of the signals from the non-linear devices into two frequency-multiplied output signals
Data Source
AI summary
A symmetric frequency multiplier includes four non-linear devices configured to receive an input signal having a fundamental mode and to provide an output having one or more harmonics; and three collinear transmission lines, each having a length of about one quarter of an input wavelength, configured to receive the outputs of the non-linear devices and configured to combine bifurcated components of the signals from the non-linear devices into two frequency-multiplied output signals. Two of the signals from the non-linear devices are provided at respective ends of the collinear transmission lines and two of the signals from the non-linear devices are provided between transmission lines, such that each of the bifurcated components of a given signal passes through a different subset of the transmission lines.