GC4701-6LP
Datasheet
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
Released
December 2017
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
Microsemi Proprietary and Confidential. GC4701-6LP Datasheet Revision 2.0
Contents
1 Revision History ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Revision 2.0 ........................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Revision 1.0 ........................................................................................................................................ 1
2 Product Overview .......................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Applications ........................................................................................................................................ 2
2.2 Benefits ............................................................................................................................................... 2
2.3 Key Features ....................................................................................................................................... 3
3 Electrical Specifications .................................................................................................................. 4
3.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings ................................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Device Electrical Parameters .............................................................................................................. 4
3.3 Typical RF Performance ...................................................................................................................... 4
4 Small Signal Characteristics ............................................................................................................ 5
5 Transfer Characteristics ................................................................................................................. 6
5.1 CW Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics ............................................................................................ 7
5.2 Pulsed Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics ....................................................................................... 9
6 Application Schematic and Recommended Board Layout ........................................................... 11
7 Package Specifications ................................................................................................................. 12
7.1 Package Dimensions ......................................................................................................................... 12
7.2 Package Outline ................................................................................................................................ 12
8 Evaluation Board Assembly .......................................................................................................... 13
9 Tape-and-Reel Format ................................................................................................................. 14
10 Ordering Information .................................................................................................................. 15
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
Microsemi Proprietary and Confidential. GC4701-6LP Datasheet Revision 2.0 1
1 Revision History
The revision history describes the changes that were implemented in the document. The changes are
listed by revision, starting with the most current publication.
1.1 Revision 2.0
Revision 2.0 was published in December 2017. In Revision 2.0 of this document, the following changes
were made:
The and CW Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics (see page 7) Pulsed Multi-Stage Transfer
sections were added.Characteristics (see page 9)
The section was added.Application Schematic and Recommended Board Layout (see page 11)
1.2 Revision 1.0
Revision 1.0 was published in September 2016. It was the first publication of this document.
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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2 Product Overview
This SMT limiting diode element consists of a specially processed PIN diode packaged in a convenient,
low-cost plastic outline suitable for standard or co-planar microstrip circuits. Featuring low-loss, low
turn-on, and high self-biased isolation, these devices are designed for use in passive or active limiters at
frequencies through X band.
This surface mount limiter meets RoHS requirements according to EU directives 2011/65/EC and 2002
/95 EC.
The following illustration shows the primary functional blocks of the GC4701-6LP device.
Figure 1 • Functional Block Diagram
2.1 Applications
A diode limiter is a power-sensitive variable attenuator that uses the non-linear properties of the diode
to provide an impedance mismatch when sufficient amounts of RF power are incident on the device.
The output power is reduced to a level that will not overdrive a receiver, burn out a mixer, or otherwise
compromise the device. For varying input power levels in excess of the diode’s threshold level, the
limiter’s output power tends to remain constant.
A passive limiter is one in which the limiter diodes are turned on by the RF signal itself. An active limiter
is one in which the limiter diodes are turned on primarily by an external bias current typically supplied
by a Schottky detector diode that senses the incident signal.
Since limiter diodes are not designed to dissipate large amounts of power, the limiter must reflect or
divert the excess incident power back to the source or to another load (through a circulator or a hybrid
coupler, for example).
QFN limiting diode elements may be used in microstrip, co-planar microstrip, or other media. Single or
cascaded devices may be used, depending on power levels.
2.2 Benefits
The GC4701-6LP device provides the following application benefits:
Receiver protection circuits
Amplifier protection
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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2.3 Key Features
The following are key features of the GC4701-6LP device:
Small 1.6 mm × 1.6 mm QFN
GC4701-6LP: Output PIN diode
Low insertion loss: 0.1 dB at 5 GHz
Multistage designs
GC4212-6LP: Input PIN diode
GC9952-6LP: Schottky driver
Suitable for applications to 15 GHz
Excellent flat leakage performance
Low-P1dB compression point: 10 dBm
RoHS compliant
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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3 Electrical Specifications
This section details the electrical specifications of the GC4701-6LP device.
3.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
The following table shows the absolute maximum ratings of the GC4701-6LP device.
Table 1 • Absolute Maximum Ratings
Rating Symbol Value Unit
Maximum leakage current (at 80% of minimum-rated V )BIR500 nA
Operating temperature TOP –55 to 150 °C
Storage temperature TSTG –65 to 150 °C
ESD sensitivity (HBM) Class 1A
Moisture sensitivity level MSL 1
3.2 Device Electrical Parameters
The following table shows the GC4701-6LP device electrical parameters at 25 °C where the pulse length
is 1 μs.
Table 2 • Device Electrical Parameters
Parameter Units Condition Min Typ Max
VBV I = 10 µAR20 25
IRnA V = 16 VR 500
CT pF V = 0 V, f = 1 MHzR 0.45
CT pF V = 10 V, f = 1 MHzR 0.35 0.4
RSΩ I = 10 mA, f = 1 GHzF 1.5 2.0
TLns I = 10 mA, I = 6 mAF R 10
Thermal resistance °C/W I heat = 0.5 A 50
3.3 Typical RF Performance
The following table shows the typical RF performance of the GC4701-6LP device at 25 °C.
Table 3 • Typical RF Performance
Parameter Units Condition Min Typ Max
Peak power (P )IN dBm 1 µs, 0.001 duty cycle 50
Leakage power (P )OUT dBm 1 µs, 0.001 duty cycle 22
Threshold dBm P1dB 10
CW power (P )IN dBm Continuous 33
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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4 Small Signal Characteristics
The following graphs show the small signal characteristic curves of the GC4701-6LP device.
Figure 2 • GC4701-6LP Insertion Loss Figure 3 • GC4701-6LP Input Return Loss
Figure 4 • GC4212-6LP/GC4701-6LP Insertion Loss Figure 5 • GC4212-6LP/GC4701-6LP Input Return
Loss
Figure 6 • GC4212-6LP/GC4701-6LP/GC9952-6LP
Insertion Loss
Figure 7 • GC4212-6LP/GC4701-6LP/GC9952-6LP
Input Return Loss
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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5 Transfer Characteristics
The following graphs show the transfer characteristics of the GC4701-6LP device.
Figure 8 • CW Transfer Characteristics
Figure 9 • Pulsed Power Transfer Characteristics
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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5.1 CW Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics
This section details the CW multi-stage transfer characteristics of the GC4701-6LP device.
The following drawing shows the application schematic of the GC4212-6LP input PIN diode and the
GC4701-6LP output PIN diode.
Figure 10 • GC4212-6LP and GC4701-6LP Application Schematic
The following graph shows the CW multi-stage transfer characteristics of the GC4212-6LP input PIN
diode and the GC4701-6LP output PIN diode.
Figure 11 • GC4212-6LP and GC4701-6LP CW Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics
The following drawing shows the application schematic of the GC4212-6LP input PIN diode, GC4701-6LP
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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The following drawing shows the application schematic of the GC4212-6LP input PIN diode, GC4701-6LP
output PIN diode, and the GC9952-6LP Schottky driver.
Figure 12 • GC4212-6LP, GC4701-6LP, and GC9952-6LP Application Schematic
The following graph shows the CW multi-stage transfer characteristics of the GC4212-6LP input PIN
diode, the GC4701-6LP output PIN diode, and the GC9952-6LP Schottky driver.
Figure 13 • GC4212-6LP, GC4701-6LP, and GC9952-6LP CW Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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5.2 Pulsed Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics
This section details the pulsed multi-stage transfer characteristics of the GC4701-6LP device at 1 µs,
0.001 duty cycle.
The following drawing shows the pulsed multi-stage application schematic of the GC4212-6LP input PIN
diode and the GC4701-6LP output PIN diode.
Figure 14 • GC4212-6LP and GC4701-6LP Pulsed Multi-Stage Application Schematic
The following graph shows the pulsed multi-stage transfer characteristics of the GC4212-6LP input PIN
diode and the GC4701-6LP output PIN diode.
Figure 15 • GC4212-6LP input PIN diode and GC4701-6LP Pulsed Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics
The following drawing shows the pulsed multi-stage application schematic of the GC4212-6LP input PIN
diode, GC4701-6LP output PIN diode, and the GC9952-6LP Schottky driver.
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
Microsemi Proprietary and Confidential. GC4701-6LP Datasheet Revision 2.0 10
Figure 16 • GC4212-6LP, GC4701-6LP, and GC9952-6LP Pulsed Multi-Stage Application Schematic
The following graph shows the pulsed multi-stage transfer characteristics of the GC4212-6LP input PIN
diode, the GC4701-6LP output PIN diode, and the GC9952-6LP Schottky driver.
Figure 17 • GC4212-6LP, GC4701-6LP, and GC9952-6LP Pulsed Multi-Stage Transfer Characteristics
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
Microsemi Proprietary and Confidential. GC4701-6LP Datasheet Revision 2.0 11
6 Application Schematic and Recommended Board Layout
The following drawing shows the application schematic of the GC4701-6LP device.
Figure 18 • Application Schematic
The following drawing shows the recommended board layout of the GC4701-6LP device.
Figure 19 • Recommended Board Layout
The following table shows the L1 values in nH at different bandwidths.
Table 4 • L1 Values
Band Width (GHz) L1 (nH)
1–2 40–50
2–4 20–25
4–8 10–20
8–15 8–12
1–12 40–50
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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7 Package Specifications
This section details the package specifications of the GC4701-6LP device.
7.1 Package Dimensions
The following illustration shows the package outline of the GC4701-6LP device. Dimensions are in
millimeters [inches].
Figure 20 • Package Dimensions
7.2 Package Outline
The following illustration shows the package outline of the GC4701-6LP device. For additional packaging
information, contact your Microsemi sales representative.
Figure 21 • Package Outline
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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8 Evaluation Board Assembly
The following illustrations show the evaluation board assembly of the GC4701-6LP device (ordering part
number: MSTF0012). The board material is 0.016 Rogers 4003, 0.5 oz. copper cladding on both sides
(starting thickness). It has a full-metal backside and an electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG) finish on
both sides. Solder mask is applied to the topside only. Units are in inches.
Figure 22 • Evaluation Board Assembly
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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9 Tape-and-Reel Format
The following illustration shows the tape-and-reel format of the GC4701-6LP device.
Figure 23 • Tape-and-Reel Format
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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10 Ordering Information
The following table shows the ordering information for the GC4701-6LP device.
Table 5 • Ordering Information
Part Number Package
GC4701 6LP 1.6 × 1.6 QFN
DC–15 GHz Surface Mount Limiter PIN Diode
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