Investigation on the pulse characteristics of RF/microwave limiter based on multistage PIN diodes and Schottky diodes

Limiters are a kind of important module to protect the front end from physical damage in the case of RF/microwave receivers are exposed to EMP radiation. However, typical PIN limiters employed in most RF receivers are faced with the conflict between power capability and limiting level. To solve the problem, we proposed in this paper a new design of limiter based on multistage PIN diodes and Shcottky diodes, and set up the time-domain PSpice simulation model of that limiter, and made simulation and experimental research. The research results showed that the response time of the limiter was less than 1 ns; its power capability of μs-duration microwave pulses was more than 50 dBm, and the limiting effect was more than 30 dB; when injected with square-wave pulses of 30-ns duration, its peak voltage threshold was more than 200 V, the limiting effect with reference to rising edge about 20 dB, and the limiting effect to flattop more than 30 dB.