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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
VCOS with Fo/2 OUTPUT - SMT
8
8 - 1
General Description
Features
Functional Diagram
The HMC738LP4(E) is a GaAs InGaP Heterojunction
Bipolar Transistor (HBT) MMIC VCO. The
HMC738LP4(E) integrates a resonator, negative
resistance device, varactor diode and divide-by-16
prescaler. The VCO’s phase noise performance is
excellent over temperature, shock, and process due
to the oscillator’s monolithic structure. Power output is
+9 dBm typical from a 5V supply voltage. The voltage
controlled oscillator is packaged in a low cost leadless
QFN 4x4 mm surface mount package
Pout: +9 dBm
Phase Noise: -95 dBc/Hz @ 100 kHz Typ.
No External Resonator Needed
24 Lead 4x4mm SMT Package: 16mm²
Typical Applications
The HMC738LP4(E) is ideal for:
• Point-to-Point Radios
• Point-to-Multi-Point Radios / LMDS
• VSAT
Electrical Specications, TA = +25° C, Vcc (RF), Vcc (DIG) = +5V
Parameter Min. Typ. Max. Units
Frequency Range Fo
Fo/2 20.9 - 23.9 GHz
Power Output RF OUT
RF OUT/2
RF OUT/16
3
-3.5
-7
15
+3.5
-1
dBm
dBm
SSB Phase Noise @ 100 kHz Offset, Vtune= +5V @ RF Output -95 dBc/Hz
Tune Voltage Vtune 1 13 V
Supply Current Icc (RF), Icc (DIG) 160 200 220 mA
Tune Port Leakage Current (Vtune= 13V) 10 µA
Output Return Loss 3 dB
Harmonics/Subharmonics 1/2
3/2
-23
-40
dBc
dBc
Pulling (into a 2.0:1 VSWR) 22 MHz pp
Pushing @ Vtune= 5V -90 MHz/V
Frequency Drift Rate 3.5 MHz/°C
HMC738LP4 / 738LP4E
MMIC VCO w/ HALF FREQUENCY OUTPUT
& DIVIDE-BY-16, 20.9 - 23.9 GHz
v02.0309
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
VCOS with Fo/2 OUTPUT - SMT
8
8 - 2
Frequency vs. Tuning Voltage, T= 25°C
Sensitivity vs. Tuning Voltage, Vcc= +5V
SSB Phase Noise vs. Tuning Voltage
Frequency vs. Tuning Voltage, Vcc= +5V
Output Power
vs. Tuning Voltage, Vcc= +5V
SSB Phase Noise @ Vtune= 5V
HMC738LP4 / 738LP4E
v02.0309
MMIC VCO w/ HALF FREQUENCY OUTPUT
& DIVIDE-BY-16, 20.9 - 23.9 GHz
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Vcc= 4.75V
Vcc= 5.0V
Vcc= 5.25V
FREQUENCY (GHz)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
FREQUENCY (GHz)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
OUTPUT POWER (dBm)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
-150
-130
-110
-90
-70
-50
-30
103104105106107
+25C
+85C
-40C
SSB PHASE NOISE (dBc/Hz)
OFFSET FREQUENCY (Hz)
-105
-95
-85
-75
-65
-55
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
10kHz offset
100kHz offset
SSB PHASE NOISE(dBc/Hz)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
+25C
+85C
-40C
SENSITIVITY (MHz/VOLT)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
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
VCOS with Fo/2 OUTPUT - SMT
8
8 - 3
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Vcc (RF), Vcc (DIG) +5.5V
Vtune 0 to +15V
Junction Temperature 135° C
Continuous Pdiss (T= 85 °C)
(derate 23 mW/° above 85 °C) 1.2 W
Thermal Resistance
(junction to ground paddle) 43 °C/W
Storage Temperature -65 to +150 °C
Operating Temperature -40 to +85 °C
Typical Supply Current vs. Vcc
Note: VCO will operate over full voltage range shown above.
Vcc (V) Icc (mA)
4.75 175
5.0 200
5.25 220
ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE
OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
RFOUT/2 Frequency
vs. Tuning Voltage, Vcc= +5V
Divide-by-16 Frequency
vs. Tuning Voltage, Vcc= +5V
RFOUT/2 Output Power
Power vs. Tuning Voltage, Vcc= +5V
Divide-by-16 Output Power
vs. Tuning Voltage, Vcc= +5V
HMC738LP4 / 738LP4E
v02.0309
MMIC VCO w/ HALF FREQUENCY OUTPUT
& DIVIDE-BY-16, 20.9 - 23.9 GHz
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5
13
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
FREQUENCY (GHz)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
OUTPUT POWER (dBm)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
FREQUENCY (GHz)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
-5
-4.5
-4
-3.5
-3
-2.5
-2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
+25 C
+85 C
-40 C
OUTPUT POWER (dBm)
TUNING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
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
VCOS with Fo/2 OUTPUT - SMT
8
8 - 4
HMC738LP4 / 738LP4E
v02.0309
MMIC VCO w/ HALF FREQUENCY OUTPUT
& DIVIDE-BY-16, 20.9 - 23.9 GHz
Outline Drawing
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 AND GROUND PADDLE MUST BE SOLDERED TO
PCB RF GROUND.
Part Number Package Body Material Lead Finish MSL Rating Package Marking [3]
HMC738LP4 Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic Sn/Pb Solder MSL1 [1] H738
XXXX
HMC738LP4E RoHS-compliant Low Stress Injection Molded Plastic 100% matte Sn MSL1 [2] H738
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
Pin Descriptions
Pin Number Function Description Interface Schematic
1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
12, 13, 14, 18, 19,
21, 23, 24
N/C No Connection required. These pins may be connected
to RF/DC ground without affecting performance.
2 RFOUT/16 RF/16 Divided Output. Requires DC Block.
4 Vcc (DIG)
Supply voltage for prescaler.
Can be omitted if prescaler is not needed to conserve
approximately 100 mA.
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
VCOS with Fo/2 OUTPUT - SMT
8
8 - 5
HMC738LP4 / 738LP4E
v02.0309
MMIC VCO w/ HALF FREQUENCY OUTPUT
& DIVIDE-BY-16, 20.9 - 23.9 GHz
Pin Descriptions
Pin Number Function Description Interface Schematic
10 RFOUT/2 Half frequency output (AC coupled)
11, 15, 17 GND Package bottom has an exposed metal paddle that
must be RF & DC grounded.
16 RFOUT RF output (AC coupled).
20 Vcc (RF) Supply Voltage
22 VTUNE Control Voltage Input. Modulation port bandwidth
dependent on drive source impedance.
(Continued)
Typical Application Circuit
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
VCOS with Fo/2 OUTPUT - SMT
8
8 - 6
HMC738LP4 / 738LP4E
v02.0309
MMIC VCO w/ HALF FREQUENCY OUTPUT
& DIVIDE-BY-16, 20.9 - 23.9 GHz
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 backside ground slug 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 avail-
able from Hittite upon request.
Evaluation PCB
Item Description
J1, J2 PCB Mount SMA RF Connector
J3 PCB Mount K-Connector
J4 PCB Mount SRI SMA Connector
J5 - J6 2 mm SMT 8 Pin Molex Header
C1 1,000 pF Capacitor, 0402 Pkg.
C2, C3 100 pF Capacitor, 0402 Pkg.
C4, C5 4.7 µF Tantalum Capacitor
U1 HMC738LP4(E)
PCB [2] 112259 Eval Board
[1] Reference this number when ordering complete evaluation PCB
[2] Circuit Board Material: Rogers 4350
List of Materials for Evaluation PCB 112261 [1]
