The design of smallsized low level attenuators

The problem of a low level attenuators complex design is concerned here. The analysis consists of direct current calculation, temperature resistive coefficients estimation and high frequency modeling results which take into consideration the laser trimmer effect. There is some information to concern the resistance errors due to the laser heating effect. The DC design procedure is based on using of the partial region method for the trimmed inhomogeneous thin resistive film structure. Distributed structure equivalent resistances which could be measured and controlled are obtained. Moreover, the present study provides an assuming of frequency bandwidth for laser adjusted attenuators with different values of a surface resistance. The proposed numerical model in the paper does not account for the laser beam size, which is much smaller than the dimensions of the resistive film. The profound work deals with the simmetrical resistive structure which is rarely performed in a practice. The present study provides the base information for characteristics and limitations of adjusted low level attenuators for specialists and engineers.

low level attenuators, thin resistive films, laser adjustment