Simplified Analysis of Resistive Mixers

This letter gives a simple method for calculation by hand of the conversion efficiency of resistive mixers. The method assumes the same embedding impedances at all mixing frequencies and the mixing element is modeled as a time varying reflection coefficient. This gives simple expressions for the conversion efficiency. It, therefore, allows analytical parameter studies of the impact of the embedding impedance and parameters of the mixing element on the conversion efficiency. The theory is developed in two stages. First at optimum local oscillator power and second for arbitrary power. The theory agrees well with verifying measurements made on a field-effect transistor (FET)-based resistive mixer.