Broad-Band Thin-Film Signal Sampler

Abstract

Previous developments in highfrequency signal sampling have been extended by applying thin-film and solid-state techniques to the sampler design. The basic elements of a sampler are a signal-carrying transmission line, a sampling gate, a drive line for the gate pulse, and a video output. In the design reported here, a thin quartz substrate supports the circuits. To reduce signal-line reflections, the gate is made the center element of a lowpass signal-line filter. The gate pulse is developed across a length of slot transmission line in the signal ground plane parallel to and beneath the signal transmission line. A beam-lead Schottky diode pair is mounted across the slot with its center node connected to the signal transmission line through the substrate. This combination of beam lead, thin film, and slot-line technology permits accurate and reproducible control of the circuit elements. The resulting performance includes bandwidth through 20 GHz, good signal-drive line isolation, low signal-line reflections, ancl a mechanically and electrically simple design. Copyright © 1972 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.