MICROWAVE CORPORATION
9 - 38
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
A
TTENU
A
T
ORS - SMT
9
HMC291
4 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
v01.0402
General Description
Features
Functional Diagram
4 dB LSB Steps to 12 dB
Single Positive Control Per BIT, 0/+3V
+/-0.2 dB Typical Bit Error
Miniature SOT 26 Package: 9 mm
2
Electrical Specifi cations,
T
A
= +25 C, Vdd = +3V to +5V & Vctl = 0/Vdd (Unless Otherwise Stated)
Typical Applications
The HMC291 is a broadband 2 - bit positive control
GaAs IC digital attenuator in a 6 lead SOT26 sur-
face mount plastic package. Covering 0.7 to 4 GHz,
the insertion loss is typically less than 0.7 to 1.3 dB.
The attenuator bit values are 4 (LSB) and 8 dB for a
total attenuation of 12 dB. Accuracy is excellent at
0.2 dB typical with an IIP3 of up to +54 dBm. Two bit
control voltage inputs, toggled between 0 and +3 to
+5 volts, are used to select each attenuation state at
less than 50 uA each. A single Vdd bias of +3 to +5
volts applied through an external 5K Ohm resistor is
required.
The HMC291 is ideal for:
Cellular
PCS, ISM, MMDS
WLL Handset & Base Station
Parameter
Frequency
Min.
Typical
Max.
Units
Insertion Loss
0.7 - 1.4 GHz
1.4 - 2.3 GHz
2.3 - 2.7 GHz
2.7 - 4.0 GHz
0.7
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.3
1.4
1.6
dB
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range
0.7 - 4.0 GHz
12
dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States)
0.7 - 1.4 GHz
1.4 - 4.0 GHz
14
16
17
22
dB
dB
Attenuation Accuracy: (Referenced to Insertion Loss)
All Attenuation States
All Attenuation States
All Attenuation States
All Attenuation States
0.7 - 1.4 GHz
1.4 - 2.3 GHz
2.3 - 2.7 GHz
2.7 - 4.0 GHz
0.3 + 3% of Atten. Setting Max
0.2 + 2% of Atten. Setting Max
0.2 + 3% of Atten. Setting Max
0.4 + 5% of Atten. Setting Max
dB
dB
dB
dB
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression
5V
3V
0.7 - 4.0 GHz
26
22
dBm
dBm
Input Third Order Intercept Point
(Two-tone Input Power = 0 dBm Each Tone)
5V
3V
0.7 - 4.0 GHz
54
50
dBm
dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON, tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
0.7 - 4.0 GHz
560
600
ns
ns
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
9 - 39
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
A
TTENU
A
T
ORS - SMT
9
-2.5
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
+85 C
-40 C
+25 C
HMC291
Absolute Bit Error
vs. Attenuation State
Return Loss RF1, RF2
Insertion Loss
Normalized Attenuation
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
4
6
8
10
12
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
1.9 GHz
2.4 GHz
0.9 GHz
3.5 GHz
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
4 dB
12 dB
8 dB
-14
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
4 dB
8 dB
12 dB
Note: All Data Typical Over Voltage (+3V to +5V) & Temperature (-40 to +85 deg. C.).
v01.0402
4 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
Absolute Bit Error vs. Frequency
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
BIT ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
8 dB
4 dB
12 dB
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
RELATIVE PHASE (deg.)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
12 dB
4 dB
8 dB
Relative Phase vs. Frequency
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
9 - 40
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
A
TTENU
A
T
ORS - SMT
9
4 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
HMC291
v01.0402
Control & Bias Voltages
Truth Table
Application Circuit
DC blocking capacitors C1 & C2 are required on RF1 & RF2. Choose C1 = C2 = 100 ~ 300 pF to allow lowest customer specifi c
frequency to pass with minimal loss. R1 = 5K Ohm is required to supply voltage to the circuit throught either PIN 3 or PIN 1.
Control Voltage Input
Attenuation
Setting
RF1 - RF2
V1
8 dB
V2
4 dB
High
High
Reference I.L.
High
Low
4 dB
Low
High
8 dB
Low
Low
12 dB
Max. Atten.
Any combination of the above states will provide an attenuation
approximately equal to the sum of the bits selected.
State
Bias Condition
Low
0 to +0.2V @ 20 uA Max.
High
Vdd 0.2V @ 50 uA Max.
Note: Vdd = +3V to 5V 0.2V
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
9 - 41
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
A
TTENU
A
T
ORS - SMT
9
HMC291
v01.0402
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Outline Drawing
4 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
Control Voltage (V1, V2)
Vdd + 0.5 Vdc
Bias Voltage (Vdd)
+8.0 Vdc
Storage Temperature
-65 to +150 C
Operating Temperature
-40 to +85 C
RF Input Power (0.7 - 4 GHz)
+28 dBm
NOTES:
1. PACKAGE BODY MATERIAL: LOW STRESS INJECTION MOLDED
PLASTIC SILICA AND SILICON IMPREGNATED.
2. LEADFRAME MATERIAL: COPPER ALLOY
3. LEADFRAME PLATING: Sn/Pb SOLDER
4. DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MILLIMETERS].
5. DIMENSION DOES NOT INCLUDE MOLDFLASH OF 0.15mm PER SIDE.
6. DIMENSION DOES NOT INCLUDE MOLDFLASH OF 0.25mm PER SIDE.
7. ALL GROUND LEADS MUST BE SOLDERED TO PCB RF GROUND.
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
9 - 42
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
A
TTENU
A
T
ORS - SMT
9
Evaluation Circuit Board
The circuit board used in the fi nal application should use RF circuit design techniques. Signal lines should have 50 ohm
impedance while the package ground leads should be connected directly to the ground plane similar to that shown.
A suffi cient number of VIA holes should be used to connect the top and bottom ground planes. The evaluation circuit
board as shown is available from Hittite Microwave Corporation upon request.
List of Material
* R2 = R3 = 100 Ohm.
These resistors are optional
and may be used to enhance
decoupling of the RF path
from the control inputs.
v01.0402
HMC291
4 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
Item
Description
J1 - J2
PC Mount SMA Connector
J3 - J6
DC Pin
R1
5k Ohm Resistor, 0402 Chip
R2, R3
100 Ohm Resistor, 0402 Chip
C1, C2
0402 Chip Capacitor, Select for Lowest Frequency of
Operation
U1
HMC291 Digital Attenuator
PCB*
103370 Evaluation PCB 1.5" x 1.5"
*Circuit Board Material Rogers 4350
PDF 
ZIP