Comparison of the Response of a Heterodyne Receiver to Video-Pulse and Impulse-Type Signals

This paper presents some of the limitations of available impulse generators and suggests a criterion to determine the useful frequency range for impulse generators based on the requirements in MIL-STD-461. This paper also discusses a technique that can be used to generate a transient response of a heterodyne receiver that closelv approximates the impulse response of the receiver. The technique uses a video pulse from a commercial pulse generator. The transient response of the receiver, measured at IF, will differ from the true impulse response in IF phase only. Available data indicates that this technique may be useful to generate impulse-like responses for RF amplifiers and broad-band amplifiers that operate at frequencies as high as 100 GHz.