High-speed, low-power, ITL compatible driver for a diode switch

摘要

The present invention relates to a driver for a diode switch comprising a complementary arrangement of a first and a second type of transistor across a voltage source. The first type of transistor is coupled to receive only a-c fluctuations in the input signal and is arranged to be not saturated but at cut off at the beginning of each switching subframe and be turned on for a very short time in response to a predetermined a-c input transition. The second type of transistor is coupled to receive a-c and d-c input signal fluctuations and has a resistive element for limiting the forward-biased current through the diode switch when turned on. A resistive element across the emitter collector terminals of the first type of transistor maintains the appropriate back-biasing potential on the diode switch when both transistors are cut off.