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
AttenuAtors - DIGItAL - sMt
1
HMC424LP3 / 424LP3E
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
v08.0809
Functional Diagram
Electrical Specications, TA = +25° C, With Vee = -5V & VCTL= 0/-5V
The HMC424LP3 / HMC424LP3E is ideal for:
• Basestation Infrastructure
• Fiber Optics & Broadband Telecom
• Microwave & VSAT Radios
• Military & Space
• Test Instrumentation
0.5 dB LSB Steps to 31.5 dB
Single Control Line Per Bit
± 0.5 dB Typical Bit Error
9mm2 Leadless SMT Plastic Package
The HMC424LP3 & HMC424LP3E are broadband
6-bit GaAs IC digital attenuators in low cost leadless
surface mount packages. Covering DC to 13 GHz, the
insertion loss is less then 4 dB typical. The attenuator
bit values are 0.5 (LSB), 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 dB for a
total attenuation of 31.5 dB. Attenuation accuracy is
excellent at ± 0.5 dB typical step error with an IIP3 of
+32 dBm. Six control voltage inputs, toggled between
0 and -5V, are used to select each attenuation state.
A single Vee bias of -5V allows operation at frequ-
encies down to DC.
Parameter Frequency (GHz) Min. Ty p . Max. Units
Insertion Loss
DC - 4 GHz
4.0 - 8.0 GHz
8.0 - 13.0 GHz
3.1
3.5
4.0
3.8
4.0
4.6
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range DC - 13.0 GHz 31.5 dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States) DC - 13.0 GHz 9 12 dB
Attenuation Accuracy: (Referenced to Insertion Loss)
0.5 - 15.5 dB States
16 - 31.5 dB States
DC - 13.0 GHz
DC - 13.0 GHz
± (0.3 + 3% of Atten. Setting) Max
± (0.3 + 5% of Atten. Setting) Max
dB
dB
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression 1.0 - 13.0 Ghz 22 dBm
Input Third Order Intercept Point
(Two-Tone Input Power= 0 dBm Each Tone)
REF State
All Other States 1.0 - 13.0 Ghz 46
32
dBm
dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON/tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
DC - 13.0 GHz
30
50
ns
ns
Typical Applications Features
General Description
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
AttenuAtors - DIGItAL - sMt
2
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
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
0 3 6 9 12 15
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
0.1 GHz
4 GHz
8 GHz
13 GHz
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 3 6 9 12 15
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
0 3 6 9 12 15
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
RELATIVE PHASE (deg)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 3 6 9 12 15
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
BIT ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 3 6 9 12 15
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
HMC424LP3E
v08.0809
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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
AttenuAtors - DIGItAL - sMt
3
Truth Table
Control Voltage
Bias Voltage & Current
Worst Case Step Error
Between Successive Attenuation States
Control Voltage Input Attenuation
State
RF1 - RF2
V1
16 dB
V2
8 dB
V3
4 dB
V4
2 dB
V5
1 dB
V6
0.5 dB
Low Low Low Low Low Low Reference
I.L.
Low Low Low Low Low High 0.5 dB
Low Low Low Low High Low 1 dB
Low Low Low High Low Low 2 dB
Low Low High Low Low Low 4 dB
Low High Low Low Low Low 8 dB
High Low Low Low Low Low 16 dB
High High High High High High 31.5 dB
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 -3V @ 35 µA Typ.
High Vee to Vee +0.8V @ 5 µA Typ.
Vee Range= -5 Vdc ± 10%
Vee
(VDC)
Iee (Typ.)
(mA)
Iee (Max.)
(mA)
-5 2 5
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 3 6 9 12 15
STEP ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
HMC424LP3E
v08.0809
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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
AttenuAtors - DIGItAL - sMt
4
Outline Drawing
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Control Voltage (V1 to V6) Vee - 0.5 Vdc
Bias Voltage (Vee) -7 Vdc
Channel Temperature 150 °C
Thermal Resistance 330 °C/W
Storage Temperature -65 to + 150 °C
Operating Temperature -55 to +85 °C
RF Input Power (0.5 - 13 GHz) +25 dBm
ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE
OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
Part Number Package Body Material Lead Finish MSL Rating Package Marking [3]
HMC424LP3 Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic Sn/Pb Solder MSL1 [1] 424
XXXX
HMC424LP3E RoHS-compliant Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic 100% matte Sn MSL1 [2] 424
XXXX
[1] Max peak reow temperature of 235 °C
[2] Max peak reow temperature of 260 °C
[3] 4-Digit lot number XXXX
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.
HMC424LP3E
v08.0809
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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
AttenuAtors - DIGItAL - sMt
5
Pad Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1, 3, 10, 12 GND Package bottom has an exposed metal paddle that
must also be connected to RF ground
2, 11 RFIN, RFOUT This pin is DC coupled and matched to 50 Ohm. Blocking
capacitors are required if RF line potential is not equal to 0V.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 V6 - V1 See truth table and control voltage table.
13, 14, 16 N/C This pin should be connected to PCB RF
ground to maximize performance
15 VEE Supply Voltage -5V ± 10%
Pin Description
Suggested Driver Circuit (One Circuit Required Per Bit Control Input)
Simple driver using inexpensive standard logic ICs provides fast
switching using minimum DC current.
* Recommended value to suppress unwanted RF signals at V1 -
V6 control lines.
HMC424LP3E
v08.0809
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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
AttenuAtors - DIGItAL - sMt
6
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 eval-
uation circuit board shown is available from Hittite
upon request.
* R1 - R6 = 100 Ohm.
These resistors are optional
and may be used to enhance
decoupling of the RF path
from the control inputs.
Item Description
J1 - J2 PCB Mount SMA Connector
J3 8 Pin DC Connector
C1 0.01 µF Capacitor, 0603 Pkg.
R1 - R6 100 Ohm Resistor, 0603 Pkg.
U1 HMC424LP3 / HMC424LP3E Digital Attenuator
PCB [2] 105245 Evaluation PCB
[1] Reference this number when ordering complete evaluation PCB
[2] Circuit Board Material: Rogers 4350
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB 105406 [1]
HMC424LP3E
v08.0809
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
