Broad-band thin-film signal sampler

Previous developments in high frequency 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 low-pass 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.