A 100-Element Planar Schottky Diode Grid Mixer

Jonathan B. Hacker, Robert M. Weikle, Moonil Kim, Michael P. De Lisio, David B. Rutledge

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this work we present a Schottky diode grid mixer suitable for mixing or detecting quasi-optical signals. The mixer is a planar bow-tie grid structure periodically loaded with diodes. A simple transmission line model is used to predict the reflection coefficient of the grid to a normally incident plane wave. The grid mixer power handling and dynamic range scales as the number of devices in the grid. A 10 GHz 100-element grid mixer has shown an improvement in dynamic range of 16.3 to 19.8 dB over an equivalent single-diode mixer. The conversion loss and noise figure of the grid are equal to that of a conventional mixer. The quasi-optical coupling of the input signals makes the grid mixer suitable for millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave applications by eliminating waveguide sidewall losses and machining difficulties. The planar property of the grid potentially allows thousands of devices to be integrated monolithically.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)557-562
Number of pages6
JournalIEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Volume40
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1992 Mar

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Manuscript received July 10, 1991; revised August 18, 1991. This work was supported by the Army Research Office and the Northrop Corporation. J. Hacker holds an NSERC Fellowship from Canada and M. De Lisio holds an NSF Fellowship. The authors are with the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, Califomia Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91 125. IEEE Log Number 9 105707.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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