Transient digitizer with displacement current samplers

A high speed sampler, comprising:

• a substantially planar substrate having a particular surface;
• a sample transmission line on the particular surface of the planar substrate for transmitting an input signal;
• a strobe transmission line on the particular surface of the planar substrate for transmitting a strobe signal;
• and
• sampler circuitry, coupled to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line at a plurality of positions, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal;
• wherein the sampler circuitry includes a plurality of sample gates, having sample line inputs coupled to the sample transmission line at respective ones of the plurality of positions, and having strobe line inputs positioned near the strobe transmission line such that propagation of the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line induces charge displacement sufficient to trigger the sample gate.

A high speed sampler, comprising:

• a substantially planar substrate having a particular surface;
• a sample transmission line on the particular surface of the planar substrate for transmitting an input signal, the sample transmission line comprising a meandered strip conductor;
• a strobe transmission line on the particular surface of the planar substrate for transmitting a strobe signal;
• and
• sampler circuitry, having a plurality of sample gates in a corresponding plurality of positions coupled to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, sample gates in the plurality of sample gates comprising charge holding circuitry;
• a first diode having an anode coupled to the sample transmission line at one of the plurality of positions and a cathode;
• a second diode having an anode coupled to the charge holding circuitry and a cathode;
• a bias circuit coupled to the cathodes of the first and second diodes which tends to reverse bias the first and second diodes;
• and
• a strobe line input coupled to the cathodes of the first and second diodes, positioned adjacent the strobe transmission line such that propagation of the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line induces charge displacement current in the bias circuit sufficient to forward bias the first and second diodes for a short time interval.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal;
• a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal;
• sampler circuitry, coupled to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line at a plurality of positions, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein the plurality of positions are spaced apart on the sample transmission line by intervals corresponding to expected characteristics of the input signal;
• and
• an output circuit which receives the plurality of samples and generates an output in response to the plurality of samples;
• wherein the output circuit comprises a multiplier.