RF Mixers

In-phase quadrature (I/Q) mixers and image reject mixers (IRM) offer a robust frequency mixing solution for applications that require high image rejection or sideband suppression. These mixers can be used as an upconverter or downcoverter. I/Q or IRM mixers use two double-balanced mixers with a 90° hybrid. The inherent architecture of I/Q mixers eliminates the resulting product due to image frequency during downconversion and allows the selection of desired sideband during upconversion.

In-phase quadrature (I/Q) downconverters integrate an image reject mixer, a low noise amplifier, a 90° hybrid, and an LO buffer amplifier in one package. These devices are used in receiver applications to downconvert radio frequency (RF) signals to the desired intermediate frequency (IF) while ensuring low noise and high image rejection performance.

In-phase quadrature (I/Q) upconverters integrate an I/Q mixer, RF amplifier, 90° hybrid, and an LO buffer in one package. These devices are used in transmitter applications to upconvert intermediate frequency (IF) to a desired radio frequency (RF) while reducing the need for filtering unwanted sideband.

Analog Devices RF mixers/multipliers include both active and passive, as well as broadband and narrowband, products. These devices promise high performance and flexibility to help designers achieve their target specifications, reduce design time, and optimize costs. With leading specifications including speed, dynamic range, noise figure under blocking, SFDR, and ESD performance, ADI RF mixers and multipliers help to raise the bar within RF systems.

Single, double or triple balanced mixers are the fundamental mixer architecture ranges, which means that all ports in the mixer utilize a single-ended to differential balun structure to reduce undesired signals. Analog Devices’ fundamental mixer portfolio’s frequency coverage from sub MHz to 90 GHz can offer a discrete mixer solution in either packaged or die form to meet the current market’s end application requirements. Our mixer portfolio offers simple implementation and cost-effective design choices. Options include local oscillator (LO) buffer amplifiers or intermediate frequency (IF) amplifiers to further meet customer-specific design objectives.

Subharmonic mixers are composed of a passive mixer with a subharmonically pumped (×2) local oscillator. These mixers allow designers to use low LO frequency, which eases the need to generate a high frequency LO signal. For high frequency application design, Analog Devices subharmonic mixers offer a simpler alternative to traditional mixers with no LO multiplier.