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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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
1
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
Electrical Specications, TA = +25° C, With Vdd = +5V, Vss = -5V, P0 - P4 = 0/ +5V
The HMC939LP4 / HMC939LP4E is ideal for:
• Fiber Optics & Broadband Telecom
• Microwave Radio & VSAT
• Military Radios, Radar & ECM
• Space Applications
• Sensors
• Test & Measurement Equipment
1.0 dB LSB Steps to 31 dB
Single Positive Control Line Per Bit
±1.0 dB Typical Bit Error
High Input IP3: +43 dBm
16mm2 Leadless SMT Plastic Package
The HMC939LP4 & HMC939LP4E are broadband
5-bit GaAs IC digital attenuators in low cost leadless
surface mount packages. Covering 0.1 to 33.0 GHz,
the insertion loss is less than 5 dB typical. The attenu-
ator bit values are 1.0 (LSB), 2, 4, 8, 16 for a total atten-
uation of 31 dB. Attenuation accuracy is excellent
at ±0.4 dB typical step error with an IIP3 of +43 dBm.
Five control voltage inputs, toggled between +5V and
0V, are used to select each attenuation state.
Parameter Frequency (GHz) Min. Typ. Max. Units
Insertion Loss
0.1 - 18.0 GHz
18.0 - 26.5 GHz
26.5 - 33.0 GHz
4.0
5.5
6.5
5.5
7. 0
8.5
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range 0.1 - 33.0 GHz 31 dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States) 0.1 - 33.0 GHz 12 dB
Attenuation Accuracy: (Referenced to Insertion Loss) 1.0 - 15 dB States
16 - 31 dB States
16 - 31 dB States
0.1 - 33.0 GHz
0.1 - 20.0 GHz
20.0 - 33.0 GHz
± (0.5 + 5%) of Atten. Setting Max
± (0.5 + 5%) of Atten. Setting Max
± (0.6 + 8%) of Atten. Setting Max
dB
dB
dB
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression 0.1 - 0.5 GHz
0.5 - 33.0 GHz
20
25
dBm
dBm
Input Third Order Intercept Point
(Two-Tone Input Power= 0 dBm Each Tone)
0.1 - 0.5 GHz
0.5 - 33.0 GHz
40
43
dBm
dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON/tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
0.1 - 33.0 GHz
60
90
ns
ns
Idd 0.1 - 33.0 GHz 2.5 4.5 6.5 mA
Iss 0.1 - 33.0 GHz -7. 0 -5.0 -3.0 mA
General Description
Features
Functional Diagram
Typical Applications
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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
2
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
Input Return Loss
(Only Major States are Shown)
Output Return Loss
(Only Major States are Shown)
Insertion Loss vs. Temperature
Normalized Attenuation
(Only Major States are Shown)
Bit Error vs. Frequency
(Only Major States are Shown)
Bit Error vs. Attenuation State
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-0.8
-0.4
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
2
2.4
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28
5 GHz
10 GHz
18 GHz
26.5 GHz
33 GHz
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
BIT ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
31 dB
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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
3
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
20
30
40
50
60
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
IP3 (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
Relative Phase vs. Frequency
(Only Major States are Shown)
Step Attenuation vs. Attenuation State
0.1 - 18 GHz
Input IP3 vs. Temperature
(Minimum Attenuation State)
Input IP3 Over Major Attenuation States
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
RELATIVE PHASE (deg)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
31 dB
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
5 GHz
10 GHz
18 GHz
STEP ATTENUATION (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
20
30
40
50
60
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
IP3 (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
6
10
14
18
22
26
30
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
P0.1dB (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
Step Attenuation vs. Attenuation State
18 - 33 GHz
-0.4
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
26.5 GHz
33 GHz
STEP ATTENUATION (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
4
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
Control Voltage
Bias Voltages & Currents
Absolute Maximum Ratings
State Bias Condition
Low 0 to 0.8V @ 1 µA
High 2 to 5V @ 1 µA
Vdd +5V @ 4.5 mA
Vss -5V @ 5 mA
RF Input Power (0.1 to 33.0 GHz) +25 dBm
Control Voltage (P0 to P4) Vdd + 0.5V
Vdd +7 Vdc
Vss -7 Vdc
Channel Temperature 150 °C
Continuous Pdiss (T = 85 oC)
(derate 6.8 mW/oC above 85 oC) 0.451 W
Thermal Resistance 144 °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
Outline Drawing
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
L AND PATTERN.
Part Number Package Body Material Lead Finish MSL Rating Package Marking [3]
HMC939LP4 Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic Sn/Pb Solder MSL1 [1] H939
XXXX
HMC939LP4E RoHS-compliant Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic 100% matte Sn MSL1 [2] H939
XXXX
[1] Max peak reow temperature of 235 °C
[2] Max peak reow temperature of 260 °C
[3] 4-Digit lot number XXXX
Package Information
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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
5
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
Pad Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1Vss Negative Bias -5V
2-4, 6-13,
15-17, 19 N/C
The pins are not connected internally; however, all data
shown herein was measured with these pins connected to
RF/DC ground externally.
5, 14 RF1, RF2 These pins are DC coupled and matched to 50 Ohm. Blocking
capacitors are required if RF line potential is not equal to 0V.
18 Vdd Positive Bias +5V
20 - 24 P0 - P4 See truth table and control voltage table.
GND Package bottom must be connected to RF/DC ground.
Pin Descriptions
Truth Table
Control Voltage Input Attenuation
State
RF1 - RF2
P4
16 dB
P3
8 dB
P2
4 dB
P1
2 dB
P0
1 dB
High High High High High Reference I.L.
High High High High Low 1 dB
High High High Low High 2 dB
High High Low High High 4 dB
High Low High High High 8 dB
Low High High High High 16 dB
Low Low Low Low Low 31 dB
Any Combination of the above states will provide an attenuation
approximately equal to the sum of the bits selected.
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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
6
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
7
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
Evaluation PCB
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB 130450 [1]
Item Description
J1, J2, J4, J5 2.9 mm PC Mount RF Connector
J3 DC Connector
C1, C2 1000 pF Capacitor, 0402 Pkg.
U1 HMC939LP4 Digital Attenuator
PCB [2] 131909 Evaluation Board
[1] Reference this number when ordering complete evaluation PCB
[2] Circuit Board Material: Rogers 4350
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 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 Hittite upon request.
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
AT TENUATORS - SM T
8
HMC939LP4 / 939LP4E
v 01.12 11
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 33 GHz
Notes:
