Application notes - Broadband Power Detectors

A diode-based method is the simplest way for power detection. Detectors make use of the nonlinear characteristics of devices to generate an output signal containing many frequency components. By proper filtering, the dc component is separated and is used for power monitoring component. This works on a principle of a rectifier diode. This device is placed in shunt at the output stage of the amplifier. In this application note we describe Schottky diode-based power detectors to obtain a required detected voltage. In our application, we have chosen typically about 4 V detected voltage when the sampled power is about 17-18 dBm at the detector interface.