RF Doubler and Tripler Circuit With DC-Balanced Differential Outputs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiofrequency doublers and triplers face challenges in efficiently doubling or tripling high-frequency signals, often requiring complex configurations, such as polyphase filters and Phase Locked Loops, which introduce losses and are difficult to implement at high frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A radiofrequency doubler and tripler circuit design featuring transistors connected in parallel with a current source and a feedback loop that equalizes DC components, using operational amplifiers and capacitors to control voltages, allowing for balanced outputs without the need for complex phase locking or polyphase filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polyphase filters and Phase Locked Loops are used to double or triple radiofrequency signals, then frequency multiplication is achieved, but the system complexity increases and losses are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex polyphase filters and Phase Locked Loops from the frequency multiplication circuit, replacing them with a simplified transistor-based architecture that achieves the same frequency doubling or tripling function without the associated complexity and losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/complex control systems (Phase Locked Loops) with a simpler electronic transistor switching mechanism that achieves frequency multiplication through direct signal processing rather than complex control loops
2Power
If polyphase filters and Phase Locked Loops are used for frequency multiplication, then frequency doubling or tripling is achieved, but significant losses are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of signal loss into a benefit by using transistor switching mechanisms that actively regenerate and amplify the frequency-multiplied signal, turning what would be a lossy passive filtering approach into an active amplification approach that compensates for losses
3Speed
If complex configurations are used for radiofrequency multiplication, then frequency multiplication is achieved, but the circuit becomes difficult to implement at high frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency multiplication function into distinct transistor stages (first transistor for frequency doubling, second and third transistors for frequency tripling), allowing each segment to operate independently at high frequencies without the burden of complex interconnected filter and loop structures
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment a radiofrequency doubler includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected in parallel between a first differential output and a first terminal of a current source configured to provide a bias current, a second terminal of the current source being connected to a first supply potential, a third transistor connected between the first terminal of the current source and a second differential output, a circuit configured to apply an AC component of a first differential input and a first DC voltage to a gate of the first transistor, apply an AC component of a second differential input and the first DC voltage to a gate of the second transistor and apply a second DC voltage to a gate of the third transistor, and a feedback loop configured to control the first voltage or the second voltage from a difference between DC components of the first and second differential outputs so as to equalize the DC components.