

So a frequency multiplier can be built from a nonlinear electronic component which generates a series of harmonics, followed by a bandpass filter which passes one of the harmonics to the output and blocks the others.įrom a conversion efficiency standpoint, the nonlinear circuit should maximize the coefficient for the desired harmonic and minimize the others. The distorted signal can be described by a Fourier series in f. However, if the sine wave is applied to a nonlinear circuit, the resulting distortion creates harmonics frequency components at integer multiples nf of the fundamental frequency f. If the sine wave is applied to a linear circuit, such as a non–distortion amplifier, the output is still a sine wave (but may acquire a phase shift). The nonlinear distortion in crystals can be used to generate harmonics of laser light.Ī pure sine wave has a single frequency f x ( t ) = A sin ( 2 π f t ) x(t)=A\sin(2\pi ft)\, Some modulation schemes, such as frequency modulation, survive the nonlinear distortion without ill effect (but schemes such as amplitude modulation do not).įrequency multiplication is also used in nonlinear optics.


It can be more economical to develop a lower frequency signal with lower power and less expensive devices, and then use a frequency multiplier chain to generate an output frequency in the microwave or millimeter wave range. A subsequent bandpass filter selects the desired harmonic frequency and removes the unwanted fundamental and other harmonics from the output.įrequency multipliers are often used in frequency synthesizers and communications circuits.

Frequency multipliers consist of a nonlinear circuit that distorts the input signal and consequently generates harmonics of the input signal. In electronics, a frequency multiplier is an electronic circuit that generates an output signal and that output frequency is a harmonic (multiple) of its input frequency. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ( July 2011) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Please help improve this article if you can. This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
