MIXERS - DOUBLE-BALANCED - CHIP
3
3 - 1
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 20 Alpha Road, 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
Parameter
IF = 100 MHz
LO = 20 dBm Units
Min. Typ. Max. Min. Typ. Max.
Frequency Range, RF & LO 6 - 16 16 - 18 GHz
Frequency Range, IF DC - 6 DC - 6 GHz
Conversion Loss 9 11 10 12 dB
Noise Figure (SSB) 9 11 10 12 dB
LO to RF Isolation 33 28 dB
LO to IF Isolation 20 30 13 20 dB
IP3 (Input) 22 22 dBm
IP2 (Input) 40 42 dBm
1 dB Compression (Input) 15 15 dBm
* Unless otherwise noted, all measurements performed as downconverter, IF= 100 MHz.
GaAs MMIC DOUBLE-BALANCED
MIXER, 6 - 18 GHz
v04.1111
General Description
Features
Functional Diagram
Input IP3: +21 dBm
LO / RF Isolation: 25 to 40 dB
IF Bandwidth: DC to 6 GHz
Small Size: 1.52 x 1.52 x 0.1 mm (HMC141)
Small Size: 1.52 x 1.52 x 0.1 mm (HMC142)
Electrical Specications, TA = +25° C, LO Drive = +20 dBm
Typical Applications
The HMC141 & HMC142 is ideal for:
• UNII & HiperLAN
• Microwave & MMW Radios
• Military, Space & Test Equipment
The HMC141 chip is a minature double-balanced
mixer which can be used as an upconverter or down-
converter. The HMC142 is identical to the HMC141
except that the layout is a mirror image designed to
ease integration into image-reject mixer modules.
Broadband operation and excellent isolations are pro-
vided by on-chip baluns, which require no external
components and no DC bias. The design is similar
to the HMC143/144 mixers but without an IF com-
biner, providing a broad DC to 6 GHz IF bandwidth.
These devices are much smaller and more reliable
than hybrid diode mixers for VSAT and point-to-point
radios.
HMC141 / HMC142
MIXERS - DOUBLE-BALANCED - CHIP
3
3 - 2
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 20 Alpha Road, 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
Conversion Gain vs.
Temperature @ LO = +20 dBm Isolation @ LO = +20 dBm
IF Bandwidth @ LO = +20 dBm
Return Loss @ LO = +20 dBmConversion Gain vs. LO Drive
Upconverter Performance
Conversion Gain @ LO = +20 dBm
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5 8 11 14 17 20
+25C
+85C
-55C
CONVERSION GAIN (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
5 8 11 14 17 20
RF to IF
LO to RF
LO to IF
ISOLATION (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5 8 11 14 17 20
LO = +13 dBm
LO = +15 dBm
LO = +17 dBm
LO = +20 dBm
CONVERSION GAIN (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5 8 11 14 17 20
RF Return Loss
LO Return Loss
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
IF Bandwidth
IF Return Loss
RESPONSE (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5 8 11 14 17 20
CONVERSION GAIN (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
HMC141 / HMC142
v04.1111 GaAs MMIC DOUBLE-BALANCED
MIXER, 6 - 18 GHz
MIXERS - DOUBLE-BALANCED - CHIP
3
3 - 3
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 20 Alpha Road, 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
Input IP3 vs. LO Drive*
Input P1dB vs.
Temperature @ LO = +20 dBm
Input IP3 vs.
Temperature @ LO = +20 dBm*
Harmonics of LO
* Two-tone input power = 0 dBm each tone, 1 MHz spacing.
Input IP2 vs. LO Drive *
MxN Spurious @ IF Port
nLO
mRF 0 1 2 3 4
0 XX 3 7 3 35
1 3 0 17 25 32
2 72 64 59 59 74
3 76 76 71 72 76
4 74 76 77 77 77
RF = 6 GHz @ -10 dBm
LO = 6.1 GHz @ +20 dBm
All values in dBc relative to the IF power level.
Measured as downconverter.
nLO Spur @ RF Port
LO Freq. (GHz) 1 2 3 4
6 38 34 44 39
8 44 29 46 43
10 36 25 46 53
12 33 23 47 XX
14 32 28 XX XX
16 30 27 XX XX
18 27 32 XX XX
LO = +20 dBm
All values in dBc below input LO level @ RF port.
10
15
20
25
30
5 8 11 14 17 20
LO = +13 dBm
LO = +15 dBm
LO = +17 dBm
LO = +20 dBm
IP3 (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
10
15
20
25
30
5 8 11 14 17 20
+25C
+85C
-55C
IP3 (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
5 8 11 14 17 20
LO = +13 dBm
LO = +15 dBm
LO = +17 dBm
LO = +20 dBm
IP2 (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
10
12
14
16
18
20
6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
+25C
+85C
-55C
P1dB (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
HMC141 / HMC142
v04.1111 GaAs MMIC DOUBLE-BALANCED
MIXER, 6 - 18 GHz
MIXERS - DOUBLE-BALANCED - CHIP
3
3 - 4
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 20 Alpha Road, 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
Absolute Maximum Ratings
RF / IF Input +20 dBm
LO Drive +27 dBm
Channel Temperature (Tc) 150 °C
Thermal Resistance 101.7 °C/W
IF DC Current ±2 mA
Storage Temperature -65 to +150 °C
Operating Temperature -55 to +85 °C
Die Packaging Information [1]
Standard Alternate
WP-3 (Waffle Pack) [2]
[1] Refer to the “Packaging Information” section for die
packaging dimensions.
[2] For alternate packaging information contact Hittite
Microwave Corporation.
HMC141 / HMC142
v04.1111 GaAs MMIC DOUBLE-BALANCED
MIXER, 6 - 18 GHz
ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE
OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
Outline Drawings
(See HMC141/142 Operation Application Note)
HMC141
HMC142
NOTES:
1. ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MM].
2. DIE THICKNESS IS .004”.
3. TYPICAL BOND PAD IS .004” SQUARE.
4. BACKSIDE METALLIZATION: GOLD.
5. BOND PAD METALLIZATION: GOLD.
6. BACKSIDE METAL IS GROUND.
7. CONNECTION NOT REQUIRED FOR
UNLABELED BOND PADS.
MIXERS - DOUBLE-BALANCED - CHIP
3
3 - 5
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 20 Alpha Road, 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
Pad Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1 (2) RF This pin is AC coupled
and matched to 50 Ohms.
2 (1) LO This pin is AC coupled
and matched to 50 Ohms.
3 IF
This pin is DC coupled. For applications not requiring
operation to DC, this port should be DC blocked externally
using a series capacitor whose value has been chosen to
pass the necessary IF frequency range. For operation to DC,
this pin must not source/sink more than 2 mA of current or die
non-function and possible die failure will result.
Pad Descriptions HMC141 (HMC142)
HMC141 / HMC142
v04.1111 GaAs MMIC DOUBLE-BALANCED
MIXER, 6 - 18 GHz
MIXERS - DOUBLE-BALANCED - CHIP
3
3 - 6
For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 20 Alpha Road, 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
HMC141 / HMC142
v04.1111 GaAs MMIC DOUBLE-BALANCED
MIXER, 6 - 18 GHz
Mounting & Bonding Techniques for Millimeterwave GaAs MMICs
The die should be attached directly to the ground plane eutectically or with
conductive epoxy (see HMC general Handling, Mounting, Bonding Note).
50 Ohm Microstrip transmission lines on 0.127mm (5 mil) thick alumina thin lm
substrates are recommended for bringing RF to and from the chip (Figure 1). If
0.254mm (10 mil) thick alumina thin lm substrates must be used, the die should
be raised 0.150mm (6 mils) so that the surface of the die is coplanar with the surface
of the substrate. One way to accomplish this is to attach the 0.102mm (4 mil) thick
die to a 0.150mm (6 mil) thick molybdenum heat spreader (moly-tab) which is then
attached to the ground plane (Figure 2).
Microstrip substrates should be brought as close to the die as possible in order to
minimize ribbon bond length. Typical die-to-substrate spacing is 0.076mm (3 mils).
Gold ribbon of 0.075 mm (3 mil) width and minimal length <0.31 mm (<12 mils) is
recommended to minimize inductance on RF, LO & IF ports.
Handling Precautions
Follow these precautions to avoid permanent damage.
Storage: All bare die are placed in either Waffle or Gel based ESD protective
containers, and then sealed in an ESD protective bag for shipment. Once the
sealed ESD protective bag has been opened, all die should be stored in a dry
nitrogen environment.
Cleanliness: Handle the chips in a clean environment. DO NOT attempt to clean
the chip using liquid cleaning systems.
Static Sensitivity: Follow ESD precautions to protect against ESD strikes.
Transients: Suppress instrument and bias supply transients while bias is applied.
Use shielded signal and bias cables to minimize inductive pick-up.
General Handling: Handle the chip along the edges with a vacuum collet or with
a sharp pair of bent tweezers. The surface of the chip has fragile air bridges and
should not be touched with vacuum collet, tweezers, or ngers.
Mounting
The chip is back-metallized and can be die mounted with AuSn eutectic preforms or
with electrically conductive epoxy. The mounting surface should be clean and at.
Eutectic Die Attach: A 80/20 gold tin preform is recommended with a work surface temperature of 255 °C and a tool temperature
of 265 °C. When hot 90/10 nitrogen/hydrogen gas is applied, tool tip temperature should be 290 °C. DO NOT expose the chip
to a temperature greater than 320 °C for more than 20 seconds. No more than 3 seconds of scrubbing should be required for
attachment.
Epoxy Die Attach: Apply a minimum amount of epoxy to the mounting surface so that a thin epoxy llet is observed around the
perimeter of the chip once it is placed into position. Cure epoxy per the manufacturer’s schedule.
Wire Bonding
RF bonds made with 0.003” x 0.0005” ribbon are recommended. These bonds should be thermosonically bonded with a force of
40-60 grams. DC bonds of 0.001” (0.025 mm) diameter, thermosonically bonded, are recommended. Ball bonds should be made
with a force of 40-50 grams and wedge bonds at 18-22 grams. All bonds should be made with a nominal stage temperature of 150
°C. A minimum amount of ultrasonic energy should be applied to achieve reliable bonds. All bonds should be as short as possible,
less than 12 mils (0.31 mm).
0.102mm (0.004”) Thick GaAs MMIC
Wire Bond
RF Ground Plane
0.127mm (0.005”) Thick Alumina
Thin Film Substrate
0.076mm
(0.003”)
Figure 1.
0.102mm (0.004”) Thick GaAs MMIC
Wire Bond
RF Ground Plane
0.254mm (0.010”) Thick Alumina
Thin Film Substrate
0.076mm
(0.003”)
Figure 2.
0.150mm (0.005”) Thick
Moly Tab