Nonlinear Analysis of the Diode Frequency Mixers Using Volterra Series: Generalized Matrix Approach in the Frequency Domain

This paper discusses an approach to analyzing diode mixers using nodal equations in a generalized matrix form. This method provides a full formalization of the analysis algorithm of the mixers. In this paper an algorithm for nonlinear analysis of diode mixers using Volterra series method is presented. Authors demonstrate the efficiency of developed technique by applying it to examining the nonlinear distortion of three diode mixer circuits caused by the third harmonic. The representation of the third harmonic of diode current in the frequency domain is obtained. An equivalent diode model based on this representation is introduced taking into account its capacitive parameters for the nonlinear distortion analysis. The analytical expressions for the third harmonic voltage amplitude are obtained. The maximum and minimum values of nonlinear distortion are determined. Calculation and simulation results are presented. The error between them does not exceed 2 dB.