A passive 8 to 24 GHz frequency tripler based on microstrip line circuits and schottky diodes

A novel passive frequency multiplier topology providing a large bandwidth is presented in this work. The system uses microstrip couplers and diodes in order to realize a frequency tripler circuit. Microstrip filters such as bandpass and lowpass filters are used for a cancellation of the fundamental frequency at the output and for oscillator decoupling at the input. For demonstrative purposes, and to validate the concept, a 24 GHz frequency tripler is simulated and realized. The passive tripler circuit achieves a measured conversion loss of 17 dB and a suppression of the fundamental wave and higher order frequency products of 30 dB. The circuit is built on a Rogers 4003 substrate and has a dimension of 5×2 cm².