Miniature 8-18 GHz four channel frequency converter

A state-of-the-art, 8-18-GHz front end comprising four-phase and amplitude-matched frequency converters consisting of ten selectable 1-GHz-wide subband channels has been developed. An integrated local oscillator (LO) distribution module consisting of fine dielectric resonator oscillators (DROs) operating at 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 GHz provides the downconversion of the 8-18-GHz RF spectrum to a 2-3-GHz intermediate frequency range. The input noise figure of each converter module is 10 dB, with an associated gain of 46 dB+or-1 dB. The spurious-free dynamic range is greater than 47 dB. The DRO oscillator accuracy is +or-5 p.p.m./ degrees C over a temperature range of 0 degrees C to 50 degrees C. The downconverter utilizes a combination of microwave IC (MIC) and monolithic microwave IC (MMIC) components to obtain state-of-the-art performance in a small volume of 1966 cm/sup 3/. >