PIN mdulator for MHz

May 19, 2007 3 Replies
L

I recently discovered a device called a "PIN modulator". Here is some more info on the various apps, for anyone who may be interested.



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It is a prepackage circuit (box) with three connectors, most commonly used to modulate GHz signals with much lower ones, down to the audio range. However, my needs are slightly different.



Is anyone aware of a ready-made device of this type that will modulate frequencies in the 1-30MHz range? The lowest I have seen is 500MHz.



Thank you,



Ludwig Kerr


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J

HP published the most excellent app notes for PIN diodes. Then it went to Agilent, then Avago. So it'll be a bit of detective's work to find them but it's well worth it.

Usually the upper limit when using a PIN diode (or pair) as a modulator is given by the carrier lifetime. You can't easily swing them a whole lot faster than that. I mostly designed around HSMP3810 and similar devices and those are all in the usec range, meaning you can't use them for modulation signals in the MHz range. But of course you can get versions under 100nsec. Very important is that the spectra of the to-be-modulated RF and the highest expected modulation frequencies are far apart.

Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com
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J

use ordinary diodes instead ?

Bye. Jasen

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V

Microwave PIN diodes works in the microwave range. See a very old application on my site:

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In the 30MHz range will be much easy to use any integrated IC modulator or a transistor based schematic.

Vasile

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