What is "superheterodyne receiver"

alt. A radio receiver that mixes (beats or heterodynes) a locally produced frequency with the incoming frequency n. A radio receiver that mixes (beats or heterodynes) a locally produced frequency with the incoming frequency

n. a radio receiver that combines a locally generated frequency with the carrier frequency to produce a supersonic signal that is demodulated and amplified [syn: heterodyne receiver, superhet]

In electronics, a superheterodyne receiver (often shortened to superhet) uses frequency mixing to convert a received signal to a fixed intermediate frequency (IF) which can be more conveniently processed than the original carrier frequency. It was invented by US engineer Edwin Armstrong in 1918 during World War I. Virtually all modern radio receivers use the superheterodyne principle. At the cost of an extra frequency converter stage, the superheterodyne receiver provides superior selectivity and sensitivity compared with simpler designs.