Superheterodyne Receivers Spurious Responses of Mixers
Superheterodyne Receivers Spurious Responses of Mixers
Recall from that a direct conversion receiver has the
following simplified system diagram:
The frequencies internal to the direct conversion receiver are:
From the last lecture, we can now understand that while f+ and fare the intended output signals, other frequency components will also be present at the mixer output due to HO harmonics
produced in the mixing process. As we’ll see shortly, these HO harmonics are not the same as “spurious responses of the receiver”, known as “spurs.” The superheterodyne receiver does not have the same troubles with image frequencies as the direct conversion receiver does:
The frequencies internal to the superheterodyne receiver are:
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
in the text, the NorCal 40A system diagram is: Spurious Responses of Receivers (Spurs)
In addition to the image frequencies, there are additional
spurious output responses from the receiver (called “spurs”)
caused by signals mixing with higher harmonics of the LO.
By definition, a spur is an unintended output signal from a
receiver. For example, the VFO and BFO images shown in the
diagrams on page 2 are spurs.
Recall that in the Gilbert cell, the LO (or more precisely a
square wave at the LO frequency) multiplies the RF signal in the
time domain.
This process will inevitably produce spurs due to the presence of
HO harmonics produced by mixing. Let’s consider these HO
spurs from the RF mixer. In this case:
We ask: What RF frequencies can mix (i.e., multiply) with the
third harmonic of the LO (VFO) to produce an output at the
frequency fif? Mathematically, we are asking:
f3 ? =3flo +fif
or rearranging,
f3 ? =3flo ?fif
If a received antenna signal is present at this frequency f3? , we will hear it at the same time we hear the intended signal at frfNot good. So once again, we need to filter this spur out.The other third harmonic spur is located at the frequency
So, spurs at f3 ? and f3 ? are in fact the “image frequencies” of the third harmonic of the LO.
To verify that these two frequencies can generate spurious
responses from the receiver, consider the following:
• For f 3?–
So indeed, we see a signal at f3 ? would generate a spurious signal at fiffrom the RF mixer.
• For 3 f ?–
Again, we see that a signal at f3 ? would generate a spurious signal at fif from the RF mixer. There are also possible spurs from higher-order mixer products:
and so on.
How many and which spurs are potentially troublesome for a
receiver depend on the specific construction of the receiver (its
IF, RF, VFO, etc.)Let’s look closely at the NorCal 40A and identify the troublesome spurs.
1. VFO image:
Fi = fif ? flo = 4.9 ? 2.1= 2.8
MHz
2. Third VFO harmonic spurs:
f3=3flo-fif=3.2.1-4.9=1.4mhz
(This spur is in the AM radio frequency band.)
f3=3flo+fif=3.2.1+4.9=11.2mhz
The RF Filter does a good job of filtering out both of these third
harmonic spurs. However, f 3? can be very strong and consequently heard on occasion.
3. Fifth VFO harmonic spurs:
f5? =5flo ?fif =5?2.1 ?4.9 =5.6MHz
f5? =5flo +fif =5.2.1+ 4.9=15.4MHz
Of all the spurs, it turns out that f5 ? is the one closest to the intended RF signal. It causes the largest spurious response in the NorCal 40A since it is difficult to filter out while at the same time continuing to receive the intended RF signal.
In Prob. 28, you will work to locate two of the strongest spurs in
the NorCal 40A, both of which are related to the RF Mixer.
These are the image frequency fi of the RF Mixer and the fifth VFO-harmonic spur f5 ? of the RF Mixer.
Later in Prob. 29, you will locate and measure the dB reduction of f3 ? from the RF Mixer. However, you will be measuring the output voltage from the Product Detector. Consequently, what you are actually measuring is how much of this RF Mixer spur “bleeds through” the Product Detector.
