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
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HMC290 / 290E
2 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
v01.0605
General Description
Features
Functional Diagram
2 dB LSB Steps to 6 dB
Single Positive Control Per BIT
±0.2 dB Typical Bit Error
Miniature SOT 26 Package: 9 mm2
Electrical Speci cations,
TA = +25° C, Vdd = +3V to +5V & Vctl = 0/Vdd (Unless Otherwise Stated)
Typical Applications
The HMC290 & HMC290E are broadband 2 - bit
positive control GaAs IC digital attenuators in 6 lead
SOT26 surface mount plastic packages. Covering 0.7
to 4 GHz, the insertion loss is typically less than 0.7
dB. The attenuator bit values are 2 (LSB) and 4 dB for
a total attenuation of 6 dB. Accuracy is excellent at ±
0.2 dB typical with an IIP3 of up to +52 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. Occupying less than 9 mm, this is the small-
est 2 - bit digital attenuator available.
The HMC290 / HMC290E is ideal for:
• Cellular
• PCS, ISM, MMDS
• WLL Handset & BaseStation
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
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.2
dB
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range 0.7 - 4.0 GHz 6 dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States) 0.7 - 2.7 GHz
2.7 - 4.0 GHz
16
15
20
18
dB
dB
Attenuation Accuracy: (Referenced to Insertion Loss)
2, 4 dB States
6 dB States
0.7 - 4.0 GHz
0.7 - 4.0 GHz
± 0.2 + 2% of Atten. Setting Max
± 0.3 + 2% of Atten. Setting Max dB
dB
Input Power for 0.1 dB Compression 5V
3V
0.7 - 4.0 GHz 27
24
dBm
dBm
Input Third Order Intercept Point
(Two-tone Input Power = 0 dBm Each Tone)
5V
3V
0.7 - 4.0 GHz 52
50
dBm
dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON, tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
0.7 - 4.0 GHz 400
420
ns
ns
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
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Absolute Bit Error
vs. Attenuation State
Return Loss RF1, RF2
Insertion Loss
Normalized Attenuation
Note: All Data Typical Over Voltage (+3V to +5V) & Temperature (-40 to +85 deg. C.).
Absolute Bit Error vs. Frequency Relative Phase vs. Frequency
HMC290 / 290E
2 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
v01.0605
-1.5
-1.25
-1
-0.75
-0.5
-0.25
0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
+25 C
-40 C
+85 C
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
246
0.9 GHz
2.4 GHz
1.9 GHz
3.5 GHz
BIT ERROR (dB)
ATTENUATION STATE (dB)
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
2 dB
4 dB
6 dB
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
2 dB
4 dB
6 dB
RELATIVE PHASE (deg.)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
2 dB
4 dB
6 dB
BIT ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
2 dB
4 dB
6 dB
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
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
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Control & Bias Voltages
Truth Table
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Outline Drawing
Control Voltage Input Attenuation
Setting
RF1 - RF2
V2
4 dB
V1
2 dB
High High Reference I.L.
High Low 2 dB
Low High 4 dB
Low Low 6 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
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. LEADFRAME MATERIAL: COPPER ALLOY
2. DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MILLIMETERS]
3. DIMENSION DOES NOT INCLUDE MOLDFLASH OF 0.15mm PER SIDE.
4. DIMENSION DOES NOT INCLUDE MOLDFLASH OF 0.25mm PER SIDE.
5. ALL GROUND LEADS MUST BE SOLDERED TO PCB RF GROUND
ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE
OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
HMC290 / 290E
2 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
v01.0605
Part Number Package Body Material Lead Finish MSL Rating Package Marking [3]
HMC290 Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic Sn/Pb Solder MSL1 [1] H290
XXXX
HMC290E RoHS-compliant Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic 100% matte Sn MSL1 [2] 290E
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, 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
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Application Circuit
DC blocking capacitors C1 & C2 are required on RF1 &
RF2. Choose C1 = C2 = 100 ~ 300 pF to allow lowest
customer speci c frequency to pass with minimal loss.
R1 = 5K Ohm is required to supply voltage to the circuit
through either PIN 3 or PIN 1.
HMC290 / 290E
2 dB LSB GaAs MMIC 2-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, 0.7 - 4.0 GHz
v01.0605
The circuit board used in the  nal application should
use RF circuit design techniques. Signal lines
should have 50 ohm impedance while the pack-
age 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 cir-
cuit board as shown is available from Hittite Micro-
wave Corporation upon request.
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB 103372 [1]
Item Description
J1 - J2 PCB 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 HMC290 / HMC290E Digital Attenuator
PCB [2] 103370 Evaluation PCB 1.5” x 1.5”
[1] Reference this number when ordering complete evaluation PCB
[2] Circuit Board Material: Rogers 4350
Evaluation Circuit Board
* R2 = R3 = 100 Ohm.
These resistors are optional
and may be used to enhance
decoupling of the RF path
from the control inputs.