Modification of Track and Hold Networks for Improved Bandwidth and Sampling Accuracy in High-Q Antenna Systems
Abstract
Increased interest in mixer-first receiver architectures has been primarily driven by the need for compact receivers capable of operating across a wide range of frequencies, particularly in edge devices and software-defined radios (SDR). Matching between a receiving antenna and subsequent RF components is inherently poor but can be improved through narrowband matching networks. These networks limit the antenna's bandwidth, distorting short-duration pulsed signals, and may not offer significantly reduced loss. The design proposed in this paper is a modification of existing sample and hold circuits, such as those applied in mixer-first receivers, to provide a reflectionless match without the need for additional matching networks between an antenna and the direct sampling stage. This was done using circuit-level simulations in Keysight Pathwave ADS with ideal components. Results from the current work indicated that the modified sampling network could nullify ringing after very short duration pulses, provides a reflectionless match to a wide range of source impedances, accurately sample monocycle signals from highly reactive sources, and sample with low loss.
Subject
Sampling NetworksMixer-first
Time Varying Systems
Capacitors
Pulse Modulation
Direct Sampling
Citation
Vorobiev, Daniel Igorevich (2023). Modification of Track and Hold Networks for Improved Bandwidth and Sampling Accuracy in High-Q Antenna Systems. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /199822.