Active nonlinear transmission line

Abstract

A system for propagating a non-dispersive signals includes a transmission line with a voltage dependent propagation constant and distributed gain elements to maintain the non-dispersive signal between a maximum propagating amplitude and a minimum propagating amplitude.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a processing device;   a peripheral device;   an active nonlinear bus, coupled with the processing device and the peripheral device, the active nonlinear bus comprising a plurality of active nonlinear transmission lines.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a simplex communication system, wherein the active nonlinear bus is configured to propagate non-dispersive pulses having amplitudes between a lower non-propagating amplitude threshold and an upper pulse-splitting amplitude threshold. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a full duplex communication system, wherein the active nonlinear bus is configured to propagate non-dispersive pulses having amplitudes between a lower non-propagating amplitude threshold and one-half of an upper pulse-splitting amplitude threshold. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of active nonlinear transmission lines comprises:
 a nonlinear transmission line configured to propagate a non-dispersive pulse having a non-propagating lower amplitude threshold and a pulse-splitting upper amplitude threshold; and   a plurality of pulse amplifiers coupled with the nonlinear transmission line, wherein the pulse amplifiers are configured to amplify a signal having an amplitude above the lower amplitude threshold and to attenuate a signal having an amplitude below the lower amplitude threshold.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each pulse amplifier is configured to detect the non-dispersive pulse, wherein the pulse amplifier has a detection threshold approximately at or above the lower amplitude threshold. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the nonlinear transmission line comprises:
 a pair of conductors comprising a first conductor and a second conductor;   a dielectric medium disposed between the pair of conductors; and   a plurality of voltage-variable capacitors having voltage dependent capacitances, wherein the voltage-variable capacitors are coupled between the first conductor and the second conductor along a length of the pair of conductors, and wherein a spacing between voltage-variable capacitors along the length of the pair of conductors is less than or equal to a first critical spacing.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-dispersive pulse comprises a maximum frequency component having a propagation wavelength in the dielectric medium, wherein the first critical spacing is approximately one-tenth of the propagation wavelength. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-dispersive pulse comprises a voltage profile, and wherein the voltage-dependent capacitances are controlled by the voltage profile of the non-dispersive pulse. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of voltage dependent capacitors are disposed within the dielectric medium. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pulse amplifiers is coupled between the first conductor and the second conductor along the length of the pair of conductors, and wherein a spacing between pulse amplifiers along the length of the pair of conductors is less than or equal to a second critical spacing. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of pulse amplifiers is configured to limit the voltage profile of the non-dispersive pulse to the upper amplitude threshold, wherein the nonlinear transmission line attenuates the non-dispersive pulse as it propagates, and wherein the second critical spacing is a distance required to attenuate the non-dispersive pulse from the upper amplitude threshold to the lower amplitude threshold. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pulse amplifiers is disposed within the dielectric medium. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of voltage-variable capacitors comprises a first plurality of nanostructures randomly distributed within the dielectric medium. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of pulse amplifiers comprises a second plurality of nanostructures randomly distributed within the dielectric medium. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a ratio between the first plurality of nanostructures and the second plurality of nanostructures is approximately equal to a ratio between the second critical spacing and the first critical spacing. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pulse amplifiers comprises a plurality of negative resistance amplifiers. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of negative resistance amplifiers comprises a plurality of tunnel diode amplifiers. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pulse amplifiers comprises a plurality of distributed amplifiers. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of voltage-variable capacitors comprises a plurality of variable capacitance diodes. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of variable capacitance diodes comprises a plurality of Schottky barrier diodes. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are planar conductors comprising a microstrip transmission line. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are planar conductors comprising a coplanar stripline transmission line.