Broadband Limiting Amplifier for Instantaneous Frequency Measurement System

This paper describes the design and implementation of a 90 dB limiting amplifier, which can operate across 6.5 to 18 GHz, for application in instantaneous frequency measurement systems (IFM). It employs a novel amplifier configuration comprising of a combination of cascaded reactively terminated single-stage distributed amplifiers (CRTSSDA) and negative feedback amplifiers (NFA). The amplifier exhibits exceptional gain flatness with small-signal suppression performance better than 90% across 6.5 to 18 GHz. The specially developed alumina substrate makes the amplifier design ideal for high volume manufacture using automated processes