Application Note P13683EJ2V0AN00
8
3.
INTERNAL CIRCUIT CONFIGURATION
3.1 Differences Between
μ
PC8106,
μ
PC8109, and
μ
PC8163
The
μ
PC8106 and
μ
PC8109 are double balanced mixer + bias circuit ICs and have the same circuit configuration.
These circuits only differ in that the current across the Gilbert cell paired transistors (Q3, Q4 and Q5, Q6) in the
μ
PC8106 is double that in the
μ
PC8109. This results in a conversion gain difference of about 3 dB. The circuit
configuration in the
μ
PC8163 is the same as the other products in all respects except that there is no power saving
control circuit. However, due to the optimization of the current distribution and the adjustment of CG and IIP
3
, this
product has a higher IP
3
value. The internal equivalent circuit is shown in Figure 3-1 below.
Figure 3-1. Internal Equivalent Circuit Diagram
LOin
PS
RFout
IFin
V
CC
Q3 Q4
Q5 Q6
Q1
Q2
GND
3.2 Internal Circuits and Frequency Bandwidth
These ICs include bypass capacitors at the double balanced mixer type complementary IF inputs in order to
improve the AC characteristics of the 100 MHz to 400 MHz frequency range (50 MHz to 300 MHz in the
μ
PC8163).
This lowers the conversion gain when the IF input frequency is below the minimum value. When the IF input
frequency is above the maximum value, the conversion gain is lowered according to the frequency characteristics of
the internal transistors. Figure 3-2 shows the dependence of the IF input frequency and the conversion gain in the
μ
PC8106.
The RF output pin is an open collector, and since there is no on-chip component that limits the lower limit of the
frequency bandwidth, the user should provide an external narrow-band matching circuit for the internal transistors’
characteristic frequency range (
μ
PC8106,
μ
PC8109: 400 MHz to 2 GHz,
μ
PC8163: 800 MHz to 2 GHz) to set the
desired bandwidth.
Since this mixer has been designed as a product for frequency up-converters, the user’s determination of the
desired bandwidth should be made according to the following conditions. Note with caution that this mixer’s design
and operation as a frequency down-converter are not guaranteed (other frequency down-converter mixer ICs are
available).
Frequency condition: | f
RFout
– f
LOin
| = f
IFin
, f
RFout
, f
LOin
> f
IFin