Three control-device gallium-arsenide (GaAs) MMIC products in glass/metal (hermetic) SMT packages have now come to market. These products, which include two digital attenuators and an SP4T non-reflective switch, are especially well suited for military radio, RADAR, and ECM applications. They also are ideal for applications like telecom-infrastructure, test-instrumentation, and space systems.
The first product, the 5-b digital HMC335G16 attenuator, is a broadband IC covering DC to 3 GHz. The attenuator bit values are 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 dB for a total range of 31 dB with an insertion loss of typically less than 2.3 dB. The HMC424G16 6-b digital attenuator covers the same frequency range. Its attenuator bit values are 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 dB for a total range of 31.5 dB. A single Vcc bias of −5 V for both the HMC335G16 and the HMC424G16 allows for operation down to DC.
Covering DC to 4.0 GHz, the HMC244G16 non-reflective SP4T switch offers 30- to 50-dB isolation and a low insertion loss of 0.7 dB through 3 GHz. A 2:4 TTL-/CMOS-compatible decoder is integrated on the switch. It requires only two control lines and a positive 5-V bias to select each path. This decoder replaces the eight control lines that are normally required by GaAs SP4T switches.
Sample and production quantities of the products are available. Datasheets can be downloaded from www.hittite.com.
Hittite Microwave Corp.12 Elizabeth Dr., Chelmsford, MA 01824; (978) 250-3343, FAX: (978) 250-3373, www.hittite.com.