Biased nonlinear transmission line comb generators
AssigneePicosecond Pulse Labs
InventorSteven H. Pepper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Comb generators include a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) having one or more NLTL sections. Each NLTL section includes one or more nonlinear elements and transmission line portions that provide transmission line dispersion. Typically, the nonlinear elements are Schottky diodes, and a pulse forming bias network is configured to establish Schottky diode bias conditions using a periodic signal that is input to the comb generator. For input periodic signals at frequencies between about 500 MHz and 1 GHz, output signals are produced having substantial power in frequency components at frequencies up to at least about 50 GHz.
Claims24
An electrical comb generator configured to produce a frequency comb signal in response to an input periodic signal, comprising:
- a first pulse forming bias network and a second pulse forming bias network;
- and
- a nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) configured to receive the input periodic signal, the NLTL including at least a first nonlinear element and a second nonlinear element, wherein the first and second bias pulse forming networks are configured to at least partially establish a nonlinearity of the first and second nonlinear elements, respectively.
A comb generator configured to receive an input periodic signal and produce a frequency comb, comprising:
- a first NLTL section coupled to receive the input periodic signal;
- a first pulse shaping bias network (PFBN) configured to establish a nonlinearity provided by the first NLTL section;
- a second NLTL section coupled to the first NLTL section;
- and
- a second pulse shaping bias network (PFBN) coupled to establish a nonlinearity provided by the second NLTL section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.