What is "local oscillator"

n. an oscillator whose output heterodynes with the incoming radio signal to produce sum and difference tones [syn: heterodyne oscillator]

In electronics, a local oscillator (LO) is an electronic oscillator used with a mixer to change the frequency of a signal. This frequency conversion process, also called heterodyning, produces the sum and difference frequencies from the frequency of the local oscillator and frequency of the input signal. Processing a signal at a fixed frequency gives a radio receiver improved performance. In many receivers, the function of local oscillator and mixer is combined in one stage called a " converter" - this reduces the space, cost, and power consumption by combining both functions into one active device.