A new mixer for sensor applications

A new configuration of a gate mixer associated with a dual-polarized patch antenna was experimentally investigated for the first time. A gain of 5-7 dB was obtained at local oscillator (LO) power of -17 dBm at the device terminals. The new configuration with low pumping power can significantly simplify the design of the LO sensor chain compared to the ordinary configuration which consumes 3-8 dBm per device.