A non-linear electronic circuit designed to generate harmonics of an input signal, usually followed by a band-pass filter to isolate the desired multiple. For example, a frequency doubler takes a 10 megahertz sine wave and outputs a 20 megahertz sine wave. They are heavily used in radio frequency design to generate high-frequency local oscillator signals from lower-frequency, highly stable crystal references.
We can use a 100 megahertz crystal and run it through a frequency multiplier to hit our 400 megahertz transmit frequency.
Also heard as
- multiplier
Related terms
Phase-locked loop
A control system that generates an output signal whose phase is related to the phase of an input signal.
Mixer
A non-linear circuit that combines two different input frequencies to generate new output frequencies.
Band-pass
Describing a circuit or filter that allows a specific range of frequencies to pass while blocking those outside the range.