For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order On-line at www.hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
5 - 98
HMC424G16
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 3 GHz
v04.0709
Electrical Speci cations, TA = +25° C, With Vee = -5V & Vctl = 0/-5V
The HMC424G16 is ideal for:
• Telecom Infrastructure
• Military Radios, Radar & ECM
• Space Applications
• Test Instrumentation
0.5 dB LSB Steps to 31.5 dB
Single Control Line Per Bit
±0.5 to ±0.8 dB Typical Bit Error
16 Lead Hermetic SMT Package
The HMC424G16 is a broadband 6-bit GaAs IC
digital attenuator in a 16 lead glass/metal (hermetic)
surface mount package. Covering DC to 3 GHz, the
insertion loss is less than 3 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 bet-
ween 0 and -5V, are used to select each attenuation
state at less than 70 μA each. A single Vee bias of
-5V allows operation at frequencies down to DC.
Parameter Frequency (GHz) Min. Typ. Max. Units
Insertion Loss DC - 3 GHz 3.0 3.6 dB
Attenuation Range DC - 3 GHz 31.5 dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States) DC - 3 GHz 12 dB
Attenuation Accuracy: (Referenced to Insertion Loss)
All States
All States
DC - 2.0 GHz
2.0 - 3.0 GHz
± 0.4 + 4% of Atten. Setting Max
± 0.5 + 5% of Atten. Setting Max
dB
dB
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression 1.0 - 3.0 GHz 22 dBm
Input Third Order Intercept Point
(Two-Tone Input Power= 0 dBm Each Tone)
REF State
All Other States 1.0 - 3.0 GHz 46
32
dBm
dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON/tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
DC - 3 GHz
30
50
ns
ns
Functional Diagram
Typical Applications Features
General Description
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. Specifications 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.
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
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order On-line at www.hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
5 - 99
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
HMC424G16
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 3 GHz
v04.0709
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
+25C
+85C
-40C
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
RELATVIE PHASE (deg)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
0.14 GHz
1 GHz
2 GHz
3 GHz
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
BIT ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-2
-1
0
1
2
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
0.14 GHz
1 GHz
2 GHz
3 GHz
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
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. Specifications 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.
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
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order On-line at www.hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
5 - 100
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 -5 to -4.2V @ 5 μA Typ.
Vee Range= -5 Vdc ± 10%
Vee (VDC) Iee (Typ.) (mA) Iee (Max.) (mA)
-5 2 5
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
STEP ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
HMC424G16
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 3 GHz
v04.0709
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. Specifications 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.
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
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order On-line at www.hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
5 - 101
Outline Drawing
NOTES:
1. PACKAGE MATERIAL: ALUMINA LOADED BOROSILICATE GLASS.
2. LEADS, BASE, COVER MATEIRAL: KOVARTM (#7052 CORNING).
3. PLATING: ELECTROLYTIC GOLD 50 MICROINCHES MIN.,
OVER ELECTROLYTIC NICKEL 75 MICROINCHES MIN.
4. ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MILLIMETERS].
5. TOLERANCES: 0.005 [.013] UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.
6. CHARACTERS TO BE HELVETICA MEDIUM .030 HIGH,
BLACK INK, LOCATED APPROX. AS SHOWN.
7. ALL GROUND LEADS AND GROUND PADDLE MUST BE SOLDERED
TO PCB RF GROUND.
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 - 13.0 GHz) +25 dBm
ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE
OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
HMC424G16
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 3 GHz
v04.0709
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. Specifications 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.
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
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order On-line at www.hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
5 - 102
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.
Pin Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1, 12-16 V1 - V6 See truth table and control voltage table.
2, 4-6, 8, 9, 11 GND Package bottom must also be connected
to RF/DC ground.
3, 10 RF1, RF2
These pins are DC coupled and matched to 50 Ohm.
Blocking capacitors are required if RF line is
not equal to 0V.
7 Vee Supply Voltage -5V ±10%
Pin Descriptions
HMC424G16
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 3 GHz
v04.0709
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. Specifications 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.
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
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order On-line at www.hittite.com
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
5
5 - 103
Evaluation PCB
The circuit board used in the nal application should
use RF circuit design techniques. Signal lines should
have 50 ohm impedance while the package ground
leads and package bottom 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.
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB 106566 [1]
Item Description
J1 - J2 PCB Mount SMA Connector
J3 8 Pin DC Connector
C1 0.01 μF Capacitor, 0603 Pkg.
C2, C3 100 pF Capacitor, 0402 Pkg.
R1 - R6 100 Ohm Resistor, 0603 Pkg.
U1 HMC424G16 Digital Attenuator
PCB [2] 106461 Evaluation PCB
[1] Reference this number when ordering complete evaluation PCB
[2] Circuit Board Material: Rogers 4350
HMC424G16
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 3 GHz
v04.0709
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. Specifications 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.
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
