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    Step Recovery Diodes

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    fahkingmoron
    Step recovery diodes are used as high order multipliers and can multiply signals up to 20 times. They work by storing charge during one half of an input signal and rapidly extracting it to generate a pulse rich in harmonics. Proper filtering selects the desired harmonics. Unlike other multipliers, step recovery diodes are best for high order, low power applications at high frequencies up to Ku band due to their low capacitance and parasitics. The diode must have a sufficiently long lifetime and fast snap time relative to the input and output frequencies for efficient multiplication.

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    Step Recovery Diodes

    Uploaded by

    fahkingmoron
    166 views3 pages
    Step recovery diodes are used as high order multipliers and can multiply signals up to 20 times. They work by storing charge during one half of an input signal and rapidly extracting it to generate a pulse rich in harmonics. Proper filtering selects the desired harmonics. Unlike other multipliers, step recovery diodes are best for high order, low power applications at high frequencies up to Ku band due to their low capacitance and parasitics. The diode must have a sufficiently long lifetime and fast snap time relative to the input and output frequencies for efficient multiplication.

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    Step Recovery Diodes

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    Step recovery diodes are used as high order multipliers and can multiply signals up to 20 times. They work by storing charge during one half of an input signal and rapidly extracting it to generate a pulse rich in harmonics. Proper filtering selects the desired harmonics. Unlike other multipliers, step recovery diodes are best for high order, low power applications at high frequencies up to Ku band due to their low capacitance and parasitics. The diode must have a sufficiently long lifetime and fast snap time relative to the input and output frequencies for efficient multiplication.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    166 views3 pages

    Step Recovery Diodes

    Uploaded by

    fahkingmoron
    Step recovery diodes are used as high order multipliers and can multiply signals up to 20 times. They work by storing charge during one half of an input signal and rapidly extracting it to generate a pulse rich in harmonics. Proper filtering selects the desired harmonics. Unlike other multipliers, step recovery diodes are best for high order, low power applications at high frequencies up to Ku band due to their low capacitance and parasitics. The diode must have a sufficiently long lifetime and fast snap time relative to the input and output frequencies for efficient multiplication.

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    of 3

    Application Notes

    Step Recovery Diodes Application Note


    Step recovery diodes, or SRDs, are used as high order multipliers and will multiply as high as 20x when used as a comb generator. They depend on extremely fast recovery time, often referred to as snap time to generate pulses rich in harmonics. Proper filtering and pulse shaping produces the familiar output of sharp, fast rise time pulses. By storing charge during the positive half of an input sinesoidal signal and then extracting that charge during the negative going half cycle, a current pulse with a rise time equivalent to the snap time of the diode is generated in the impulse circuit of the multiplier. Output filtering then selects the desired harmonics for the application at hand. Unlike C-Swing multipliers which utilize the non-linearity of the capacitancevoltage curve to generate harmonics, and are most useful as low order, high power multipliers, SRDs are most useful as high order, low power multipliers. Because they can be made with low capacitance and low parasitics, they are most useful at the higher frequency ranges and will work with outputs as high as Ku band.
    Figure 1. Capacitance Vs. Output Frequency
    200 100

    VALUE OF JUNCTION CAPACITANCE at -6 VOLTS (pF)

    M ax .P ow

    10

    er (X c M ax .E cie ffi nc y( Xc -6 0 ) = 10 -3 0 )

    0.1 0.1 1.0 10 20

    OUTPUT FREQUENCY (GHz)

    Figure 2. Snap Time Vs. Output Frequency

    100nS Ts < F MAXIMUM SNAP TIME (Ts) Nanoseconds 10nS 1 out

    Su d te es gg
    Maximum Value Ts

    1nS

    Ts Ra e ng

    100pS

    10pS .01 0.1 .1.0 OUTPUT FREQUENCY (GHz) 10 .20

    94

    MicroMetrics, Inc. 136 Harvey Road, Building C, Londonderry, NH 03053 Voice: 603-641-3800, Fax: 603-641-3500, Internet: www.micrometrics.com, E-mail: [email protected]

    Step Recovery Diodes Application Note


    Selection of SRDs In selecting a diode for comb generator operation, the following criteria should be determined: Input Frequency Output Frequency Bandwidth Efficiency Once these values have been determined, the proper diode can be selected, as well as the proper value of the bias resistor. The major requirement for an efficient multiplier diode is that its lifetime is long enough that the reverse current can reach a peak before the diode snaps back to its high impedance state. Input Frequency The minimum required lifetime for a given input frequency can be calculated by: TL x FIN = 10 Min. However, a value of 20-30 is considered best in most applications with the exception of bandwidths of 10% or greater, where a value closer to 10 will minimize difficulties of input matching. Output Frequency Transition time, or snap time as we have been using, is the key determinant for optimizing output of a multiplier circuit, i.e.: Ts < 1 Fout
    100nS Ts < F MAXIMUM SNAP TIME (Ts) Nanoseconds 1 out

    Figure 3. Ideal Lifetime

    10nS

    +
    Diode Current

    Maximum Value Ts

    1nS

    Diode Current Time

    Ts 20% Ir Peak

    100pS

    10pS .01 0.1 .1.0 OUTPUT FREQUENCY (GHz) Maximum and suggested values of snaptime (Ts ) for SRD varactors vs. multiplier output frequency in GHz. 10 .20

    Figure 4 Snap Time (Ts) Definition

    80% Ir Peak

    Diode Current

    1RP T

    1RP

    Output frequency also controls the choice of junction capacitance. A multiplier will work best if the output reactance is approximately 50 ohms at the self bias point established by the bias resistor. (Usually very close to the specified capacitance at -6 volts.) Cj = 1 2fXc Normally a reactance value between 30 and 60 Ohms is adequate for most multiplier applications, however since power handling is dependent on junction area, the larger the junction the better, so a reactance of 30 to 40 Ohms should be the goal. Continued on next page.

    Short Lifetime T1 Adequately Long Lifetime T2

    Snap

    MicroMetrics, Inc. 136 Harvey Road, Building C, Londonderry, NH 03053 Voice: 603-641-3800, Fax: 603-641-3500, Internet: www.micrometrics.com, E-mail: [email protected]

    95

    Application Notes

    Su gg es te d Ra Ts ng e

    Application Notes

    Step Recovery Diodes Application Note (continued)


    Output Power The output power required will determine the breakdown voltage needed and the thermal resistance of the diode. The breakdown voltage must be high enough so that the peak RF voltage plus the bias voltage will not cause the diode to avalanche. If this occurs, the diode will become quite noisy and could burn out. The required breakdown voltage can be estimated by: Bv = k 2 Po (Fin x Ct -6) Efficiency The principle contributor to decreased efficiency in multiplier circuits used to be the cutoff frequency of the diode. Today, however, most modern SRD and multiplier designs have cutoffs in the 200 - 300 GHz range which is more than adequate for most multipliers up to Ku band. Efficiency for most multiplier circuits can be approximated by the expression: Efficiency 1 where n > 3 n For doublers, efficiency as high as 65% can be achieved. For triplers, efficiency as high as 50% can be achieved.

    where the constant k = 0.8 for multiplication < 4 = 1.1 for multiplication = 4 = 1.5 for multiplication > 4 The thermal resistance must be low enough to keep the junction temperature below 150C during operation (all power not converted to harmonics may be assumed to be dissipated in the diode) jo = 150C - TA (power in) - (power out)

    where TA is the ambient temperature. Bandwidth Step recovery diodes are inherently narrow band due to the spike response nature of the input impedance. For applications requiring bandwidths of 5-10% or greater, a low order multiplier utilizing a C-Swing type diode is recommended. If a broadband comb generator is required, the input and output filters should be kept as simple as possible.

    96

    MicroMetrics, Inc. 136 Harvey Road, Building C, Londonderry, NH 03053 Voice: 603-641-3800, Fax: 603-641-3500, Internet: www.micrometrics.com, E-mail: [email protected]

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