Terminology

[Kimmo Koli]

john.. wrote:
> 
> Re: The recent discussion about ring-modulators...
> 
> Am I correct (probably not) in saying that a four-quadrant multiplier is
> the same as a ring modulator? 

Yes, you are.

> If not, are there any alternative names for
> ring modulators??
> 
For example radio engineers call it a mixer, more precisely a frequency
mixer.
Digital engineers designing with ECL would call it a XOR-gate.
When designing phase-locked loops the same circuit can be called a phase
comparator.
And some call it a Gilbert-cell because Barrie Gilbert invented the
topology
used as the multiplier core for example inside the 1496 balanced
modulator.

Well, I ment that the Gilbert-cell has all these names, but also other
four- quadrant multiplier topologies share at least some of these naming
conventions.

I think the name ring-modulator comes from earlier diode-bridge
frequency mixers or then from the fact that it is used in synthesizing
bell-like
ringing sounds. Does anybody know which is the most propable alternative
?

Thats all,
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   Kimmo Koli                         Helsinki University of Technology 
   kimmo at ecdl.hut.fi                  Electronic Circuit Design
Laboratory
   http://www.ecdl.hut.fi/~kimmo      Otakaari 5 A 
   Tel:  +358 9 451 2273              FIN-02150 Espoo
   Fax:  +358 9 451 2269              Finland 
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