An MMIC Pulse Generator Using Dual Nonlinear Transmission Lines

Author

Kintis, Mark ; Lan, Xing ; Fong, Flavia ; Sawdai, Donald ; Loi, Kwok ; Kono, Keith ; Gutierrez, Augusto

Author_Institution

Space Technol., Northrop Grumman Corp., Redondo Beach, CA

Volume

17

Issue

6

fYear

2007

fDate

6/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

454

Lastpage

456

Abstract

We present a novel nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) pulse generator using dual-NLTL, true-time-delay, waveform-alignment technique, realized in Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. The diodes in these two NLTLs have opposite polarities in layout. Therefore, they are responsible for sharpening the two signals´ rising and falling edges separately. A simple, low-cost, wideband combiner is adopted to combine the two fine aligned waveforms without introducing much distortion to the wideband signal. As a result, a sharp pulse is obtained with both edges compressed. With a sinusoidal signal as the input to the fabricated MMIC, a fall time of around 12 ps and rise time of 14 ps were measured at the output. This MMIC is a candidate for pulse or comb generators in many commercial and military applications

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; MMIC; gallium arsenide; pulse generators; transmission lines; GaAs; MMIC pulse generator; comb generator; dual nonlinear transmission lines; pulse shaping circuits; true-time-delay; waveform-alignment technique; wideband combiner; Distributed parameter circuits; Gallium arsenide; Integrated circuit technology; MMICs; Microwave integrated circuits; Microwave theory and techniques; Monolithic integrated circuits; Pulse generation; Transmission lines; Wideband; Comb generator; monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC); nonlinear transmission line (NLTL); pulse generation; pulse shaping circuits;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1531-1309

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LMWC.2007.897799

Filename

4220703