ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
1
HMC424ALH5
v00.0416
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 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.
Functional Diagram
Electrical Specications, TA = +25° C, With Vee = -5V & VCTL= 0/-5V
The HMC424ALH5 is ideal for:
• Telecom Infrastructure
• Military Radio, Radar & ECM
• Space Systems
• Test Instrumentation
0.5 dB LSB Steps to 31.5 dB
Single Control Line Per Bit
± 0.3 dB Typical Bit Error
Hermetic SMT Package, 25mm2
Screening to MIL-PRF-38535 (Class B or S) Available
The HMC424ALH5 is a broadband 6-bit GaAs MMIC
digital attenuator housed in a hermetic SMT leadless
package. Covering DC to 13 GHz, the insertion loss is
less than 3.5 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 +34 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 frequencies down
to DC. The HMC424ALH5 is compatible with stan-
dard and lead free surface mount manufacturing
techniques and is suitable for high reliability military,
industrial and space applications.
Parameter Frequency (GHz) Min. Ty p . Max. Units
Insertion Loss
DC - 4 GHz
4.0 - 8.0 GHz
8.0 - 12.0 GHz
12.0GHz - 13.0 GHz
2.7
3.3
4.2
4.7
3.2
3.8
4.7
5.2
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range DC - 13.0 GHz 31.5 dB
Return Loss (RF1 & RF2, All Atten. States) DC - 13.0 GHz 12 dB
Attenuation Accuracy: (Referenced to Insertion Loss)
0.5 - 16.5 dB States
17 - 31.5 dB States
DC - 13.0 GHz
DC - 13.0 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 - 13.0 GHz 27 dBm
Input Third Order Intercept Point
(Two-Tone Input Power= 0 dBm Each Tone)
REF State
All Other States 1.0 - 13.0 GHz 40
34
dBm
dBm
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON/tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
DC - 13.0 GHz
30
55
ns
ns
Typical Applications Features
General Description
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
HMC424ALH5
v00.0416
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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
-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)
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
0 3 6 9 12 15
+25 C +85 C -40 C
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0 3 6 9 12 15
I.L.
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
RETURN LOSS (dB)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
0123456789101112131415
IL
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
NORMALIZED ATTENUATION (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)
-20
0
20
40
60
80
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)
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
3
HMC424ALH5
v00.0416
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
Truth Table
Control Voltage
Bias Voltage & Current
Step Error vs. Frequency (Major 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 @ <1 µA Typ.
Vee Range= -5 Vdc ± 10%
Vee
(VDC)
Iee (Typ.)
(mA)
Iee (Max.)
(mA)
-3.0 2.2 5
-5.0 2.3 5
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
0123456789101112131415
IL
0.5 dB
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31.5 dB
STEP ERROR (dB)
FREQUENCY (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
ATTENUATORS - DIGITAL - SMT
4
HMC424ALH5
v00.0416
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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 (T= 85 °C)
Pin = +23 dBm, @ max. atten.
Pin = +23dBm, @ 4dB atten.
100 °C/W
374 °C/W
Continuous Pdiss (T= 85 °C) 0.174 W
Storage Temperature -65 to + 150 °C
Operating Temperature -40 to +85 °C
RF Input Power (0.5 - 13 GHz) +25 dBm
ESD Sensitivity (HBM) Class 1A
ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE
OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
NOTES:
1. PACKAGE BODY MATERIAL: CERAMIC & KOVAR
2. LEAD AND GROUND PADDLE PLATING: GOLD 40 - 80 MICROINCHES.
3. DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MILLIMETERS].
4. LEAD SPACING TOLERANCE IS NON-CUMULATIVE
5. PAD BURR LENGTH 0.15mm MAX.
PAD BURR HEIGHT 0.25mm MAX.
6. ALL GROUND LEADS AND GROUND PADDLE MUST BE SOLDERED TO
PCB RF GROUND.
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
5
HMC424ALH5
v00.0416
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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.
Pad Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1, 9 RF1, RF2 This pin is DC coupled and matched to 50 Ohm. Blocking
capacitors are required if RF line potential is not equal to 0V.
2 - 7 V6 - V1 See truth table and control voltage table.
8, 10, 12 GND Package base must also be connected to RF ground
11 Vee Supply Voltage -5V ± 10%
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
HMC424ALH5
v00.0416
0.5dB LSB GaAs MMIC 6-BIT DIGITAL
ATTENUATOR, DC - 13 GHz
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 Analog
Devices upon request.
Item Description
J1 - J2 PCB Mount SMA SRI Connector
J3 8 Pin DC Connector .1” Thruhole
C1 0.01 µF Capacitor, 0603 Pkg.
U1 HMC424ALH5 Digital Attenuator
PCB [2] 110853 Evaluation PCB
[1] Reference this number when ordering complete evaluation PCB
[2] Circuit Board Material: Rogers 4350
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB EV1HMC424ALH5 [1]
