Video breakthrough from microwave switches

Microwave switches produce a pulse of energy on the RF line every time they switch, this energy (termed video breakthrough) is actually produced by the switch and is separate from any RF signal being switched. Generally speaking breakthrough pulses occur during and just after the switching period and take the form of a sharp voltage pulse with frequency components extending well into the microwave frequency range. The system designer needs the following information: how much microwave energy is in each video pulse at the switching transient and how does it vary with time; and how is the microwave energy distributed with frequency and how is the level affected by control input repetition rate. The authors attempt to provide some of the above information from results for typical broadband switches available today