High speed transient sampler
First Claim
1. A high speed sampler, comprising:
- a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal;
a strobe transmission line including a conductive strip for transmitting a strobe signal; and
sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions coupled with the conductive strip of the strobe transmission line and coupled with the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein the plurality of samples are spaced in time on the input signal by less than about 150 picoseconds;
wherein the sampler circuitry includes a plurality of diode bridge sample gates having relatively high impedance strobe line inputs connected to the sample transmission line at each of the plurality of positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A high speed sampler comprises a meandered sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal, a straight strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal, and a plurality of sampling gates along the transmission lines. The sampling gates comprise a four terminal diode bridge having a first strobe resistor connected from a first terminal of the bridge to the positive strobe line, a second strobe resistor coupled from the third terminal of the bridge to the negative strobe line, a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line, and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge. The resistance of the first and second strobe resistors is much higher than the signal transmission line impedance in the preferred system. This results in a sampling gate which applies a very small load on the sample transmission line and on the strobe generator. The sample holding capacitor is implemented using a smaller capacitor and a larger capacitor isolated from the smaller capacitor by resistance. The high speed sampler of the present invention is also characterized by other optimizations, including transmission line tap compensation, stepped impedance strobe line, a multi-layer physical layout, and unique strobe generator design. A plurality of banks of such samplers are controlled for concatenated or interleaved sample intervals to achieve long sample lengths or short sample spacing.
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Citations
91 Claims
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1. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line including a conductive strip for transmitting a strobe signal; and sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions coupled with the conductive strip of the strobe transmission line and coupled with the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein the plurality of samples are spaced in time on the input signal by less than about 150 picoseconds; wherein the sampler circuitry includes a plurality of diode bridge sample gates having relatively high impedance strobe line inputs connected to the sample transmission line at each of the plurality of positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal; and sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein the plurality of samples are spaced in time on the input signal by less than about 150 picoseconds, the sampler circuitry further includes a plurality of sample holding capacitors at respective ones of the plurality of positions, and the sample holding capacitors include a relatively smaller first capacitor, a relatively larger second capacitor, and a resistor connected between the first and second capacitors.
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18. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal; sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein the plurality of samples are spaced in time on the input signal by less than about 150 picoseconds; and a multi-layer circuit board having the sample transmission lines on a first layer, a ground plane on a second layer, and the strobe transmission line on a third layer isolated from the sample transmission line on the first layer by the ground plane on the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal; sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein the plurality of samples are spaced in time on the input signal by less than about 150 picoseconds, the high speed sampler further including means, coupled to the sampler circuitry, for sequentially scanning out the plurality of samples at a rate slower than the time between samples; and a sample reconstruction filter connected to receive the scanned out samples from the means for sequentially scanning, and supply an analog reconstruction representative of the sampled input signal.
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21. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal, the strobe transmission line further including balanced positive and negative strobe lines; sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein the plurality of samples are spaced in time on the input signal by less than about 150 picoseconds, the sampler circuitry further including a plurality of diode bridge sample gates having relatively high impedance strobe line inputs connected to the sample transmission line at respective ones of the plurality of positions, the sample gates each include a plurality of diodes configured as a four terminal bridge having first, second, third, and fourth terminals, a first strobe resistor connected to the first terminal of the bridge and to the positive strobe line, a second strobe resistor connected to the third terminal of the bridge and to the negative strobe line, a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line, and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge; and inductive means connected between the tap and the second terminal of the bridge and second inductive means connected between the charge holding capacitor and the fourth terminal of the bridge.
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22. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal, including balanced positive and negative strobe lines, the strobe lines including respective conductive strips; and sampler circuitry, having a plurality of sample gates at respective positions connected with the conductive strips of the strobe transmission line and with the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal;
at least one of the plurality of sample gates includinga plurality of diodes configured as a four terminal bridge having first, second, third, and fourth terminals; a first strobe resistor connected to the first terminal of the bridge and to the positive strobe line; a second strobe resistor connected to the third terminal of the bridge and to the negative strobe line; a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line; and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal, including balanced positive and negative strobe lines; sampler circuitry having a plurality of sample gates at respective positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, for sampling the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal wherein at least one of the plurality of sample gates includes a plurality of diodes configured as a four terminal bridge having first, second, third, and fourth terminals; a first strobe resistor connected to the first terminal of the bridge and to the positive strobe line; a second strobe resistor connected to the third terminal of the bridge and to the negative strobe line; a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line; and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge; and means coupled with the strobe transmission line for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude at the plurality of positions, the maintaining means further including impedance steps in the balanced positive and negative strobe lines at the plurality of positions.
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35. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal, including balanced positive and negative strobe lines; and sampler circuitry having a plurality of sample gates at respective positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, for sampling the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal wherein at least one of the plurality of sample gates includes a plurality of diodes configured as a four terminal bridge having first, second third and fourth terminals; a first strobe resistor connected to the first terminal of the bridge and to the positive strobe line; a second strobe resistor connected to the third terminal of the bridge and to the negative strobe line; a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line; and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge;
wherein the sample holding capacitor includes a relatively smaller first capacitor, a relatively larger second capacitor, and a resistor connected between the first and second capacitors.
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36. A high speed sampler comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal including balanced positive and negative strobe lines; sampler circuitry having a plurality of sample gates at respective positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line for sampling the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal wherein at least one of the plurality of sample gates includes a plurality of diodes configured as a four terminal bridge having first, second, third, and fourth terminals; a first strobe resistor connected to the first terminal of the bridge and to the positive strobe line; a second strobe resistor connected to the third terminal of the bridge and to the negative strobe line; a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line; and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge; and a multi-layer circuit board having the sample transmission lines on a first layer, a ground plane on a second layer, and the balanced positive and negative strobe lines on a third layer isolated from the sample transmission line on the first layer by the ground plane on the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal, including balanced positive and negative strobe lines; sampler circuitry having a plurality of sample gates at respective positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, for sampling the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal wherein at least one of the plurality of sample gates includes a plurality of diodes configured as a four terminal bridge having first, second, third, and fourth terminals; a first strobe resistor connected to the first terminal of the bridge and to the positive strobe line; a second strobe resistor connected to the third terminal of the bridge and to the negative strobe line; a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line; and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge; means for sequentially scanning out the plurality of samples at a rate slower than the time between samples; and a sample reconstruction filter connected to receive the scanned out samples from the means for sequentially scanning, and supply an analog reconstruction representative of the sampled input signal.
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39. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a strobe signal, including balanced positive and negative strobe lines; sampler circuitry having a plurality of sample gates at respective positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, for sampling the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal wherein at least one of the plurality of sample gates includes a plurality of diodes configured as a four terminal bridge having first, second, third, and fourth terminals; a first strobe resistor connected to the first terminal of the bridge and to the positive strobe line; a second strobe resistor connected to the third terminal of the bridge and to the negative strobe line; a tap connected to the second terminal of the bridge and to the sample transmission line; and a sample holding capacitor connected to the fourth terminal of the bridge; and first inductive means connected between the tap and the second terminal of the bridge and second inductive means connected between the charge holding capacitor and the fourth terminal of the bridge.
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40. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a multi-layer circuit board; a sample transmission line on a first layer of the circuit board for transmitting an input signal; a ground plane on a second layer of the circuit board; a strobe transmission line on a third layer of the circuit board for transmitting a strobe signal, and isolated by the ground plane from the sample transmission line, and sampler circuitry, having a plurality of positions on the circuit board connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a plurality of sampler banks, each bank including a sample transmission line for transmitting a bank input signal; a strobe transmission line including a conductive strip for transmitting a bank strobe signal; and sampler circuitry, having a plurality of positions coupled with the conductive strip of the strobe transmission line and coupled with the sample transmission line, which samples the bank input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the bank strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal; input circuitry, coupled with the plurality of sampler banks, which supplies an input signal to the sample transmission lines in each of the plurality of banks in parallel; strobe control circuitry, coupled with the plurality of sampler banks, which supplies the bank strobe signals to the strobe transmission lines in each of the plurality of banks, including circuits for controlling timing of the bank strobe signals. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A high speed sampler comprising:
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a plurality of sampler banks, each bank including a sample transmission line for transmitting a bank input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a bank strobe signal; sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the bank input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the bank strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal; input circuitry, coupled with the plurality of sampler banks, which supplies an input signal to the sample transmission lines in each of the plurality of banks in parallel; strobe control circuitry coupled with the plurality of sampler banks, which supplies the bank strobe signals to the strobe transmission lines in each of the plurality of banks, including circuits for controlling timing of the bank strobe signals; and a multi-layer circuit board having the sample transmission lines of at least a subset of the plurality of banks on a first layer, a ground plane on a second layer, and the strobe transmission lines of at least the subset of the plurality of banks on a third layer isolated from the sample transmission lines on the first layer by the ground plane on the second layer.
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73. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a plurality of sampler banks, each bank including a sample transmission line for transmitting a bank input signal; a strobe transmission line for transmitting a bank strobe signal; sampler circuitry having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the bank input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the bank strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal; input circuitry, coupled with the plurality of sampler banks, which supplies an input signal to the sample transmission lines in each of the plurality of banks in parallel; strobe control circuitry, coup led with the plurality of sampler banks, which supplies the bank strobe signals to the strobe transmission lines in each of the plurality of banks, including circuits for controlling timing of the bank strobe signals; means, coupled to the sampler circuitry in the plurality of banks, for scanning out the samples from the plurality of banks in coordination with the means for controlling timing; and a sample reconstruction filter connected to receive the scanned out samples from the means for scanning, and supply an analog reconstruction representative of the sampled input signal.
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74. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line including a conductive strip for transmitting a strobe signal; and sampler circuitry, having a plurality of positions coupled with the conductive strip of the strobe transmission line and with the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of positions are longer for the input signal on the sample transmission line than for the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line; wherein the sample transmission line and the strobe transmission line are configured for copropagating input and strobe signals so that the difference in propagation times between the plurality of positions defines the sample spacing in time. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A high speed sampler, comprising:
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal which includes a conductive strip which meanders between the plurality of positions; a strobe transmission line which includes balanced positive and negative conductive strips which are essentially straight between the plurality of positions; sampler circuits having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of positions are longer for the input signal on the sample transmission line than for the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line; and a multi-layer circuit board having the sample transmission line on a first layer, a ground plane on a second layer, and the strobe transmission line on a third layer isolated from the sample transmission line on the first layer by the ground plane on the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. A high speed sampler, comprising;
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a sample transmission line for transmitting an input signal; a strobe transmission line including a conductive strip for transmitting a strobe signal; sampler circuitry, having a plurality of positions connected to the strobe transmission line and the sample transmission line, which samples the input signal at the plurality of positions in response to the strobe signal to supply a plurality of samples of the input signal, wherein propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of positions are longer for the input signal on the sample transmission line than for the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line; means, coupled to the sampler circuitry, for sequentially scanning out the plurality of samples at a rate slower than the time between samples; and a sample reconstruction filter connected to receive the scanned out samples from the means for sequentially scanning, and supply an analog reconstruction representative of the sampled input signal. - View Dependent Claims (91)
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Specification