Broadband balanced frequency converter

1. A broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”) in signal communication with a frequency source, the BBFC comprising:

a mixer;

an active balancing element in signal communication with the mixer, wherein the active balancing element drives the mixer in a balanced mode with the frequency source;

a power splitting device in signal communication with the active balancing element and the frequency source, wherein the power splitting device receives a frequency reference signal from the frequency source and in response splits the frequency reference signal into a plurality of split frequency signals, wherein a first split frequency reference signal of the plurality of split frequency signals is passed to the active balancing element; a second mixer; and

a second active balancing element in signal communication with both the second mixer and power splitting device, wherein the second active balancing element receives a second frequency reference signal from the plurality of split frequency signals and in response drives the second mixer in a balanced mode.

2. The BBFC of claim 1 , wherein the mixer and the active balancing element are combined in a monolithic circuit.

3. The BBFC of claim 1 , wherein the power splitting device, mixer, second mixer, active balancing element, and second active balancing element are combined in a monolithic circuit.

4. The BBFC of claim 1 , wherein the mixer is a diode mixer.

5. The BBFC of claim 1 , wherein the mixer is an active balancing mixer.

6. The BBFC of claim 1 , wherein the mixer, second mixer, active balancing element, and second active balancing element are combined in a monolithic circuit.

7. The BBFC of claim 1 , wherein the active balancing element is a differential amplifier.

8. The BBFC of claim 7 , wherein the mixer is a diode mixer.

9. The BBFC of claim 7 , wherein the mixer is an active balancing mixer.

10. The BBFC of claim 9 , wherein the active balancing mixer is a Gilbert mixer.

11. A method for up-converting a low-frequency input signal to a broadband output signal with a broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”), the method comprising:

creating a balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a frequency reference signal from a frequency source with an active balancing element;

mixing the balanced frequency reference signal with the low-frequency input signal to produce the broadband output signal splitting the frequency reference signal into a plurality of split frequency signals, wherein a first split frequency reference signal of the plurality of split frequency signals is balanced to create the balanced frequency reference signal;

creating a second balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a second frequency reference signal from the plurality of split frequency signals with a second active balancing element; and

mixing the second balanced frequency reference signal with another low-frequency input signal to produce another broadband output signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein creating the balanced frequency reference signal includes differentially amplifying the frequency reference signal.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein mixing includes mixing the balanced frequency reference signal and low-frequency input signal with a diode mixer.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein mixing includes mixing the balanced frequency reference signal and low-frequency input signal with an active balancing mixer.

15. A method for down-converting a high-frequency input signal to a low-frequency output signal with a broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”), the method comprising:

creating a balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a frequency reference signal from a frequency source with an active balancing element;

mixing the balanced frequency reference signal with the high-frequency input signal to produce the low-frequency output signal;

splitting the frequency reference signal into a plurality of split frequency signals, wherein a first split frequency reference signal of the plurality of split frequency signals is balanced to create the balanced frequency reference signal;

creating a second balanced frequency reference signal by balancing a second frequency reference signal from the plurality of split frequency signals with a second active balancing element; and

mixing the second balanced frequency reference signal with another high-frequency input signal to produce another low-frequency output signal.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein creating the balanced frequency reference signal includes differentially amplifying the frequency reference signal.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein mixing includes mixing the balanced frequency reference signal and high-frequency input signal with an active balancing mixer.