ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
1
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc.,
One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
Information furnished by Analog Devices is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no
responsibility is assumed by Analog Devices for its use, nor for any infringements of patents or other
rights of third parties that may result from its use. Specications subject to change without notice. No
license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of Analog Devices.
Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Electrical Specications, TA = +25° C, With Vdd = Vdd1 = +5V, Vss = -5V
The HMC1018ALP4E 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
TTL/CMOS Compatible, Serial Control
Unique Asynchronous Mode Control Allows
Immediate Attenuation Level Setting
±1.0 dB Typical Bit Error
High Input IP3: +43 dBm
24 Lead 4x4mm SMT Package: 16mm2
The HMC1018ALP4E is a broadband 5-bit GaAs
IC digital attenuator in a low cost leadless surface
mount package. Covering 0.1 to 30.0 GHz, the inser-
tion loss is less than 5.5 dB typical. The attenuator
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.
The control interface is CMOS/TTL compatible and
accepts a three wire serial input. The HMC1018ALP4E
features a user selectable power up state and a serial
output port for cascading other Analog Devices serial
controlled components.
Parameter Frequency (GHz) Min. Typ. Max. Units
Insertion Loss
0.1 - 18.0 GHz
18.0 - 26.5 GHz
26.5 - 30.0 GHz
4.5
5.5
6.5
6.0
7.0
8.0
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range 0.1 - 30.0 GHz 31 dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States) 0.1 - 30.0 GHz 12 dB
Attenuation Accuracy: (Referenced to Insertion
Loss) 1.0 - 15 dB States
16 - 31 dB States
16 - 31 dB States
16 - 31 dB States
0.1 - 33.0 GHz
0.1 - 20.0 GHz
20.0 - 30.0 GHz
30.0 - 33.0 GHz
± (0.5 + 5%) of Atten. Setting Max
± (0.5 + 5%) of Atten. Setting Max
± (0.6 + 8%) of Atten. Setting Max
± (0.6 + 10%) of Atten. Setting Max
dB
dB
dB
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression 0.1 - 0.5 GHz
0.5 - 30.0 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 - 30.0 GHz
40
43
dBm
dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON/tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
0.1 - 30.0 GHz
60
90
ns
ns
Idd1 0.1 - 30.0 GHz 2.5 4.5 6.5 mA
Iss 0.1 - 30.0 GHz -7.0 -5.5 -3.0 mA
General Description
Features
Functional Diagram
Typical Applications
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
2
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 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
IL
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31 dB
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
IL
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31 dB
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
IL
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31 dB
FREQUENCY (GHz)
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (dB)
-0.8
-0.4
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
2
2.4
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
5.0 GHz
10 GHz
18 GHz
26.5GHz
33GHz
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
IL
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31 dB
FREQUENCY (GHz)
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
3
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
20
30
40
50
60
0 0.1 1 10 100
I.L
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8dB
16 dB
31 dB
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
IL
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31 dB
FREQUENCY (GHz)
RELATIVE PHASE (deg)
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 0.1 1 10 100
-40C 25C +85C
IP3 (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
-40C 25C 85C
P0.1dB (dBm)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
Step Attenuation vs. Attenuation State
18 - 30 GHz
-0.4
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
26.5 GHz 30GHz
STEP ATTENUATION (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
4
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
Serial Mode 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.
Serial Control Interface
The HMC1018ALP4E contains a 3-wire SPI compatible digital interface (SERIN, CLK, LE). The serial control interface
is activated when S/A is kept high. The 5-bit serial word must be loaded MSB rst as a 6-bit word with the rst
bit ignored. The positive-edge sensitive CLK and LE requires clean transitions. If mechanical switches are used,
sufficient debouncing should be provided. When LE is high, 5-bit data in the serial input register is transferred to the
attenuator. When LE is high CLK is masked to prevent data transition during output loading.
For all modes of operations, the state will stay constant while LE is kept low.
Asynchronous Mode
The HMC1018ALP4E can be switched to an asynchronous mode to change the attenuation state rapidly to one of four
predened states. The logic state of ASM1-ASM2 determines one of the four attenuation states in the asynchronous
mode per truth table. The asynchronous mode works either directly or latched. To activate the direct-asynchronous-
mode, S/A needs to be at logic low and LE needs to be at logic high. In the direct-asynchronous-mode, any change in
the logic state of ASM1-ASM2 directly affects the attenuation state. In the latched-asynchronous-mode, the attenuation
state changes per the asynchronous mode truth table when S/A is at logic low and LE is pulsed per the timing diagram.
The attenuation stays constant (latched) as long as LE stays low. In the asynchronous mode, the inputs SERIN and
CLK do not affect the attenuation state.
Parameter Typ.
Min. serial period, tSCK 100 ns
Control set-up time, tCS 20 ns
Control hold-time, tCH 20 ns
LE setup-time, tLN 10 ns
Min. LE pulse width, tLEW 10 ns
Min LE pulse spacing, tLES 630 ns
Serial clock hold-time from LE, tCKN 10 ns
Hold Time, tPH. 0 ns
Latch Enable Minimum Width, tLEN 10 ns
Setup Time, tPS 2 ns
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
Control Voltage
Bias Voltages & Currents
State Bias Condition
Low 0 to 0.8V @ 1 µA
High 2 to 5V @ 1 µA
Vdd +5V @ 0.06 mA
Vdd1 +5V @ 4.5 mA
Vss -5V @ 5.5 mA
PUP Truth Table
Power-Up States
PUP Attenuation State
High Reference I.L.
Low 31 dB
Note: The logic state of ASM1-ASM2 determines the
power-up state of the part per truth table for the asyn-
chronous mode when LE is high at power-up.
If LE is set to logic LOW at power-up, the logic state
of PUP determines the power-up state of the part per
PUP truth table. If the LE is set to logic HIGH at power-
up, the logic state of ASM1-ASM2 determines the
power-up state of the part per truth table for the asyn-
chronous mode. The attenuator latches in the desired
power-up state approximately 200 ms after power-up.
Asynchronous Mode Truth Table
ASM1 ASM2 Attenuation State RF1-RF2
High High Reference I.L.
High Low 3 dB
Low High 28 dB
Low Low 31 dB
Timing Diagram (Latched Asynchronous Mode)
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
6
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
Absolute Maximum Ratings
RF Input Power (0.1 to 30.0 GHz) +27 dBm
Control Voltage (CLK, SERIN, LE,
PUP, ASM1, ASM2, S/A) Vdd + 0.5V
Vdd, Vdd1 +7 Vdc
Vss -7 Vdc
Channel Temperature 150 °C
Continuous Pdiss (T = 85 oC)
(derate 6.9 mW/oC above 85 oC) 0.453 W
Thermal Resistance 143.5 °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
LAND PAT TERN.
Part Number Package Body Material Lead Finish MSL Rating Package Marking [2]
HMC1018ALP4E RoHS-compliant Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic 100% matte Sn MSL3 [1] 1018A
XXXX
[1] Max peak reow temperature of 260 °C
[2] 4-Digit lot number XXXX
Package Information
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
7
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
Pad Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1
2
SERIN
LE
See truth table, control voltage
table and timing diagram.
3Vss Negative Bias -5V
4, 15 GND These pins and package bottom
must be connected to RF/DC ground.
6-13, 16 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 Ohms. Blocking
capacitors are required if RF line potential is not equal to 0V.
17 Vdd1 Positive Bias +5V
18 SEROUT Serial input data delayed by 6 clock cycles.
19
21
22
23
24
PUP
ASM1
ASM2
S/A
CLK
See truth table, control voltage
table and timing diagram.
20 Vdd Serial Controller Bias +5V
Pin Descriptions
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
8
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
Application Circuit
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
9
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
Evaluation PCB
600-00196-00-2
THRU CAL
RF1 RF2
VDD1
S/R
SEROUT
VDD
VSS
PUP
LE
CLK
SERIN
NC
NC
NC
NC
C4
J1 J2
J5
C1 C2
C3
C5 C6
J3 J4J6
U1
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB EV1HMC1018ALP4 [1]
Item Description
J1, J2 2.9 mm PC Mount RF Connector
J3, J4, J6 DC Connector
J5 2mm DC Header
C1-C3 100 pF Capacitor, 0402 Pkg.
C4-C6 1000 pF Capacitor, 0402 Pkg.
U1 HMC1018ALP4E Digital Attenuator
PCB [2] 600-00196-00-2 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 Analog Devices upon
request.
For price, delivery, and to place orders: Analog Devices, Inc., One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106
Phone: 781-329-4700 • Order online at www.analog.com
Application Support: Phone: 1-800-ANALOG-D
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
10
HMC1018ALP4E
v01.1116
1.0 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 5-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.1 - 30 GHz
Notes:
