US5378939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gallium arsenide monolithically integrated sampling head using equivalent time sampling having a bandwidth greater than 100 Ghz
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1991-04-16
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Granted: 1995-01-03
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Expires: 2011-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A high bandwidth RF sampler using equivalent time sampling comprising an RF coplanar waveguide integrated with sampling diodes on a gallium arsenide substrate. A monolithic, integrated coplanar strip nonlinear transmission line is integrated on the same substrate to receive sample pulses. These pulses are reshaped by the nonlinear transmission line to have a very fast edge. This edge is differentiated by a shunt inductance of a short circuit termination of a slot line portion of the RF signal coplanar waveguide. The resulting delta function sample pulses cause the sample diodes and integrated capacitors to develop an intermediate output frequency which is a replica of the RF signal at a lower frequency and no voltage conversion loss. RF signals of up to 300 Ghz can be sampled using this circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Marsland
- 👤 Mark Rodwell
- 👤 David M. Bloom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:30
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/01; H03; H03H; H03H7/00; H03H7/30; H03H7/32; H03H7/325; H10D84/02; H10D84/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A sampler circuit comprising: means for providing a signal from a local oscillator; means for generating shock waves coupled to said means for providing a local oscillator signal, said means for generating shock waves including a nonlinear transmission line spanned by a plurality of varactors; means for sampling an input signal coupled to said means for generating shock waves, said means for sampling including: a pair of sampling capacitors coupled to said pair of sampling diodes and an intermediate frequency output network that includes a positive terminal and a grounded terminal which together produce an intermediate frequency sampled output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A sampler circuit comprising: means for providing a signal from a local oscillator; means for generating shock waves coupled to said means for providing a local oscillator signal, said means for generating shock waves including a nonlinear transmission line spanned by a plurality of varactors; means for sampling an input signal coupled to said means for generating shock waves, said means for sampling including: a pair of sampling capacitors coupled to said pair of sampling diodes and an intermediate frequency output network that includes a positive terminal and a grounded terminal which together produce an intermediate frequency sampled output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said integrated nonlinear transmission line is comprised of a periodically loaded coplanar waveguide integrated on a gallium arsenide substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said varactor diodes are hyperabrupt varactor diodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said hyperabrupt varactor diodes are comprised of Schottky hyperabrupt varactor diodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for providing a signal is a local oscillator integrated on said substrate for generating a sine wave signal coupled to said input port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for providing a signal is a pulse generator integrated on said substrate for generating a pulse train comprised of a plurality of sampling pulses coupled so as to propagate down said means for generating shock waves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a substrate of gallium arsenide semiconductor and wherein said means for generating shock waves and said means for sampling an input signal are integrated on said substrate and further comprising a transmission line integrated on said substrate and coupling said signal to be sampled to said sampling capacitors and said sampling diodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pulse generator is integrated on said substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said local oscillator is integrated on said substrate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-07-04 | 1999-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-02 | 2002-07-04 | 2003-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-02 | 2006-07-04 | 2007-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |