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For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 2 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373 Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
1
HMC468ALP3E
v00.1212
1dB LSB GaAs MMIC 3-BIT DIGITAL
POSITIVE CONTROL ATTENUATOR, DC - 6GHz
Functional Diagram
Electrical Specications, TA = +25° C, With Vdd = +5V & Vctl = 0/+5V
The HMC468ALP3E is ideal for:
• Cellular; UMTS/3G Infrastructure
• Fixed Wireless & WLL
• Microwave Radio & VSAT
• Test Equipment
1 dB LSB Steps to 7 dB
High IP3: +55 dBm
± 0.25 dB Typical Bit Error
Single Control Line Per Bit
Single +5V Supply
16 Lead 3x3 mm SMT Package: 9 mm2
The HMC468ALP3E is a broadband 3-bit GaAs
IC digital attenuators in a low cost leadless sur-
face mount package. Covering DC to 6.0 GHz,
the insertion loss is less than 1 dB typical up to 4
GHz. The attenuator bit values are 1 (LSB), 2 and 4
dB for a total attenuation of 7 dB. Attenuation accu-
racy is excellent at ±0.4 dB typical step error with an
IIP3 of +55 dBm. Three control voltage inputs, toggled
between 0 and +5V, are used to select each attenua-
tion state. A single Vdd bias of +5V is required.
Parameter Frequency (GHz) Min. Typ. Max. Units
Insertion Loss
DC - 2.5 GHz
2.5 - 4.5 GHz
4.5 - 6.0 GHz
0.5
0.7
0.9
1.0
1.2
1.4
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range DC - 6 GHz 7 dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States) DC - 6 GHz 20 dB
Attenuation Accuracy:
(Referenced to Insertion Loss)
All States
1 - 4 dB States
5 - 7 dB States
DC - 2.5 GHz
2.5 - 6.0 GHz
2.5 - 6.0 GHz
± 0.2 + 2% of Atten. Setting Max.
± 0.3 + 3% of Atten. Setting Max.
± 0.4 + 4% of Atten. Setting Max.
dB
dB
dB
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression 0.25 - 6.0 GHz 26 dBm
Input Third Order Intercept Point
(Two-Tone Input Power= 0 dBm Each Tone) 0.25 - 6.0 GHz 55 dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON, tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
DC - 6 GHz
60
80
ns
ns
* Bypass capacitor connecting ACG1, ACG2 & ACG3 to RF ground required per pin description herein.
Typical Applications Features
General Description
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 2 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373 Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
2
HMC468ALP3E
v00.1212
1dB LSB GaAs MMIC 3-BIT DIGITAL
POSITIVE CONTROL ATTENUATOR, DC - 6GHz
Return Loss RF1, RF2
(Only Major States are Shown)
Insertion Loss
Normalized Attenuation
(Only Major States are Shown)
Bit Error vs. Frequency
(Only Major States are Shown)
Relative Phase vs. Frequency
(Only Major States are Shown)
Bit Error vs. Attenuation State
-3
-2.5
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0123456
+25 C +85 C -40 C
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0123456
IL
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
7 dB
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
0123456
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
7 dB
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-1
-0.6
-0.2
0.2
0.6
1
1234567
100 MHz
500 MHz
1 GHz
2 GHz
3 GHz
4 GHz
5 GHz
6 GHz
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
-1
-0.6
-0.2
0.2
0.6
1
0123456
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
7 dB
BIT ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
0123456
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
7 dB
RELATIVE PHASE (deg)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 2 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373 Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
3
HMC468ALP3E
v00.1212
1dB LSB GaAs MMIC 3-BIT DIGITAL
POSITIVE CONTROL ATTENUATOR, DC - 6GHz
Truth Table
TTL/CMOS Control Voltages
State Bias Condition
Low 0 to 0.8 Vdc @ -0.05 uA Typ.
High +2.0 to +5.0 Vdc @ 40 uA Typ.
Control Voltage Input
Attenuation Setting
RF1 - RF2
V1
4 dB
V2
2 dB
V3
1 dB
High High High Reference I.L.
High High Low 1 dB
High Low High 2 dB
Low High High 4 dB
Low Low Low 7 dB
Any combination of the above states will provide an attenuation
approximately equal to the sum of the bits selected.
Step Error
Between Successive Attenuation States
Bias Voltage & Current
Vdd Range= +5.0 Vdc ± 10%
Vdd
(Vdc)
Idd (Typ.)
(mA)
Idd (Max.)
(mA)
+5.0 1.05 1.8
-1
-0.6
-0.2
0.2
0.6
1
0123456
IL
1 dB
2 dB
3 dB
4 dB
5 dB
6 dB
7 dB
STEP ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 2 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373 Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
4
HMC468ALP3E
v00.1212
1dB LSB GaAs MMIC 3-BIT DIGITAL
POSITIVE CONTROL ATTENUATOR, DC - 6GHz
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Outline Drawing
RF Input Power +30 dBm
Control Voltage (V1 to V3) -0.5 Vdc to Vdd +1 Vdc
Bias Voltage (Vdd) +7 Vdc
Channel Temperature 150 °C
Continuous Pdiss (T = 85 °C)
(derate 10. 1mW/ °C above 85 °C) 0.657 W
Thermal Resistance 99 °C/W
Storage Temperature -65 to +150 °C
Operating Temperature -40 to +85 °C
ESD Sensitivity (HBM) Class 1A
ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE
OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
Part Number Package Body Material Lead Finish MSL Rating Package Marking [1]
HMC468ALP3E RoHS-compliant Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic 100% matte Sn MSL1 [2] 468A
XXXX
[1] 4-Digit lot number XXXX
[2] Max peak reow temperature of 260 °C
Package Information
NOTES:
1. LEADFRAME MATERIAL: COPPER ALLOY
2. DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MILLIMETERS]
3. LEAD SPACING TOLERANCE IS NON-CUMULATIVE
4. PAD BURR LENGTH SHALL BE 0.15mm MAXIMUM.
PAD BURR HEIGHT SHALL BE 0.05mm MAXIMUM.
5. PACKAGE WARP SHALL NOT EXCEED 0.05mm.
6. ALL GROUND LEADS AND GROUND PADDLE MUST BE
SOLDERED TO PCB RF GROUND.
7. REFER TO HITTITE APPLICATION NOTE FOR SUGGESTED
LAND PAT TERN.
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 2 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373 Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
HMC468ALP3E
v00.1212
1dB LSB GaAs MMIC 3-BIT DIGITAL
POSITIVE CONTROL ATTENUATOR, DC - 6GHz
Pin Descriptions
Pin Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1, 3, 4, 8,
9, 10, 12 N/C These pins should be connected to PCB
RF ground to maximize performance.
2, 11 RF1, RF2 This pin is DC coupled and matched to 50 Ohm.
Blocking capacitors are required
13 - 15 V1 - V3 See truth table and control voltage table.
5 - 7 ACG1 - ACG3
External capacitor to ground is required.
Select value for lowest frequency of operation.
Place capacitor as close to pins as possible.
16 Vdd Supply Voltage
GND Package bottom has an exposed metal paddle
that must be connected to RF/DC ground.
Application Circuit
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 2 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373 Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
6
HMC468ALP3E
v00.1212
1dB LSB GaAs MMIC 3-BIT DIGITAL
POSITIVE CONTROL ATTENUATOR, DC - 6GHz
Evaluation PCB
The circuit board used in the application should use
RF circuit design techniques. Signal lines should
have 50 Ohm impedance while the package ground
leads and exposed paddle should be connected
directly to the ground plane similar to that shown.
A sufficient number of via holes should be used to
connect the top and bottom ground planes. The
evaluation circuit board shown is available from Hit-
tite upon request.
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB 107302 - HMC468ALP3 [1]
Item Description
J1 - J2 PCB Mount SMA Connector
J3 - J7 DC Pin
C1 1000 pF Capacitor, 0603 Pkg.
C2, C3 100 pF Capacitor, 0402 Pkg.
C4 3300 pF Capacitor, 0603 Pkg.
U1 HMC468ALP3E Digital Attenuator
PCB [2] 107300 Evaluation PCB
[1] Reference this number when ordering complete evaluation PCB
[2] Circuit Board Material: Rogers 4350
