Patent ID: 7532083

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: 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, 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; 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.