60 GHz wavelet generator for impulse radio applications

A wavelet generator producing 100 ps short pulses at 60 GHz is presented. The wavelet generator consists of a gated tunnel diode (GTD) integrated in parallel with an inductor. This forms a negative differential conductance (NDC) oscillator with the ability to switch the NDC property on and off, which makes it possible to generate short pulses. In the experiments described, the wavelet generator drives a 50 Ω load and delivers 206 mV_pp when generating 97 ps short pulses at 60 GHz. It is demonstrated that it is possible to generate pulses of different length and phase. An explanation of the almost instantaneously startup and decay lapse of the oscillator, including generation of signals with opposite phase, is presented. This novel circuit may find use in ultra-wideband impulse radio communication.