Analysis of Varactor Frequency Multipliers for Arbitrary Capacitance Variation and Drive Level

Abstract

A general analysis of varactor frequency multipliers is given. It applies to multipliers with any rational ratio of output to input frequency, any idler configuration, and any voltage-charge relationship for the diode. A computer program was written for evaluating the results up to a ×10 multiplier. Results are given for the doubter, 1-2-3 tripler, 1-2-4 quadrupler, 1-2-3-4 quadrupler, 1-2-4-5 quintupler, 1-2-4-6 sextupler, and 1-2-4-8 octupler, for various junctions, under conditions of nominal drive as well as of overdriving. Some higher-order multipliers without idlers, which use a high-nonlinearity diode, were computed. Some results are given for a model with varying series resistance.