Pin Diode Switch Driver Design

References 1 2 provide a fuller treatment of this subject and can be used as a basis for rf switch switch driver interface designs.

Pin diode switch driver design.

I have read some ap notes of pin diodes and got to know that switching speed of my antenna switch is not only related to carrier lifetime of pin diodes but also related to driver. Pin diode switch driver examples. Microsemi s product line of pin diode switch driver modules is designed for use in applications where gaas or fast speed si pin diodes are utilized. They can be easily configured for a variety of applications supply voltages and conditions to provide the designer with a multitude of design options.

Part number is um4010 manufactured by microsemi corp. The subject of driver circuits for pin diode switches and attenuator circuits is always relevant to any practical component design and thus has been included in a separate appendix. Driver circuits for high power pin diode switches the information in this chapter is presented as a guide for the rf switch switch driver interface. The carrier lifetime of pin diode i use is 10microseconds typ.

Inputs are compatible with standard logic families. Pin diode physics topics such as pin diode forward and reverse bias operating characteristics and. Because of the complexity of designing a high speed current driver circuit the fet switch typically has an advantage in switching speed as well. Infineon pin diodes come with low loss and low distortion levels and are suitable for a wide range of mobile communications and rf applications.

There are some great vendors out there that can supply you with many types of pin switch drivers commercial. Op amp switch drivers is their inherent flexibility. Op amp pin diode drivers op amp circuits are an attractive alternative to traditional pin diode drivers. Pin diode driver circuits are a pain to design and build.

It has a wide undoped intrinsic semiconductor region i sandwiched between a p type semiconductor p and an n type semiconductor region n hence the pin designation. Microsemi s switch drivers contain internal spiking and decoupling capacitors. A clear advantage of op amp switch drivers is their inherent flexibility. They can be easily configured for a variety of applications supply voltages and conditions to provide the designer with a multitude of design options.

The pin diode is a special diode which can be configured as an rf switch. External negative supply voltages may be as high as 18 volts.