Reconfigurable Pico-Pulse Generator for UWB Applications

Cemin Zhang and Aly E. Fathy

ECE Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

Abstract- We have designed, fabricated, and tested a low shape output. Pulse duration and shape can be adjusted
cost tunable narrow pico-pulse generator using a 60ps based on the type of application. Switching time between
transition time step-recovery diode (SRD) device. Both the
pulse duration and shape are electronically controllable the two output states is within 10ns, corresponding to the
using PIN diodes that are optimally connected in series. A time needed for the PIN diodes to switch between the ON
simple concept of an input-matching network was developed and OFF states. Tunnel or varactor diodes can be used to
and implemented that can significantly minimize pulse achieve faster state-switching,.
broadening and suppress pulse distortion. The developed
pulse generator circuit has a wide adjustable pulse duration
covering a 300ps to 1ns range and produces either
monocycle or Gaussian pulses using novel pulse shaping
circuitry. The proposed structure can be easily reconfigured
to include more complicated pulse shapes such as polycycle
signals.

Index- SRD, pulse generator, ultra-wide band (UWB),

monocycle, Gaussian pulse, polycycle.
Fig. 2 - Photograph of the fabricated tunable pulse generator
I. INTRODUCTION
A pulse generator is an essential component of UWB II. NOVEL INPUT MATCHING NETWORK
systems and generally has a fixed pulse width and shape. We have performed a theoretical analysis of SRD
System performance can be significantly enhanced if operation in the time domain to improve the quality of the
extremely narrow pulses are utilized. For pico-second output narrow pulse signal. A step by step model of the
pulses, step-recovery diodes (SRDs) are the most output pulse formation is given in detail to demonstrate
promising devices for UWB pulse generation. They are the source of the distortion. The SRD device has low
simple to design, inexpensive, and have low power impedance in the ON state and much higher impedance in
consumption with relatively high output voltage swings. the OFF state [2]. After fast transition to OFF state, a step
Enabling features such as tunable pulse duration and signal is generated and would propagate towards both the
shape to existing UWB systems is very advantageous. For positive x-axis (step ‘A’ in Fig. 3) and in the direction of
example, in an impulse radar system, wider pulse width the short-circuited stub. The step signal traveling along
means higher signal energy level but worse range the short-circuited line arrives at the end and is
resolution ( δR ) due to narrower bandwidth (BW) as completely reflected back out of phase (i.e. inverted) and
given by δR = c / 2 BW [1]. In addition, Pulse Shape is step ‘B’ in Fig. 3. Finally, step signal ‘A’ and step
Modulation (PSM) can be achieved and utilized to encode signal ‘B’ combine at x=0 to produce a Gaussian pulse
data in logic states, which is widely used in with a width corresponding to the round trip delay along
communication systems. the short-circuited stub [3].
Gaussian pulse
However, the previous description omits leakage
'0' caused by both the package parasitic capacitance Cp and
the reverse depletion capacitance Cr of SRD during the
OFF state, as shown in Fig. 4. The reflected step from the
'1' short-circuited termination will not only travel in the
Monocycle
+x-axis direction, but also travel in the negative x-axis
Fig. 1 - Gaussian pulse represents data ‘0’ and monocycle direction across the SRD device as a leakage step. When
represents data ‘1’ this leakage step meets triggering voltage source Vs, it
reflects back again due to the source mismatch as
Fig. 2 shows our fabricated low cost SRD-based pulse represented by step ‘C’ in Fig. 3. The net result of the
generator that has adjustable pulse duration in the range of three combined step waves is a distorted Gaussian pulse
300ps to 1ns with either monocycle or Gaussian pulse as demonstrated in Fig. 5.
 C A 2.5

With Input Matching

2.0 Without Input Matching
SRD
B
1.5
Vs RL

Amplitude (V)
1.0

0.5
-x +x

0.0
x= 0
-0.5
60 61 62 63 64 65
Time (ns)

Fig. 3 - SRD based Gaussian pulse shaping circuitry

(a) Simulation result using ADS
Cp

Before input matching

Cr Rs Lp
After input matching
Fig. 4 - Equivalent circuit of SRD under OFF state

Step wave 'B'

Step wave 'C'

Combination
Step wave 'A'
(b) Measurement result
Fig. 5 - Step waves combination at the interface of x = 0
Fig. 7 Simulated and measured Gaussian pulse output
Hence, we have developed an input-matching network with/without input matching network
for the SRD pulse generator to bypass this leakage step
wave ‘C’ and thus eliminate Guassian pulse distortion.
The matching network is basically an R-C low-pass filter III. GAUSSIAN PULSE WITH A TUNABLE DURATION
which allows only the triggering signal (10MHz) to pass
and bypasses the leaked fast step signal. Simulation was Recently J. Han et al [4] demonstrated a pulse generator
carried out using Agilent ADS2003C as shown in fig. 6. with tunable duration, however they used a
Fig. 7 shows both the ADS simulation and measurement parallel-connected PIN diode structure, as shown in Fig. 8,
results before and after introducing the input-matching which is capable of only producing a Gaussian pulse
network. The pulse width is much wider and has severe shape output signal.
distortion without the use of our newly developed
DC1 DC2 DCn
input-matching network. After introducing the
input-matching network, the output pulse has much SRD
narrower duration and the pulse shape becomes more
symmetric.
Cb l1 Cb l2
... Cb ln
Main Line

MSub

PIN
MSUB R
MSub1 RL
H= 62 mil R=50 Ohm
Er= 4.4
Mur=1
R MLOC
Cond=1.0E+50 MLOC
R1 TL14 Vout
Hu=3.9e+ 034 mil TL24
R=56 Ohm
T= 0.31 mil
TanD= 0.02 MLIN
Rough=0 mil TL22

MLIN
TL3
Vg

MLIN MTEE MLIN

V1

MLIN
1 2

MLIN
V!

MLIN
Fig. 8 - Parallel PIN diode structure controlling the short
transmission line stub
C UWB_SRD_MMD840_model
Tee1 UWB_Schottky_MSS60153_model
R T L18 C2 SRD
T L23
MCROSO
TL19
D1
T L20
MCROSO
T L21
R2 Cros1 Cros2
R
Rmatch
MLIN R= Rmatch
VtPulse
TL17
SRC3

MSOBND_MDS
Bend1
Here we present an alternative circuit topology that
MLSC
T L1 provides more flexibility. As shown in Fig. 9, we have
Fig. 6 – ADS simulation platform connected the PIN diodes in series to different stubs of
distinct length rather than in parallel. Thus only half the
number of PIN diodes is required as compared to [4]. For
pulse duration selection, only one stub is connected at a
time, while the others are completely disconnected by Fig. 11 shows the measurement results of the fabricated
turning their associated PIN diodes off. tunable pulse generator. The output Gaussian pulse
duration varies from 300ps to 1ns. All output pulses have
Main Line minimal distortion and very low ringing level.
SRD
2.0
Gauss 300ps
Cb Cb Cb Gauss 600ps
1.6
Gauss 1ns
DC1 DC2 DCn PIN
1.2

... 0.8

Amplitude (V)
l1 l2 ln
0.4

0.0

Fig. 9 - Series PIN diode structure controlling short transmission -0.4

line stubs
-0.8
0 1 2 3 4 5
Meanwhile, there is only one DC blocking capacitor Cb Time (ns)
in series with each short line stub, which mitigates the
pulse distortion caused by multiple DC blocking Fig. 11 - Measured Gaussian pulse output with tunable duration
capacitors in a parallel PIN structure. Finally, switching
time between any two durations is doubled in parallel
structures as compared to series structures, since twice the
number of PIN diodes is needed to complete the IV. TUNABLE PULSE SHAPING CIRCUITRY
switching state. Table I summarizes the difference There are two main types of pulse shaping circuits used
between parallel and series PIN diode structures. to transform Gaussian pulse to monocycle. A simple and
straightforward way is to add an R-C differentiator circuit
TABLE I - COMPARISON BETWEEN PARALLEL AND after the Gaussian pulse SRD circuit to produce a
SERIES PIN DIODE STRUCTURE monocycle output [5]. However, this method lacks
Parallel Series flexibility and does not offer tunable capability. In this
structure structure paper, we propose a new reconfigurable approach to
Amount of PIN diodes 2n n deliver a clean monocycle output signal from an input
Number of capacitors Gaussian pulse. A second section of PIN diode controlled
in series with short n 1 short-circuited transmission line stub is added along the
transmission line stub main output line of our pulse circuit, as shown in Fig. 12.
Switching speed 20ns 10ns When the PIN diode is in the ON state, the Gaussian pulse
Total cost Higher Lower propagating along the line is intentionally split between
the main line and the shorted transmission line ls. The
Fig. 10 shows our electronically tunable pulse circuit Gaussian pulse traveling along the short transmission line
structure. Rf and Cf comprise the novel input matching ls will reflect back as a negative pulse after a certain time
network used to significantly reduce pulse duration and and recombine with the former positive pulse to create a
suppress pulse distortion. monocycle.
When the PIN diode switches to OFF state, only
Gaussian pulse will appear at output load. Thus the
SRD ON/OFF state of the PIN diode will fully determine the
Vs Rf C f pulse shape of the output signal. Furthermore, more
Cb Cb Cb RL complicated output pulse shapes such as polycycle can be
DC1 DC2 DCn generated by properly adding more sections of PIN diode
PIN
controlled short-circuited transmission line stubs.
l1 l2 ... ln

Fig. 10 - Schematic of pulse generator with tunable duration

 VI. CONCLUSIONS
We have developed a low cost, multi-functional pulse
Gaussian L Main Line
Cb generator with electronic tuning of both pulse duration
Pulse
DC
RL and shape. A novel input matching network has been
PIN introduced at the input of the tunable pulse generator.
Good agreement between simulated and measured results
ls has been achieved. Both simulated and measured results
show that the input matching network can greatly prevent
the pulse width broadening and suppress any significant
Fig. 12 - Schematic of pulse generator with tunable pulse
shaping output pulse distortion. Novel series-connected PIN diode
structures are utilized for our pulse duration and shaping
Fig. 13 shows the measured results of a tunable pulse control. The developed pulse generator has wide
shape output. The monocycle has very good symmetry adjustable pulse duration from 300ps to 1ns. The pulse
and small ringing level. High data rate employing Pulse generator is reconfigurable and could provide various
Shape Modulation scheme can be achieved due to the fast output shapes such as monocycle and Gaussian pulses.
switching time of the PIN diode used to control output These features will provide more flexibility in the design
shape of the monocycle and Gaussian pulses. of adaptable UWB systems.

1.2 Gaussian Pulse

Monocycle
REFERENCES
0.8
[1] J.D. Taylor, Ultra-wideband Radar Technology, CRC Press
Amplitude (V)

0.4 LLC, 2001.

[2] J. L. Moll et al., ‘‘Physical modeling of the step recovery
0.0 diode for pulse and harmonic generation circuits,’’ in Proc.
IEEE, vol. 57, pp. 1250---1259, July 1969.
-0.4 [3] J.S. Lee and C. Nguyen, “Uniplanar picosecond pulse
generator using step-recovery diode,” in Electronics
-0.8 Letters, Vol. 37, Issue 8, Apr 2001, pp. 504 – 506.
[4] J.W. Han and C. Nguyen, “Ultra-wideband electronically
0 1 2 3 4 5
tunable pulse generators” in IEEE Microwave and Wireless
Time (ns)
Components Letters, Vol. 14,Issue 3, March 2004, pp. 112
– 114.
Fig. 13 - Measured pulse with both Gaussian and monocycle [5] J.W. Han and C. Nguyen, “A New Ultra Wideband,
output pulses Ultra-short Monocycle Pulse Generator with Reduced
Ringing,” in IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components
Letters, Vol. 12, No. 6, June 2002, pp. 206–208.
Summary of the circuit fabrication information
regarding our reconfigurable pulse generator is listed in
Table II.

TABLE II
CIRCUIT FABRICATION INFORMATION
Substrate FR-4 62 mil, εr=4.4
SRD MSD700 60ps transition
(Micrometrics Inc.) time
PIN Diode HSMS482x High freq. up to
(Agilent Co.) 3GHz, Low ON
resistance
Trigger Agilent 33220A 10MHz square
Source function generator wave, 3V
Peak-to-Peak