Heterodyne vs. Homodyne

Heterodyneadjective

Of two oscillations: having two slightly different frequencies such that, when combined, they produce a beat

Homodyneadjective

Pertaining to two waves which originate from a single radiation source, or have exactly the same frequency.

Heterodynenoun

The beat so produced

Homodyneverb

To combine two waves of identical frequency.

Heterodynenoun

Either the sum or difference of the two oscillations

Heterodyneverb

To produce heterodyne interference in a radio

Heterodyneverb

To change the frequency of a signal by such a process

Heterodyneverb

combine (a radio frequency wave) with a locally generated wave of a different frequency so as to produce a new frequency equal to the sum or the difference between the two

Heterodyneadjective

of or relating to the the beat produced by heterodyning two oscillations

Heterodyne

A heterodyne is a signal frequency that is created by combining or mixing two other frequencies using a signal processing technique called heterodyning, which was invented by Canadian inventor-engineer Reginald Fessenden. Heterodyning is used to shift one frequency range into another, new frequency range, and is also involved in the processes of modulation and demodulation.