Protecting Sensitive Components Using Power Limiters
应用文章
Abstract
Many receivers are often at risk of having their front ends burned out by high power RF and microwave stray signals. The same applies for sensitive microwave components such as detectors, mixers and amplifiers. These instruments and devices are also easily damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). This paper outlines application considerations and the latest limiter technologies available from Keysight Technologies, Inc.
Introduction
Microwave and RF receivers, as well as many instruments and components are susceptible to damage from high power CW and pulsed microwave signals, with amplitudes exceeding certain danger levels. For some instruments, this danger level may be as low as one watt (+30 dBm). These types of sensitive instruments and components are traditionally protected by a power limiter. The limiter should have the following characteristics for maximum protection:
- Provide very low insertion loss to signals with amplitude below the limiting threshold
- Offer very high loss to signals which exceed the limiting threshold
- Possess very fast response time, providing protection within nanoseconds of the arrival of a damaging signal