Burst mode limiter-amplifier

A variable tracking burst mode limiter-amplifier device, comprising:

• a resistor coupled in series with a capacitor having a first side and a second side;
• a selectable resistor bypass circuit for selectably bypassing the resistor;
• a signal transmission device coupled in series with the capacitor;
• and
• a limiter-amplifier coupled in series with the capacitor, the limiter-amplifier having an output for the device;
• wherein the device is operable in a first tracking mode when the resistor is bypassed via the selectable resistor bypass circuit;
• and
• wherein the device is operable in a second tracking mode when the resistor is not bypassed via the selectable resistor bypass circuit.

A variable tracking burst mode limiter-amplifier device, comprising:

• a bypassable resistor coupled to a signal source;
• a capacitor coupled to the bypassable resistor;
• and
• a limiter-amplifier coupled to the capacitor;
• wherein the variable trackina burst mode limiter-amplifier device is operable in a first tracking mode when the resistor is bypassed;
• and
• wherein the variable tracking burst mode limiter-amplifier device is operable in a second tracking mode when the resistor is not bypassed.

A variable tracking burst mode limiter-amplifier device, comprising:

• a capacitor having a side and a second side, the first side of the capacitor being coupled to a signal source;
• a resistor coupled to the second side of the capacitor;
• a limiter-amplifier coupled in series with the resistor, wherein the resistor is coupled between the limiter-amplifier and the second side of the capacitor;
• a bypass switch coupled between the second side of the capacitor and a ground;
• and
• a first capacitor side ground switch coupled between the first side of the capacitor and the ground;
• wherein the device is resettable via closing of the bypass switch and closing of the first capacitor side ground switch;
• wherein the capacitor is chargeable to a threshold voltage via opening of the first capacitor side ground switch and closing of the bypass switch;
• and wherein the device is operable in a signal transmission mode via opening of the bypass switch and opening of the first capacitor side ground switch.

A method for controlling three phases of operation of a limiter-amplifier device, the device including a bypassable resistor, a capacitor, and a limiter-amplifier, the method comprising:

• in a first phase, transmitting a reset signal to a first switch, such that the first switch closes, shorting a first side of the capacitor to a ground;
• and transmitting an acquisition signal to a second switch and a third switch, such that the second switch opens and the resistor is not bypassed and the third switch shorts a second side of the capacitor to the ground;
• in a second phase, ending transmission of the reset signal to the first switch, such that the first switch opens, removing the short of the second side of the capacitor to ground;
• and continuing the transmission of the acquisition signal to the second switch and the third switch;
• and
• in a third phase, ending the transmission of the acquisition signal to the second switch and the third switch, such that the second switch closes, bypassably shorting past the resistor and the third switch couples the second side of the capacitor to the limiter-amplifier.

A variable tracking burst mode limiter-amplifier device, comprising:

• a splitter for transmitting a single received signal to a first split signal output for a first split received signal and a second split signal output for a second split received signal;
• a fast burst mode limiter amplifier coupled to the first split signal output for fast tracking the first split received signal to produce a fast burst mode transmitted signal;
• a slow burst mode limiter amplifier coupled to the second split signal output for slow tracking the second split received signal to produce a slow burst mode transmitted signal;
• and
• a multiplexing device coupled to the fast burst mode limiter amplifier and the slow burst mode limiter amplifier for providing an output from the received fast mode transmitted signal and the slow burst mode transmitted signal.

A method for slow and fast tracking of received signals, comprising the steps of:

• charging a capacitor to a threshold voltage, wherein said capacitor includes a first side and a second side, is connected in series on said first side to a source of received signals and connected in series on said second side to a limiter-amplifier;
• and
• transmitting received signals from said source of received signals to said limiter-amplifier via a variable resistance path, wherein said variable resistance path comprises a bypassable resistor connected in series between said first side of said capacitor and said source of received signals;
• wherein said variable resistance path is used to vary an acquisition time for the received signals, and wherein said acquisition time is a function of at least said threshold voltage and the resistance of said bypassable resistor.