Novel Wide Bandwidth GAAS Sampling MMIC using Microstrip Based Nonlinear Transmission Line (NLTL) and NLTL Shock Wave Generator Design

This paper reports a novel MMIC sampler based on NLTL technology which has been designed using the Philips ED02AH process. The sampling MMIC can be used to measure waveforms in the (3→34) GHz bandwidth. A tapered microstrip based NLTL pulse generator has been combined with a diode-resistor bridge to minimize on GaAs real estate compared to CPW methodology. The advantage of the designed sampling MMIC is wide bandwidth, compressed size and consequently lower cost. The sampling MMIC finds application in sampling oscilloscopes and Time Domain Reflectometers (TDRs). A CPW based NLTL shock wave generator has also been designed for comparison based on bonding several MMIC NLTL samples together.