An apparatus includes an RF apparatus, and a wideband multi-band matching balun. The wideband multi-band matching balun includes a multi-band balun, which includes at least one three-element frequency-dependent resonator (TEFDR). The wideband multi-band matching balun further includes a differential-to-differential matching circuit coupled to the RF apparatus. The differential-to-differential matching circuit includes at least one TEFDR.

A circuit containing a first cascode circuit and a second cascode circuit is proposed. The first circuit and the second cascode circuit are stacked between two power supply terminals. An output signal terminal of the circuit is coupled to a node connecting the first cascode circuit and the second cascode circuit. A first signal path is provided between the first cascode circuit and a common ground terminal and a second signal path is provided between the second cascode circuit and the common ground terminal.

A unit cell for a resistive mixer includes a plurality of active devices arranged in series, wherein each of said plurality of active devices having a different output conductance. A resistive mixer includes a plurality of active devices connected in series with one another to form a unit cell.

A dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) optical network comprises an optical bus, which includes an optical source configured to generate a plurality of unmodulated optical signals each having a different wavelength; an optical multiplexer configured to multiplex the unmodulated optical signals to produce a combined, unmodulated optical signal, and to transmit the combined, unmodulated optical signal through an optical fiber; a plurality of nodes connected in sequence to the output of the optical multiplexer. The plurality of nodes are connected by the optical fiber. A DWDM optical network and a method of operation of the DWDM optical network are also disclosed therein.