Mixer circuit, receiver comprising a mixer circuit, wireless communication comprising a receiver, method for generating an output signal by mixing an input signal with an oscillator signal

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixer circuit comprising an input node for receiving an input signal, a first output node, and a second output node, voltage to current conversion means and switching means operatively coupled to each other and to the input node, the first output node and the second output node to generate a mixed input signal at the first output node and the second output node in response to an oscillator signal. In an embodiment the voltage to current conversion means comprises a first and a second voltage to current converter, implemented as N-MOSFETs Mand M, with their gates connected to the input node. The drain of Mis connected to the first output node, while the drain of the Mis connected to the second output node M. The source of Mis connected to the switching node, while the source of Mis connected to the second switching node. The switches SW are arranged to couple the first switching nodeto a first supply voltage VDD and the second switching nodeto a second supply voltage VSS during a first phase of the oscillator signal, and the first switching nodeto VDD and the second switching nodeto VSS during a second phase of the oscillator signal. The mixer circuit according to the invention may operate at low supply voltages by using switches connected only to the supply voltages VSS and VDD. Mixing is achieved by voltage to current converters GMand GM, which are alternatingly activated by the switches SW.