Modeling and performance of a one stage InP/GaInAs optoelectronic HBT 3-terminal mixer

A high conversion gain 3-terminal heterojunction photo transistor optoelectronic mixer was demonstrated. The maximum obtained internal mixing efficiency was 11.3 dB. The mixing performance was measured as a function of the DC bias of the device and local oscillator power level. A SPICE based large signal model was employed to simulate the device. The main non-linear effects which contribute to the mixing process were the bias dependence of the dynamic emitter resistance, and the transition from the active to the saturation mode.