Distributed Mixers with Composite Right/Left-Handed Transmission Lines

The use of composite right/left-handed transmission lines (CRLH-TLs) in distributed mixers, instead of the usual right-handed transmission lines (RH-TLs) is explored. The theoretical performance of such mixers is analyzed in two cases: when CRLH-TLs are used in both drain and gate lines, and when a CRLH-TL is introduced only in the gate line. Both cases show that innovative distributed mixer designs can be achieved. In one design the IF is output on a different port for the different RF frequencies, and in another design there is an intrinsic image frequency rejection achieved