HRF-AT4520
31.0 dB, DC – 4 GHz, 5 Bit Parallel Digital Attenuator
The Honeywell HRF-AT4520 is a 5-bit digital attenuator ideal for use in
broadband communication system applications that require accuracy, speed
and low power consumption. The HRF-AT4520 is manufactured with
Honeywell's patented Silicon On Insulator (SOI) CMOS manufacturing
technology, which provides the performance of GaAs with the economy and
integration capabilities of conventional CMOS. These attenuators are DC
coupled to improve lower operating frequency, frequency response and reduce
the number of DC bias points required.
FEATURES
Very Low DC Power Consumption
Attenuation In Steps From 1 dB To 31 dB
Single Positive Power Supply Voltage
Parallel Data Interface
50 Ohm Impedance
DC-coupled, bi-directional RF path
Space Saving VQFN Surface Mount Packaging
Lead-free, RoHS compliant and halogen-free
RF ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS @ + 25oC
Results @ VDD = 5.0 +/- 10%, VSS = 0 unless otherwise stated, Z0 = 50 Ohms
Contact Honeywell for relative performance at other supply configurations
Parameter
Test Condition
Frequency
Minimum
Typical
Maximum
Units
Insertion Loss
1.0 GHz
2.5 GHz
3.0 GHz
4.0 GHz
2.5
3.0
3.6
5.5
2.9
3.5
3.9
5.8
dB
1dB Compression
VSS = 0V, Input Power
VSS =-3V, Input Power
2.0 GHz
2.0 GHz
24
29
dBm
dBm
Input IP3
VSS = 0V
Two-tone inputs, up to +5 dBm
@ 0 dBm attenuation
2.5 GHz
38
dBm
Input IP3
Vss = -3V
Two-tone inputs, up to +5 dBm
@ 0 dBm attenuation
2.5 GHz
>38
dBm
Return Loss
Any Combination of Bits
-11
-13
dB
Attenuation Accuracy
All attenuation states
1.0 GHz
2.5 GHz
3.0 GHz
4.0 GHz
+/-(0.3 + 3.0% of programmed IL)
+/-(0.3 + 4.0% of programmed IL)
+/-(0.3 + 5.5% of programmed IL)
+/-(0.3 + 7.0% of programmed IL)
dB
Trise, Tfall
Ton, Toff (Tpd)
10% To 90%
50% Cntl To 90% / 10%RF
10
15
nS
nS
HRF-AT4520
2 www.honeywell.com/microwave
FUNCTIONAL SCHEMATIC
DC ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS @ + 25°C
Parameter
Minimum
Typical
Maximum
Units
VDD
3.31
5.0
5.5
V
VSS
-5.0
V
IDD
<5.0
50
uA
CMOS Logic level (0)
0
0.8
V
CMOS Logic level (1)
VDD – 0.8
VDD
V
Input Leakage Current
10
uA
Note 1, the performance curves are for VDD = +5.0 +/- 10%
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS1
Parameter
Absolute Maximum
Units
Input Power
+ 35
dBm
VDD
+6.0
V
VSS
-5.5
V
ESD Voltage2
400
V
Operating Temperature
-40 To +85
OC
Storage Temperature
-65 To +125
OC
Moisture Sensitivity Level
Level 3 @ 260OC
Digital Inputs
VDD+0.6 max to -0.6 min
V
Note 1 - Operation of this device beyond any of these parameters may cause permanent damage.
Note 2 - Although the HRF-AT4520 contains ESD protection circuitry on all digital inputs, precautions should be taken to
ensure that the Absolute Maximum Ratings are not exceeded.
Latch-Up: Unlike conventional CMOS digital attenuators, Honeywell's HRF-AT4520 is immune to latch-up.
RF In
RF Out
S4
S3
S0
S1
S2
16dB
8dB
4dB
2dB
1dB
ESD, Buffer, Level Shift
HRF- AT4520
www.honeywell.com/microwave 3
PIN CONFIGURATIONS
Pin
Function
Pin
Function
1
VDD
13
GROUND
2
GROUND
14
GROUND
3
GROUND
15
RF OUTPUT
4
RF INPUT
16
GROUND
5
GROUND
17
VSS
6
GROUND
18
GROUND
7
GROUND
19
S0
8
GROUND
20
S1
9
GROUND
21
S2
10
GROUND
22
S3
11
GROUND
23
S4
12
GROUND
24
OPEN
Note: Bottom ground plate must be grounded for proper RF performance.
TRUTH TABLE
S4
S3
S2
S1
S0
Output
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Reference Input
1 dB
2 dB
4 dB
8 dB
16 dB
31 dB
Operation: Data on parallel input “S” pins are independently buffered and presented to the RF attenuator circuits.
"0" = CMOS Low, "1" = CMOS High.
HRF-AT4520
4 www.honeywell.com/microwave
PERFORMANCE CURVES
Insertion Loss
Return Loss
Typical AT4520 Reference Insertion Loss
-5.0
-4.5
-4.0
-3.5
-3.0
-2.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.25 3.50 3.75
Frequency (GHz)
Insertion Loss (dB)
- 40 C
+ 25 C
+ 85 C
3.3 V
Typical AT4520 Input Return Loss
-40.0
-35.0
-30.0
-25.0
-20.0
-15.0
-10.0
-5.0
0.0
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
Frequency (GHz)
Input Return Loss (dB)
Attn 1dB
Attn 2 dB
Attn 3dB
Attn 5dB
Attn 9dB
Attn 17dB
Attn 31dB
HRF- AT4520
www.honeywell.com/microwave 5
Step Accuracy
Relative Accuracy
Typical AT4520 Step Accuracy
-1.0
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.25
Frequency (GHz)
Step Accuracy (dB)
1.0 dB 2.0 dB
4.0 dB 8.0 dB
16.0 dB 31.0 dB
16 dB
8 dB
31 dB
4 dB
2 dB
Typical AT4520 Relative Accuracy
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.25
Frequency (GHz)
Relative Accuracy (dB)
1.0 dB 2.0 dB
4.0 dB 8.0 dB
16.0 dB 31.0 dB
31 dB
16 dB
8 dB
4 dB
HRF-AT4520
6 www.honeywell.com/microwave
PACKAGE OUTLINE DRAWING
HALOGEN-FREE MATERIAL SET
The –FL attenuators have a halogen-free material set that can withstand a maximum soldering temperature of 260OC.
LEAD FINISH
The package leads are Nickel Palladium with a Gold and Silver flash (NiPdAu+Ag). The configuration being manufactured
and delivered today is lead-free and RoHS compliant. Plating thicknesses are listed below in microns (um).
Ni = 0.254 um min
Pd = 0.00254 um min
Au+Ag = 0.00508 um min
Au Composition = 30% min to 70% max
LEAD FREE QFN SURFACE MOUNT APPLICATION
Please see Application Note AN310a for assembly process recommendations. The maximum soldering temperature of
the - FL is 260oC. Application Notes can be found at our website: www.honeywell.com/microwave
CIRCUIT APPLICATION INFORMATION
These attenuators require a DC reference to ground. They may not operate properly when AC coupled on both the RF
input and output without a DC ground reference provided as part of the circuit. See Application Note AN311.
Notes
1. Pin 1 identifier can be a combination or a dot and/or chamfer. A chamfer is on the bottom ground plane.
2. Dimensions are in millimeters.
HRF- AT4520
www.honeywell.com/microwave 7
EVALUATION CIRCUIT BOARD
Honeywell's evaluation board provides an easy to use method of evaluating the RF performance of our attenuator. Simply
connect power, DC and RF signals to be measuring attenuator performance in less than 10 minutes.
EVALUATION CIRCUIT BOARD LAYOUT DESIGN DETAILS
Item
Description
PCB
Impedance Matched Multi-Layer FR4
Attenuator
HRF-AT4520 Digital Attenuator
Chip Capacitor
Panasonic Model ECU-E1C103KBQ Capacitor, .01uf 0402 10% 16V
RF Connector
Johnson Connectors Model 142-0701-801 SMA RF Coaxial Connector
DC Pin
Mil-Max Model 800-10-064-10-001 Header Pins
ORDERING INFORMATION
Ordering Number
Delivery Method
Units Per Shipment
HRF-AT4520-FL-TR
HRF-AT4520-E
Tape & Reel
Evaluation Board
2500 Units per Reel
One Board Per Box
The new –FL attenuators replace and are electrically equivalent to the –GR attenuators. The –GR attenuators are
obsolete.
FIND OUT MORE
For more information on Honeywell’s Microwave Products visit us online at www.honeywellmicrowave.com or contact
us at 800-323-8295 (763-954-2474 internationally).
Honeywell reserves the right to make changes to improve reliability, function or design. Honeywell does not assume any liability arising out of the
application or use of any product or circuit described herein; neither does it convey any license under its patent rights nor the rights of others.
Honeywell
12001 Highway 55
Plymouth, MN 55441
Tel: 800-323-8295
www.honeywellmicrowave.com
Form #4520W
May 2012
©2012 Honeywell International Inc.
HRF-AT4520 Evaluation Board
HRF-AT4520
Evaluation Board
Top View
HRF-AT4520
Honeywell
RF In
RF Out
VDD
VSS
Gnd
S0
S1
S2
S3
S4
Open
Gnd