The high-speed amplitude modulator of mm-wave range with cascade included GaAs p-i-n-diodes in the transmission line

Results of development of broadband modulators for controlling amplitude of signals in a range of 26-70 GHz on GaAs diodes which are cascade included in an asymmetrical transmission stripline are presented. Direct losses are 1.2-1.5 dB. Switching time is no more than 10 nanoseconds. The important requirement for the development of amplitude modulators is a wide band of operating frequencies, small direct loss in an open state and high level of loss (±40 dB) in a closed one, and also providing short time of key element transition from high impedance state into low impedance one. Application of package diodes in mm-wave range provides operating band 10-15% [1]. In this work it is considered the possibility of realizing broadband modulators with operating band ~40% using p-i-n-diodes cascade included in asymmetrical strip line, which are carried out on pieces of waveguides of regular cross section. The developed modulators on GaAs p-i-n-diodes could find application in instrumentation when creating panoramic measuring instruments of VSWR and attenuation, and also in microwave devices for protection of receiving channels against influence of nonsynchronous interference.