High speed transient sampler

• US 5,471,162 A
• Filed: 09/08/1992
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: McEwan, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US07/942,164
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 328/55, 328/56, 328/150, 328/151, 307/352, 307/353, 307/602, 377/76, 324/76.15, 327/91, 327/92, 327/94, 327/250, 327/251, 327/271, 327/325, 327/564, 327/565
• US Class Current: 327/92
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0053 Noise discrimination; Analog sampling; Measuring transients measuring characteristics of individual pulses G01R29/02; digital sampling G01R19/2509; measuring noise figure G01R29/26
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 27/024 using a capacitive memory element G11C27/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/14 by the use of delay lines H03K5/133 takes precedence

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.

Claims

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.

2. The high speed sampler of claim 1, wherein the plurality of samples are spaced in time on the input signal by less than about 30 picoseconds.

3. The high speed sampler of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions are uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

4. The high speed sampler of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions are non-uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

5. The high speed sampler of claim 1, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative strobe lines, and 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.

6. The high speed sampler of claim 5, wherein the resistance of the first strobe resistor and second strobe resistor are substantially higher than the impedance of the sample transmission line.

7. The high speed sampler of claim 1, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a conductive strip which meanders between the plurality of positions, and the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative conductive strips which are essentially straight between the plurality of positions, so that propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of positions are longer for the input signal than for the strobe signal.

8. The high speed sampler of claim 1, 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.

9. The high speed sampler of claim 1, further including means coupled with the sample transmission line for compensating for capacitive loading of the sampler circuitry at the plurality of positions.

10. The high speed sampler of claim 9, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a microstrip, and the means for compensating includes reduced-width sections of the microstrip at the plurality of positions.

11. The high speed sampler of claim 1, further including means coupled with the strobe transmission line for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude at the plurality of positions.

12. The high speed sampler of claim 11, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative microstrips, and the means for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude includes impedance steps in the microstrips at the plurality of positions.

13. The high speed sampler of claim 1, wherein the sample transmission line and strobe transmission line are configured for co-propagating input and strobe signals.

14. The high speed sampler of claim 1, 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.

15. The high speed sampler of claim 1, further including an anti-aliasing filter connected to the sample transmission line for filtering the input signal.

16. The high speed sampler of claim 1, further including means for inductively compensating the sampler circuitry.

17. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

18. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

19. The high speed sampler of claim 18, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative microstrips on the third layer, and further including a balun comprising a tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the first layer and a substantially overlapping tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the third layer, each coupled at the narrower ends to respective ones of the positive and negative microstrips.

20. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

21. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

22. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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 including

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.

23. The high speed sampler of claim 22, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a conductive strip which meanders between the plurality of positions, and the balanced positive and negative strobe lines comprise essentially straight conductive strips between the plurality of positions, so that propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of sample gates are longer for the input signal than for the strobe signal.

24. The high speed sampler of claim 22, wherein propagation times between sample gates in the plurality of sample gates are longer for the input signal on the sample transmission line than for the strobe signal on the strobe transmission line.

25. The high speed sampler of claim 22, further including means coupled with the sample transmission line for compensating for capacitive loading of the sample gates at the plurality of positions.

26. The high speed sampler of claim 25, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a microstrip, and the means for compensating includes reduced-width sections of the microstrip at the plurality of positions.

27. The high speed sampler of claim 22, further including means coupled with the strobe transmission line for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude at the plurality of positions.

28. The high speed sampler of claim 22, wherein the sample transmission line and strobe transmission line are configured for co-propagating input and strobe signals.

29. The high speed sampler of claim 22, 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.

30. The high speed sampler of claim 22, further including an anti-aliasing filter connected to the sample transmission line for filtering the input signal.

31. The high speed sampler of claim 22, wherein the resistance of the first strobe resistor and second strobe resistor are substantially higher than the impedance of the sample transmission line.

32. The high speed sampler of claim 22, wherein the plurality of positions are uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

33. The high speed sampler of claim 22, wherein the plurality of positions are non-uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

34. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

35. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

36. A high speed sampler comprising:

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.

37. The high speed sampler of claim 36, wherein the balanced positive and negative strobe lines comprise respective microstrips on the third layer, and further including a balun comprising a tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the first layer and a substantially overlapping tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the third layer, each coupled at the narrower ends to the respective microstrips.

38. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

39. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

40. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

41. The high speed sampler of claim 40, wherein the sampler circuitry includes a plurality of diode bridge sample gates connected to the sample transmission line at respective ones of the plurality of positions.

42. The high speed sampler of claim 41, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative strobe lines, and 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.

43. The high speed sampler of claim 42, further including 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.

44. The high speed sampler of claim 42, wherein the resistance of the first strobe resistor and second strobe resistor are substantially higher than the impedance of the sample transmission line.

45. The high speed sampler of claim 40, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a conductive strip which meanders between the plurality of positions, and the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative conductive strips which are essentially straight between the plurality of positions, so that propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of positions are longer for the input signal than for the strobe signal.

46. The high speed sampler of claim 40, 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.

47. The high speed sampler of claim 40, further including means coupled with the sample transmission line for compensating for capacitive loading of the sampling means at the plurality of positions.

48. The high speed sampler of claim 47, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a microstrip, and the means for compensating includes reduced-width sections of the microstrip at the plurality of positions.

49. The high speed sampler of claim 40, further including means coupled with the strobe transmission line for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude at the plurality of positions.

50. The high speed sampler of claim 49, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative microstrips, and the means for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude includes impedance steps in the microstrips at the plurality of positions.

51. The high speed sampler of claim 40, wherein the sample transmission line and strobe transmission line are configured for co-propagating input and strobe signals.

52. The high speed sampler of claim 40, wherein the sampler circuitry 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.

53. The high speed sampler of claim 40, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative microstrips on the third layer, and further including a balun comprising a tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the first layer and a substantially overlapping tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the third layer, each coupled at the narrower ends to respective ones of the positive and negative microstrips.

54. The high speed sampler of claim 40, 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.

55. The high speed sampler of claim 54, further including 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.

56. The high speed sampler of claim 40, further including an anti-aliasing filter connected to the sample transmission line for filtering the input signal.

57. The high speed sampler of claim 40, further including means for inductively compensating the sampler circuits.

58. The high speed sampler of claim 40, wherein the plurality of positions are uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

59. The high speed sampler of claim 40, wherein the plurality of positions are non-uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

60. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

61. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the circuitry for controlling timing incrementally delays the bank strobe signals so that the samples in respective pluralities of samples from at least a subset of the plurality of banks are interleaved in time.

62. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the circuitry for controlling timing incrementally delays the bank strobe signals so that the samples in respective pluralities of samples from at least a subset of the plurality of banks are concatenated in time.

63. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the sampler circuitry in at least one bank includes a plurality of diode bridge sample gates connected to the sample transmission line at respective ones of the plurality of positions.

64. The high speed sampler of claim 63, wherein the strobe transmission lines include balanced positive and negative strobe lines, and 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.

65. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the sample transmission lines in the plurality of banks comprise substantially identical conductive strips which meander between the plurality of positions in the sampler circuitry, and the strobe transmission lines includes balanced positive and negative conductive strips which are essentially straight between the plurality of positions, so that propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of positions are longer for the input signal than for the bank strobe signal.

66. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein propagation times between respective ones of the plurality of positions in the sampler circuitry in the plurality of banks are longer for the input signal on the sample transmission line than for the bank strobe signal on the strobe transmission line.

67. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the sample transmission lines and strobe transmission lines in the plurality of banks are configured for co-propagating input and strobe signals.

68. The high speed sampler of claim 60, further including 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 circuits for controlling timing.

69. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the input means includes an anti-aliasing filter for filtering the input signal.

70. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the plurality of positions in at least one of the plurality of sampler banks are uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

71. The high speed sampler of claim 60, wherein the plurality of positions in at least one of the plurality of sampler banks are non-uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

72. A high speed sampler comprising:

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.

73. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

74. 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 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.

75. The high speed sampler of claim 74, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a conductive strip which meanders between the plurality of positions, and the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative conductive strips which are essentially straight between the plurality of positions.

76. The high speed sampler of claim 74, wherein the sampler circuitry includes a plurality of diode bridge sample gates connected to the sample transmission line at respective ones of the plurality of positions.

77. The high speed sampler of claim 74, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative strobe lines, and 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.

78. The high speed sampler of claim 74, further including means coupled with the sample transmission line for compensating for capacitive loading of the sampler circuitry at the plurality of positions.

79. The high speed sampler of claim 78, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a microstrip, and the means for compensating includes reduced-width sections of the microstrip at the plurality of locations.

80. The high speed sampler of claim 74, further including means coupled with the strobe transmission line for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude at the plurality of positions.

81. The high speed sampler of claim 80, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative microstrips, and the means for maintaining substantially constant strobe amplitude includes impedance steps in the microstrips at the plurality of positions.

82. The high speed sampler of claim 74, 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.

83. The high speed sampler of claim 74, wherein the plurality of positions are uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

84. The high speed sampler of claim 74, wherein the plurality of positions are non-uniformly spaced along the sample transmission line.

85. A high speed sampler, comprising:

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.

86. The high speed sampler of claim 85, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a microstrip tracing a curved path between the plurality of positions.

87. The high speed sampler of claim 85, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a microstrip tracing a substantially identical curved path between each of the plurality of positions.

88. The high speed sampler of claim 85, wherein the sample transmission line comprises a microstrip tracing a substantially identical U-shaped path between each of the plurality of positions.

89. The high speed sampler of claim 85, wherein the strobe transmission line includes balanced positive and negative microstrips on the third layer, and further including a balun comprising a tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the first layer and a substantially overlapping tapered microstrip having a wider end and a narrower end on the third layer, each coupled at the narrower ends to respective ones of the positive and negative microstrips.

90. 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;

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.

91. The high speed sampler of claim 90, further including an anti-aliasing filter connected to the sample transmission line for filtering the input signal.