Development and study of electrical parameters of W-band balance mixer

This paper is devoted to the development of a W-band (75–110 GHz) balanced mixer, which is in demand in transceiver devices and in measuring equipment of the EHF range. The paper describes the structural design and operating principle of the mixer realised as a hybrid-integral circuit placed in a metal case with waveguide leads. Schottky barrier diodes are used as a nonlinear element. A theoretical analysis of the conversion losses of the mixer is outlined. The calculation method based on electrodynamic modelling and nonlinear analysis using the design model of the nonlinear element is discussed. The design process and the results of electrodynamic modelling of waveguide-microstrip nodes of the mixer design are given. The methodology of measurements of the main electrical parameters is described. Experimental results of the study are presented, in particular conversion losses, noise figure, return losses, decoupling.