PMB 2333
Semiconductor Group
41
09.97
Note that the mixer input impedance seen at MI / MIX is a strong function of mixer
current. The mixer input balanced-to-unbalanced transformer/matching circuitry was
originally tuned for a current of 4mA, and was
not
re-optimized for each of the other
current levels. Despite this limitation, the return loss at the 50
port is better than 10dB
over the entire 1 to 10 mA current range. The mixer output (MO / MOX) and local
oscillator (LO / LOX) ports exhibit negligible change in impedance over this same current
range.
Measurement conditions: T
A
= 25 °C
Vcc = 2.7 V and 4.5V
f
RF
= 1960 MHz
f
LO
= 1735 MHz, P
LO
= -6 dBm
The Effect of Power Supply Voltage on Mixer Metrics
In seeking to improve Mixer Input Third-Order Intercept and 1dB Compression Point, it
is important to understand the constraints on these parameters imposed by power
supply voltage.
Refer to Figure 10.
Receiver ‘Blocking’ is predominantly influenced by the Mixer’s 1 dB Compression Point
(P1dB) and
not
the Input 3rd Order Intercept Point (IIP3). For a supply voltage of 4.5V,
mixer P1dB (referred to the input of the application circuitry)
increases with additional
mixer current, and begins to flatten out above 8mA. When supply voltage is decreased
to 2.7V, mixer P1dB starts flattening out at around 5mA.
Note how, at the 2.7V supply voltage, IIP3 continues to increase at currents over
6mA while P1dB flattens out.
For a given conversion gain G, while operating at 2.7
Volts, considering only the mixer’s Input 3rd Order Intercept (IIP3) might lead one to
falsely conclude that increasing current beyond 6mA improves receiver blocking. If,
however, conversion gain is decreased, it may be possible to improve the receiver's
blocking level with additional mixer current.
As shown in Figure 10, the 1 dB compression level, referred to the input, is limited by
either current or the available voltage swing at the mixer output. The transition between
these two regions takes place at 4mA for the specified conversion gain and supply
voltage.
Figure 11 gives the DSB mixer noise figure versus the mixer current.