| Pat.#5274271: | Ultra-short pulse generator | ||
| INVENTORS: | McEwan; Thomas E., Livermore, CA | ||
| ASSIGNEES: | Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA | ||
| ISSUED: | Dec. 28, 1993 | ||
| FILED: | Jul. 12, 1991 | ||
| ABSTRACT: An inexpensive pulse generating circuit is disclosed that generates ultra-short, 200 picosecond, and high voltage 100 kW, pulses suitable for wideband radar and other wideband applications. The circuit implements a nonlinear transmission line with series inductors and variable capacitors coupled to ground made from reverse biased diodes to sharpen and increase the amplitude of a high-voltage power MOSFET driver input pulse until it causes non-destructive transit time breakdown in a final avalanche shockwave diode, which increases and sharpens the pulse even more. | |||