Integrated Switch and Self-Activating Adjustable Power Limiter

An electronic circuit including:

• (a) a radio frequency (RF) source having an output signal to be limited;
• (b) a plurality of receivers each having an input electrically coupled to the output signal of the RF source;
• and
• (c) a self-activating power limiter electrically coupled to the output signal of the RF source and to the respective inputs of the plurality of receivers, the self-activating power limiter including:
• (1) at least one switching element, each having a control input, a signal input, and an output;
• (2) each switching element having a first coupling element electrically coupled from the signal input of such switching element to the control input of such switching element;
• (3) each switching element having a second coupling element electrically coupled from the control input of such switching element to the output of such switching element;
• and
• (4) at least one control voltage source electrically coupled to the control input of the at least one switching element to adjustably control the limiting threshold of the limiter;
• wherein each switching element is in a non-conductive state while the signal input is below a selected level determined by the limiting threshold, and in a controlled variable impedance state while the signal input is above a selected level determined by the limiting threshold, the signal input being limited while the switching element is in the controlled variable impedance state.

An electronic circuit including:

• (a) a radio frequency (RF) source having an output signal to be limited;
• (b) a plurality of receivers each having an input electrically coupled to the output signal of the RF source;
• and
• (c) a plurality of self-activating power limiters electrically coupled to the output signal of the RF source and to the input of a respective one of the plurality of receivers, the self-activating power limiter including:
• (1) at least one switching element, each having a control input, a signal input, and an output;
• (2) each switching element having a first coupling element electrically coupled from the signal input of such switching element to the control input of such switching element;
• (3) each switching element having a second coupling element electrically coupled from the control input of such switching element to the output of such switching element;
• and
• (4) at least one control voltage source electrically coupled to the control input of the at least one switching element to adjustably control the limiting threshold of the limiter;
• wherein each switching element is in a non-conductive state while the signal input is below a selected level determined by the limiting threshold, and in a controlled variable impedance state while the signal input is above a selected level determined by the limiting threshold, the signal input being limited while the switching element is in the controlled variable impedance state.