Improved Sensitivity of Zero Bias Diode Power Detectors using Impedance Tuners

This work proposes the use of an impedance tuner to increase the sensitivity of a diode detector. A zero bias Schottky diode is used as a power detector with a Chebyshev-based impedance tuner. The system is implemented with lumped components and is investigated over a wide frequency range from 0.433 GHz to 1 GHz. The measured results show a minimum increase of 1.2x at 0.433 GHz and a maximum of 2.8x at 0.9 GHz in the detector's sensitivity when the tuner is used.