US Patent 2601475: Frequency converter for am-fm receivers

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Document text

June 24, 1952 

B. S. VILKOMERSON 
FREQUENCY CONVERTER FOR AM-FM RECEIVERS 
Filed Au£. 28, 1948 

2,601,475 

INVENTOR 
ATTORNEY 



Patented June 24, 1952 2,601,475 

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 

2,601,475 
FIEQUENCY CONVEITEI FOI AM-FVI 
RECEIVEIS 
]enamin S. Vilkomerson, Camden, N. J., assignor 
to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation 
of Delaware 
Application August 28, 1948, Serial No. 46,594 
8 Claims. (CI. 250--20) 
1 
This invention relates generally te frequency 
converters and particularly te an oscillator and 
mixer circuit for a combined frequency-modu- 
lated (FIVD and amplitude-modulated (AiVI) 
carrier wave receiver of the superheterodyne type. 5 
If is convenional practice te provide a fre- 
quency converter for a superheterodyne receiver 
which bas an oscillator section electronically 
coupled te the mixer section. Usually, a fre- 
quency converter of this type includes a pentagrid 10 
tube. It is well known, however, that a penta- 
grid converter tube has a high noise level, partic- 
ularly when operated at the high frequencies 
encountered in the reception of  waves. 
is also well known that the signal-te-noise ratio 15 
of a receiver can be considerably improved either 
by utilizing a separate radio-frequency ampli- 
fier aheadof the mixer or by providing a triode 
mixer tube, since a triode inherently has a low 
noise level at high frequencies. Accordingly, 20 
ïrequency converters have been designed which 
consist of a triode oscillator and a triode mixer 
tube. 
In order te inject the oscillatory energy into 
the mixer tube and for other reasons it is con- 25 
ventional practice te provide an impedance ele- 
ment between the mixer cathode and ground se 
that the cathode is operated at a radio fre- 
quency potential above ground. Such a circuit 
design, however, introduces certain other dis- 
advantages. Thus, due te the inherent and un- 0 
avoidable capacitive coupling between the two 
triodes, body capacitance on the antenna of the 
receiver will detune the oscillator te such an 
extent that the receiver will no receive a given 
station without retuning. The cathode of the 35 
oscillator is also conventionally operated at a 
radio frequency potential above ground. Hence, 
the .capacitance existing between the cathode 
heateï and the cathode oï the oscillator may 
vary and this in turn may cause the frequency 0 
oî the oscillator te drift. Also, the cathode 
heater may vibrate mechanically which will cause 
an undesired hum modulation of the oscillator 
frequency. In accordance with the present in- 
vention these and other disadvantages of previ- 5 
ously known oscillator and mixer circuits can be 
overcome by grounding the cathodes oï both 
the triode oscillator and the triode mixer. Such 
an arrangement will eliminate the frequency 
drift which would otherwise be caused by the 50 
varying capacity between the heater and the 
cathode of the oscillator because the cathode 
and the heater wi!l be at the saine potential. 
Furthermore, the choke coils conventionally ïe- 
quired in the cathode heater supply are ruade 55 

2 
superfiuous. P-rthermore, by grounding the 
cathodes of both the mixer and the oscillat0r 
tube, it is feasib!e te utilize a twin triode of the 
6J6 type having a single cathode in common te 
the two triode sections. Such a tube is cheaper 
than a twin triode hving two separate cath- 
0des. Furthermore, the common cathode acts 
as an electrostatic shield between the two grids 
of the twin triode. 
An efficient frequency converter circuit for a 
combined AIV!_-IVf receiver should also meet some 
further requirements. Thus, high frequency 
(F1Vf) carrier waves should be suppressed belote 
they can reach the mixer grid when the con- 
verter is used for ïeceiving low frequency (AM) 
waves. Such high frequency waves may beat 
with a harmonic of the low frequency oscillator 
te, produce an undesired intermediate-frequency 
wave. Furthermore, radiation of the oscillatory 
energy should be minimized. Finally, the oscil- 
latory energy developed by the oscillatov should 
be of uniform amplitude over the desired fre- 
quency ranges, and this energy should be in- 
jected efficiently into the mixer tube se that the 
escillatory energy required is a minimum. This 
is, oî course, in line with the requirement that 
the oscillatory energy should net be radiated 
into space by the antenna. 
It is the pïinicpal object of the present inven- 
tion, therefore, to provide  novel oscillator and 
mixer circuit for a superheterodyne receiver 
which utflizes a twin triode tube having a com- 
mon cathode or cathode circuit for the two triode 
sections thereby to improve the signal-to-noise 
ratio anc to simplify the design of a super- 
heterodyne receiver. 
A further object of the invention is to provide 
a local oscillator for a superheterodyne receiver 
which will develop oscillatory energy of substan- 
tially uniform magnitude over two widely sepa- 
ïated frequency ranges. 
Another object of the invention is to provide 
an oscillator and mixer circuit for an AM-F1VI 
receiver where radiation of the oscillatory energy 
is minimized without the use of a radio-frequen- 
cy amplifier stage and where a low pass filter is 
effectively provided between the antenna and 
the mixer input circuit for A1VI operation with- 
out the necessity of utilizing additiona! circuit 
elements. 
Still a further object of the invention is fo 
provide a simplified oscillator and mixer circuit 
for an AM-FIOE superheterodyne receiver which 
will have an improved performance and which 
minimizes frequency drift of the oscillator due 



2,601,475 

3 
to variations of the capacitance between the 
cathode heater and the cathode. 
A frequency converter in accordance with the 
present invention includes a triode oscillator and 
u triode mixer each having a grounded cathode. 
Preferably a twin triode is used with a colnmon 
grounded cathode. The oscillator section com- 
prises for /kM operation a tuned-grid tank cir- 
cuit with an anode ïeed-back coil. The oscil- 
latory energy is injected into the mixer grid 
by an inductance element inductively coupled fo 
the tank circuit and serially connected between 
the AM antenna and the mixer grid. 
For F1VI operation, the oscillator consists of a 
modilied Colpitts circuit which includes a portion 
of the oscillator coil between the tank circuit 
and the oscillator grid. A circuit of this type 
will bave substantially uniform output energy 
over the required frequency range. The FM 
oscillator tank circuit is inductively coupled fo 
a tuned input circuit provided between the FlVI 
dipole antenna and the mixer grid. ]During FlVI 
operation the anode feed-back coil in the 
oscillator plate circuit functions as a choke coil 
for the anode voltage supply. 
The novel ïeatures that are considered char- 
acteristic of this invention are set ïorth with par- 
ticularity in the appended claires. The inven- 
tion itself, however, both as fo ifs organization 
and method of operation, as well as additional 
objects and advantages thereof, will best be un- 
derstood from the ïollowing description when 
read in connection with the accompanying draw- 
ing, in which: 
Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of an oscillator 
and mixer circuit in accordance with the present 
invention illustrated in connection with an 
AM-FtVI superheterodyne receiver; and 
Figure la is a modification of a portion of Fig- 
ure 1 showing seRarate cathodes for the mixer 
triode and oscillator triode. 
Referring now fo Figure 1, the converter com- 
prises a twin triode  which may have a common 
cathode 2 as illustrated. Twin triode  prefer- 
ably is of the 6J6 type. Twin triode  ïurther 
comprises control grid 3 and anode 4 which, fo- 
gerber with cathode 2, form the triode mixer. 
Control grid 5, anode 5 and cathode 2 form the 
triode oscillator of the converter circuit. Coin- 
mon cathode 2 is grounded as illustrated and ifs 
cathode heater 7 bas one terminal grounded 
while ifs other terminal 8 is connected to a suit- 
able source of heater supply voltage. R. F. by- 
pass capacitor J5 shunts the two cathode heater 
terminals. 
Thus, heater chokes are ruade unnecessary in 
the leads of cathode heater 7 and accordingly 
there is no hum modulation of the oscillation ïre- 
quency due to variations of the capacitance be- 
tween cathode heater 7 and cathode 
A suitable antenna for the interception of AM 
waves, such as loop antenna 2, is coupled to 
mixer grid . Loop antenna f2 has one terminal 
grounded and may be tuned by tuning capacitor 
3 connected across the terminals of antenna 
Tuning capacitor 3 may be shunted by trimmer 
capacitor 4. The high alternating potential 
terminal of loop antenna 2 is coupled fo mixer 
grid 3 through series coil 5, the movable arm of 
single-pole double-throw switch 5 and coupling 
capacitor . Mixer grid 3 is also connected fo 
a source of automatic volume control voltage 
(AVC) through grid leak resistor B. The AVC 
voltage may be derived in any conventional man- 
ner hot shown. 
 By moving the arm of switch ! G from the posi- 

4 
tion marked "AM" fo the position marked "FM" 
a suitable antenna for the interception of FM 
waves such as dipole antelma 25 may be coupled 
fo mixer grid . Dipole 25 has one terminal 
5 grounded through a suitable transmission line 
while ifs other terminal is connected fo an in- 
termediate point on coil 2 . Tuning capacitor 22 
is connected in parallel with coil 2 fo provide 
a variable resonant circuit. Trimmer capacitor 
10 23 may be connected in parallel with tuning ca- 
pacitor 22. The connection of dipole antenna 25 
fo coil 2 will provide impedance matching be- 
tween the radiation impedance of the dipole and 
the characteristic impedance of its transmission 
15 line on the one hand, and the impedance of the 
input circuit of the mixer triode on the other 
hand. 
The triode oscillator circuit comprises a low 
frequency tank circuit 25 which may be selective- 
20 ly coupled to oscillator grid 5 and which is used 
during reception of AM waves. Tank circuit 25 
consists of coil 2G and tuning capacitor 27 con- 
nected in parallel fo form a parallel resonant cir- 
cuit. Tuning capacitor 27 may be shunted by 
65 trimmer capacitor 2B. One terminal of tank cir- 
cuit 25 is grounded and ifs other terminal is 
coupled to oscillator grid 5 through coupling ca- 
pacitor 3 , single-pole single-throw switch 3 and 
resistor 3-. Resistor 2 has a low resistance of 
30 the order of 10 fo 100 ohms and serves the purpose 
of suppressing spurious oscillations. Oscillator 
grid 5 is returned to ground through grid leak 
resistor 3. 
For the purposes oï impressing a feedback 
35 voltage on oscillator plate 5 there is provided coil 
5 having one terminal connected fo a suitable 
anode voltage supply ÷B through dropping re- 
sistor 3 while ifs other terminal is COlmected 
fo oscillator plate5. The junction point of drop- 
40 Ring resistOr 36 and coil 35 is by-passed to ground 
for radio-frequency currents by capacitor . 
Coils 26 and 5 are inductively coupled as in- 
dicated by arrow 8. Accordingly, the AM os- 
cillator has a tuned-grid circuit with a feedback 
coupling provided by coil 35 between tank circuit 
45 25 and the oscillator anode 6. The oscillator 
functions in a conventional manner, and its op- 
eration requires no explanation. The oscilla- 
tory energy developed in tank circuit 25 is im- 
pressed upon mixer grid  through series coil 5 
5o inductively coupled fo coils 26 and 85 as indi- 
cated by arrow 8. 
For FM operation the oscillator comprises a 
high frequency tank circuit 8 which includes 
coil 4 having one terminal coupled fo oscillator 
55 grid 5 through coupling capacitor 42 while its 
other terminal is coupled to oscillator plate 6 
through coupling capacitor 3. Coils 4 and 2 
are inductively coupled as indicated by arrow . 
60 An intermediate point of coil 4 is grounded 
through capacitor 44. The lower portion 45 of 
coil 4 , that is, the portion effectively between 
capacitor 4 and oscillator anode 8 is shunted by 
tuning capacitor 47 across which trimmer ca- 
65 pacitor 49 may be connected. 
Mixer a.node  is serial]y connected fo the pri- 
mary windings oï F'M intermediate-frequency 
transformer 5}, shown in block form, and fo AM 
intermediate-frequency transformer 5. Both 
70 the ÷B voltage and the AVC voltage are applied 
fo transformers 58 and 5. The transformers may 
be selectively oçeÆated by a single-pole double- 
throw switch 52 which is connected fo short- 
circuit the primary winding of the transformer 
7. ot n use. 



2,601,475 

The oscillator and mixer circuit of the inven- 
tion operate as follows. Let it be assumed that 
switches , 3t and 52 are in the position illus- 
trated in the drawing, that is, in their "AM" po- 
sition. Preferab!y, switches , 3 and 52 are 
connected together for unicontrol. The receiver 
is new arranged te receive AM waves which aïe 
intercepted by loop antenna 2 and impressed 
upon mixer grid 3. Preferably, tuning capaci- 
tors 3, 22, 27 and 47 are connected together for 
mficontrol as indicatd at 5& Accordingly, an- 
tenna input circuit , 3, 4 may be tuned te a 
desred AM station. Low-frequency tank circuit 
25 is aise tuned te deve]op oscillatory energy of 
predetermined frequency which is impressed 
through fl]ductive coupling upon series coil 5 
se that both the local oscillations and the M 
wave are impressed upon mixer grid 3. The AM 
wave ai the intermediate frequency may be ob- 
tained frein output terminal . 
Series coil  performs a numbr of functions. 
Thus, most of the oscil]atory energy is impresed 
upon mixer grid 3 and very litte appears acïoss 
the antenna. This is due te the îact that the 
grid terminal of series coil 5 is effectively iso- 
lated frein ground, since the ground path in- 
cludes only the comparatively sma]l interetec- 
trode capacitance between mixer grid 3 and catl]- 
ode 2. The antenna terminal of serie coil 15 
is effectively bypassed te ground through tuning 
capacitor 13 and trimmer capacitor 4 which are 
both large compared te the interelectrode ca- 
pacitance. Thus, the major portion of the oscil- 
latory energy appears on mixer grid 3 and on]y 
a negligible portion is radiated into space through 
loop antenna 12. Accordingly, less escil!otory 
output energy is required because a!most no en- 
ergy is lest. In view of the more efficient cou- 
pling between the oscillator and the mixer, the 
oscillator output energy which is impressed on 
mixer grid 3 is more uniform over the entfl-e AIOE 
range. 
Furthermm.e, series coil I effectively functions 
as a low pass P.-F. filtre'. Thus, for high ïre- 
quency waves, the reactive inïpedance of coil $, 
is re!atively high while the ïeactive impedance 
of the interelectrode capacitance between mixer 
grid 3 and cathode 2 is relatively small. Conee- 
quently, the high fre]uency voltage applied te 
the grid is effectively reduced. If this were net 
done, the high-frequency waves might boat with 
a harmonic of the fundamental oscillatory en- 
ergy te provide an undesired output wave of in- 
termediate-frequency. 
• Let it new be assumed that switches , 3 $ and 
52 are rotated into their "F'M" positions. In 
that case, dipole antenna 29 and its tuned input 
circuit 21, 22, 3 is conp]ed te mixer grid  te 
impress an intercepted FM wave on the mixer. 
Tuning capacitor 22 is moved in unison with ca 
pacitor 47 te select the desired FM wave. Ai the 
saine rime, low-frequency tank circuit 25 is dis- 
connected frein osciilator grid  se that only 
high-frequency tank circuit g'3 remains con- 
nected thereto. In this case, coil 3 no longer 
fuuctions as the feedback coi! for low-frequency 
tank circuit 25 but it is new used as a choke coil 
for the parallel-feed ÷B supply. This change 
of function is accomplished without switching. 
The  oscillator may be considered a modi- 
fied Colpitts oscfllator. Thus, the junction point 
(ground) of capacitors  and 47 is connected 
te cathode 2. The portion 8 of coil l which is 
between the tap and mixer grid 5 functions as a 
feedback coil te the oscfilatm: grid 5 since cofi. 

6 
@ is an autotransformer. A circuit of this type 
wfll have a substantially uniform output energy 
over its range. The value of capacitor  is se- 
lected se that for low frequencies it has a cern- 
5 paratively high reactive impedance se that the 
oscillator functions essentially in the manner of 
a Colpitts oscfllator. However, for high frequen- 
cies the reactive impedance of capacitor  de- 
creases whfle that of feedback coil portion  
10 increases. Consequently, the oscfllator functions 
a high frequencies as a tuned-plate circuit with 
a grid feedback. The FM output wave at the 
intermediate frequency may also be derived frein 
output terminal 55. 
15 leferring new te Figure I, which is a modifi- 
cation of that portion of Figure 1 enclosed by a 
dotted rectangle, separate cathodes 2' and 2  are 
provided in the oscil]ator circuit and mïxer cir- 
cuit respectively. The cathodes are directly con- 
20 nected te ground. The cathode heaters 7  and 
7 » are connected in parallel, each having one 
terminal grounded while the other terminal $ is 
connected te a suitable source of heater supply 
voltage. Tube ' may be of the 63N7 type. 
25 Whfle it wi!l be understood that the circuit 
specifications of the frequency converter of the 
invention may vary according te the design for 
any particular application, the following circuit 
specifications are included by way of example 
30 only: 
Twin triode $ ......... Type 6J6 
Tuning capacitor  3__. 12.5 te 498 micromicro- 

Trimmer capacitor 14_ 
35 Tuning capacitor 22__. 
Trirnmer capacitor 23_ 
Coupling capacitor  7_ 
Tuning capacitor 2L__ 
Trimmer capacitor 28_ 
40 Coupling capacitor 30_ 
Tuning capacitor 47__. 

farads 
2 te 17 micromicrofarads 
7 te 28 micromicrofarads 
2 te 17 micromicrofarads. 
1,500 micromicrofarads 
9 te 150 micromicrofarads 
2 te 17 micromicrofarads 
150 micromicrofarads 
7.5 te 22.5 micromicro- 
farads 

Capacitor 4 .......... 56 micromicrofarads 
Coupling capacitor 4_ 22 micromicrofarads 
43 Capacitor 43 .......... 68 micromicrofarads 
Capacitor 4 .......... 2 micromicrofarads 
Capacitor  ............ 01 microfarad 
lesistor I 8 ........... 3,900,000 ohms 
lesistor 33 ............ 22,000 ohms 
50 Resistor 3¢ ........... 2,000 ohms 
Resistor 32 ........... 100 oluns 
It is te be understood that the frequency con- 
verter circuit of the invention need net be used 
55 for an £1VI-F1VI receiver, but may be used for any 
multirange superheterodyne receiver. 
There has thus been described an oscillator 
and mixer circuit which may be used, ïor ex, 
ample, in an AIOE-F1Vi receiver. The oscillator 
and mixer circuit utilizes two triodes with 
grounded cathedes. Accordingly, the inherently 
low signal-te-noise ratio of a triode mixer is 
utflized. The oscillator is arranged in such a 
manner that its output energy is substantially 
uniform over both its frequency ranges. Fur- 
65 
thermore, radiation of the oscfllatory energy is 
minimized, and a ]ow pass filter 
tween the Ali antenna and the mixer te prevent 
the cccurrence of undesired intermediate-fre 
quency waves. The oscillator and mixer circuit 
70 of the pîesent invention has a simplified design, 
it is cheaper in manufacture and it has an im- 
provd performance. 
What is claimed is: 
1. In a multiband superheterodyne receiver, a 
75 twin triode having a single cathode, a first and 



2,601475 

 second anode, a first and a second control grid, 
said single cathode being connected fo a point 
of common reference potential, a low-fïequency 
resonant tank circuit, switching means for selec- 
tively connecting said low-frequency tank cir- 
cuit between said first anode and said first con- 
trol grid, a high-frequency resonant tank circuit 
permanently coupled between said first anode 
and said first control grid, a first rneans includ- 
îng a capacitor having a large value relative fo 
the grid-to-cathode capacitance of said second 
grid and said cathode and an inductance element 
comprising a circuit resonant af a frequency 
below the resonant frequency of said low-fre- 
quency resonant tank cri'cuit selectively connect- 
ed in series arrangement between said point of 
common reference potential and said second con- 
trol grid, ïor impressing a modulated carrier wave 
within a low-frequency range on said second grid, 
second means adapted fo be connected fo said 
second grid for impressing a modulated carrier 
wave within a high-frequency range on said sec- 
ond control grid, said inductance element bein2 
inductively coupled to said low-frequency tardç 
circuit and ProvidLug in conjunction with the 
relatively small grid-to-cathode capacitance of 
said second control grid and said cathode a high- 
ly effective coupling between said low-frequency 
resonant tank circuit and said second control 
grid and in conjunction with said capacitor to 
minimize the coupling between said lowmfre- 
quency resonant tank circuit and said first means, 
and an output circuit coupled to said second 
anode. 
2. In a superheterodyne receiver, a triode 
mixer having an anode and a contro! grid, a 
triode oscfllator having an anode and a control 
grid, cathode means for said mixer and said os- 
cillator, a common cathode circuit for said triode 
mixer and said triode oscfllator dri'ect]y con- 
nected between said cathode means and one tel'- 
minal of a source of potential, a hi2h-frequency 
tank circuit connected between said oscillator 
anode and control grid, a low-frequency tank 
circuit adapted fo be selectively connected to said 
oscfllator control grid, a tuned input circuit con- 
nected between said one terminal and said mixer 
grid for impressing a modulated carrier wave on 
said mixer grid, an inductance elernent serially 
connected between said input circuit and said 
mixer grid and inductively coupled fo said low- 
frequency tank circuit, said inductance elernent 
having a reactive irnpedance which, for frequen- 
cies higher than that of said carrier wave, is large 
compared fo the reactive Lmpedance of the grid- 
fo-cathode capacitance of said mixer, thereby 
providing a low pass filter between said input 
circuit and said mixer grid, and an output cir- 
cuit connected between the other terminal of said 
source and said mixer anode. 
3. In a superheterodyne receiver, a twin triode 
having a single cathode, a first and a second 
anode, a first and a second control grid, said sin- 
gle cathode being directly connected to one ter- 
minal of a source of potential, a high-frequency 
tank circuit connected between said first anode 
and said first control grid fo provide a high-fre- 
quency oscillator, a low-frequency tank circuit, 
switch means for selectively connecting said low- 
frequency tank circuit fo said first control grid 
fo provide a low-frequency oscillator, a tuned 
input circuit including a capacitor having a large 
value relative to the grid-to-cathode capacitance 
of said second grid and said cathode coupled 
from said_ one terminal fo said second grid îor 

impressing a modulated carrier wave thereon, an 
inductance element having a reactive hnpedance 
which, for frequencies higher than that of said 
carrier wave, is large compared fo the reactive 
5 impedance of the grid-to-cathode capacitance 
of said second grid and said cathode, said in- 
ductance element being serially connected 
tween said input circuit and said second grid 
and inductively coupled fo said low-frequency 
10 tank circuit, said inductance element providing 
a low pass filter between said input circuit and 
said second grid and also functioning in conjunc- 
tion with ther relatively small grid-to-cathode 
capacitance of said second grid and said cath- 
15 ode to maximize the coupling between said low- 
frequency tank circuit and said second grid and 
in conjunction with said capacitor fo minimize 
the coupling between said low-frequency tank 
circuit and said input circuit, and an output cir- 
20 cuit connected between the other terminal of saîd 
source and said second anode for deriving a fre- 
quency-converted carrier wave. 
4. In a multiband superheterodyne receiver, a 
triode mixer having a cathode, an anode and a 
25 control grid, a triode oscillator having a cathode, 
an anode and a control grid, said cathodes being 
dri'ect!y connected to one terminal of a source of 
potential, a low-frequency tank circuit, a switch 
for selectively connecting said low-frequency 
0 tank circuit to the control grid of said oscflla- 
for, a first inductance element connected between 
the other terminal of said source and the anode 
of said oscillator and inductively coupled fo said 
low-frequency tank circuit, a high-frequency tank 
ô5 circuit permanently connected fo said oscillator, 
a grid circuit including a switch connected to said 
mixer grid for selectively connecting circuit means 
to said rnixer grid for irnpressing a moduiated 
carrier wave within a low-frequency range or 
40 within a high-frequency range on the control 
grid of said mixer, and a second inductance ele- 
ment selectively connected in series with the grid 
circuit of said mixer and inductive!y coupled fo 
said low-frequency tank circuit. 
5. In a multiband superheterodyne receiver, a 
45 
triode ]nixer having a cathode, an anode and a 
control grid, a triode oscillator having a cathode, 
an anode and a control grid, said cathodes being 
directly connected fo one terminal of a source of 
50 potential, a low-frequency tank circuit, a switch 
for selectively connecting said low-frequency 
tank cri'cuit fo the control grid of said oscillator, 
a first inductance elernent connected between the 
other terminal of said source and the anode of 
55 said oscillator and inductively coupled fo said 
low-frequency tank circuit, a high-frequency 
tank circuit permanently connected between the 
control grid and the anode of said oscfllator, a 
first mixer grid input circuit, a second mixer 
60 grid input circuit and a further switch for se- 
lectively irnpre'ssing a modulated carrier wave 
within a low-irequency range or within a high- 
frequency range on the control grid of said mixer 
through said input circuits selectively, a second 
65 inductance element serially connected in said 
first mixer grid input circuit and inductively 
coupled fo said low-frequency tank circuit, and 
an output circuit coupled to the anode of said 
mixer. 
70 ô. In a multiband superheterodyne receiver, a 
triode mixer having a cathode, an anode and a 
control grid, a triode oscillator having a cathode, 
an anode and a contïol grid, said cathodes being 
directly connected fo one terminal of a source of 
 fixed potential, a low-frequency tank circuit, a 



2,601,475 

9 
first swich for selectively cormecting said low- 
frequency tank circuit fo the control grid of 
said oscillator, a first inductance element con- 
nected between the other terminal of said source 
and the anode of said oscillator and inductively 
coupled fo said low-frequency tank circuit, a 
high-frequency tank circuit permanent!y con- 
nected fo the anode of said oscillator, a feedback 
winding inductively coupled to said high-fre- 
quency tank circuit and connected fo the control 
grid of said oscillator, a first tuned input circuit, 
a second tuned input circuit and a second switch 
for selectively connecting one of said input cir- 
cuits to the control grid of said mixer to impress 
a modulated carrier wave within a low-frequency 
range or within a high-frequency range thereon, 
a second inductance element seria]ly connected 
in said flrst input circuit and inductive]y coupled 
fo said low-frequency tank circuit, and an out- 
put circuit connected between said other termi- 
nal of said source and said mixer anode. 
7. In a two-band superheterodyne receiver, a 
triode mixer having a cathode, a control grid, 
and an anode, a triode oscillator having a cath- 
ode, a control grid and an anode, a low-frequency 
tank circuit, a lïrst switch means for selectively 
coupling said low-frequency tank circuit fo said 
oscillator grid, a source of potential having one 
terminal directly connected fo said cathodes, a 
first inductance element connected between the 
other terminal of said source and said oscillator 
anode, said first inductance element being induc- 
tively coupled to said low-frequency tank circuit, 
a low frequency antenna, a high frequency an- 
tenna, a connection incinding a second switch 
means for selectively connecting one of said an- 
termas to said mixer grid, a second inductance 
element seria]ly connected between said low- 
frequency antenna and said second switch means 
and inductively coup]ed fo said low-frequency 
tank circuit for impressing osci]latory energy de- 
veloped in said low-frequency tank circuit on 
said mixer grid, a high-frequency tank circuit 
comprising a further inductance e]ement having 
one terminal couiled fo said oscillator grid and 
having ifs other terminal coupled to said oscilla- 
for anode, a fixed capacitor coupling said cath- 
odes fo an intermediate point on said further 
inductance element, a variable capacitor con- 
nected between said other terminal of said fur- 
ther inductance element and said oscillator cath- 
ode for tuning said high-frequency tank circuit, 
said high frequency antenna connection includ- 
ing a third inductance element inductively cou- 
pled fo said further inductance element for im- 
pressing oscillatory energy developed in said 
high-frequency tank circuit on said mixer grid, 

50 Number 
2,011,941 
2,038,918 
2,289,147 
2,295,383 
55 2,355,47O 
2,443,935 

10 
and an output circuit connected between said 
other terminal of said source and said mixer 
anode. 
8. In a two-band superheterodyne receiver, a 
5 triode mixer having a cathode, a control grid, 
and an anode, a triode oscillator having a cath- 
ode, a control grid and an anode, a low-frequency 
tank circuit, a first switch ïneans for selectively 
coupling said low-frequency tank circuit to said 
10 oscillator grid, a source of potential having one 
terminal directly connected to said cathodes, a 
first inductance element connected between the 
other terminal of said source and said oscillator 
anode, said first inductance element being in- 
15 ductively coupled to said low frequency tank cir- 
cuit, a low frequency antenna, a high frequency 
antenna, a first tuned input circuit, a second 
tuned input circuit, a second switch means for 
selectively connecting one of said antennas fo 
20 said mixer grid, a second inductance element 
serially connected between said first input cir- 
cuit and said second switch means and inductive- 
ly coupled to said low-frequency tank circuit for 
impressing oscillatory energy developed in said 
25 low frequency tank circuit on said mixer grid, a 
high-frequency tank circuit comprising a fur- 
ther inductance element having one terminal 
coupled to said oscillator grid and having ifs 
other terminal coupled to said oscfllator anode, 
30 a fixed capacitor coupling an intermediate point 
of said further inductance element to said cath- 
odes, a variable capacitor connected between said 
other terminal of said further inductance ele- 
ment and said oscil]ator cathode for tuning said 
35 high-frequency tank circuit, said second input 
circuit including a third inductance element in- 
ductively coupled fo said further inductance ele- 
ment for impressing oscillatory energy developed 
in said high-frequency tank circuit on said mixer 
40 grid, and an output circuit connected between 
said other terminal of said soin-ce and said mixer 
anode. 
BENJAIVIIN S. VILKOIOERSON. 
45 EEFERENCES CITED 
The following references are of record in the 
file of this patent: 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
Naine Date 
Snider ............. Aug. 20, 1935 
Bafley ............ Apr. 28, 1936 
Shea .............. July 7, 1942 
Carlson ............ Sepç. 8, 1942 
Root .............. Aug. 8, 1944 
Shea .............. June 22, 1948