Method and apparatus for using a balanced mixer as a switch

摘要

A balanced mixer is used as a switch. In digital mode, the balanced mixer receives a digital mode analog waveform and a local oscillator (L.O.). The balanced mixer mixes the waveform and the L.O. to provide a resultant output signal. In analog mode, the L.O. is modulated to contain the communication information. No analog signal is present on the port of the mixer which received the digital mode analog waveform in digital mode. The desired output of the mixer is the modulated L.O. In order to pass the L.O. through the mixer, a DC bias is applied to one of the waveform terminals of the mixer to unbalance it. A diode attenuator is added to the output of the mixer to provide scaling of the analog mode output.