Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150
Fax [617] 824-4579
Email sales@alphaind.com
www.alphaind.com
1
Specifications subject to change without notice. 6/00A
1840 GHz Surface Mount
Voltage Variable Attenuator
Features
s
Surface Mount Package
s
30 dB Attenuation Range
s
+10 dBm P
1 dB
All Attenuation States
s
Low Insertion Loss
s
100% RF and DC Testing
AV850M2-A2
Patent Pending
Description
The AV850M2-A2 is a broadband millimeterwave voltage
variable attenuator in a rugged surface mount package
that is compatible with high-volume solder installation. The
attenuator is designed for use in millimeterwave
communication and sensor systems as a variable
attenuation stage in the receiver or transmitter chain when
wide dynamic range and high linearity are required. The
robust ceramic surface mount package provides excellent
electrical performance and a high degree of
environmental protection for long-term reliability. All
attenuators are screened at the operating frequencies prior
to shipment for guaranteed performance. Attenuator is
targeted for high-volume millimeterwave applications such
as point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless
communications systems. Control voltage V
C2
sets the
attenuation level while V
C1
adjusts return loss for the part.
Parameter
Symbol
Min.
Typ.
Max.
Unit
Bandwidth
BW
18
40
GHz
Insertion Loss at Minimum Attenuation
IL
Min
3
4
dB
Insertion Loss at Maximum Attenuation
IL
Max
27
33
dBm
Input Return Loss
RL
I
10
dB
Output Return Loss
RL
O
10
dB
Output Power at 1 dB Gain Compression (For All Attenuation Levels)
P
1 dB
8
10
dBm
Temperature Coefficient of Attenuation
dG/dT
-0.002
dB/C
Electrical Specifications at 25C
Parameter
Symbol
Min.
Typ.
Max.
Unit
Control Current
I
C1
+ I
C2
<1
mA
DC
RF
Pin Out
AV850M2-A2
YYWW
RF In
RF Out
Orientation
Indicated by
Missing
Castellations
V
C2
N/C
N/C
N/C V
C1
N/C
1840 GHz Surface Mount Voltage Variable Attenuator
AV850M2-A2
2
Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150
Fax [617] 824-4579
Email sales@alphaind.com
www.alphaind.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. 6/00A
Characteristic
Value
Operating Temperature (T
C
)
-55C to +90C
Storage Temperature (T
ST
)
-65C to +150C
Control Voltage (V
C1
)
-7 V
DC
Control Voltage (V
C2
)
-7 V
DC
Power In (P
IN
)
30 dBm
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Frequency (GHz)
Attenuation vs. Frequency
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
18
23
28
33
38
Attenuation (dB)
-0.5 V
-1.0 V
-1.5 V
-2 V
V
C2
= -3 V
V
C2
= 0 V
Attenuation vs. Control Voltage
-45
-35
-25
-15
-5
-3
-2
-1
0
Control Voltage V
C2
(V)
Attenuation (dB)
18 GHz
23 GHz
28 GHz
33 GHz
38 GHz
1 dB Compression vs. Attenuation
0
5
10
15
20
25
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Attenuation (dB)
Input Power at 1 dB
Compression (dBm)
18 GHz
38 GHz
Typical Performance Data
Outline
0.241
(6.12 mm)
0.040
(1.02 mm)
0.016
(0.41 mm)
0.194
(4.93 mm)
0.056
(1.42 mm)
0.204
(5.18 mm)
0.251
(6.38 mm)
2X 0.044
(1.12 mm)
8X 0.020
(0.51 mm)
2X 0.129
(3.28 mm)
C
L
2X 0.064
(1.63 mm)
2X 0.043
(1.09 mm)
2X 0.085
(2.16 mm)
C
L
1840 GHz Surface Mount Voltage Variable Attenuator
AV850M2-A2
Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150
Fax [617] 824-4579
Email sales@alphaind.com
www.alphaind.com
3
Specifications subject to change without notice. 6/00A
Typical S-Parameters at 25C (V
C1
= 0 V, V
C2
= -2.0 V)
Frequency
S
11
S
21
S
12
S
22
(GHz)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
10
-14.37
38.2
-1.33
100.4
-1.32
100.5
-9.22
-62.9
12
-10.98
-26.8
-1.64
48.7
-1.64
48.9
-8.79
-98.0
14
-8.31
-97.9
-1.94
-1.6
-1.91
-1.3
-9.30
-128.6
16
-9.35
-139.2
-4.78
-57.2
-4.80
-57.1
-11.69
-154.9
18
-14.03
-170.7
-4.90
-112.0
-4.94
-112.1
-16.49
-155.6
20
-18.93
-133.4
-5.43
-167.8
-5.46
-167.9
-14.19
-128.9
22
-12.60
-133.0
-6.20
137.5
-5.99
138.1
-10.86
-150.9
24
-10.72
-160.2
-6.69
85.1
-6.41
85.3
-11.50
179.0
26
-11.51
-178.6
-7.04
31.5
-6.80
31.5
-16.43
163.2
28
-11.48
173.2
-7.76
-24.1
-7.75
-23.9
-17.54
-159.4
30
-10.31
158.3
-8.60
-77.1
-8.33
-77.0
-12.63
-174.8
32
-10.67
137.2
-8.99
-130.8
-8.54
-131.2
-12.30
151.0
34
-12.16
125.6
-9.03
174.1
-8.96
173.1
-14.97
115.2
36
-12.40
120.7
-9.57
115.3
-9.58
114.4
-22.73
66.2
38
-11.55
108.5
-10.37
54.3
-10.06
53.8
-27.99
-73.0
40
-11.20
78.8
-10.96
-8.8
-10.40
-11.0
-18.34
-114.6
42
-12.60
49.9
-11.74
-79.2
-11.93
-80.8
-13.31
-137.7
44
-13.69
-163.7
-16.18
-170.9
-16.25
-171.4
-8.52
-158.5
46
-1.17
91.4
-21.20
-117.9
-20.84
-125.3
-1.21
132.6
48
-3.80
13.8
-16.82
142.0
-17.75
140.9
-2.88
63.1
50
-6.06
-20.5
-18.90
69.6
-18.69
67.7
-5.77
-1.7
Typical S-Parameters at 25C (V
C1
= 0 V, V
C2
= -1.5 V)
Frequency
S
11
S
21
S
12
S
22
(GHz)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
Mag. (dB)
Ang. (Deg.)
10
-10.75
-12.4
-4.64
98.3
-4.63
98.4
-5.28
-76.6
12
-9.15
-54.8
-4.88
46.6
-4.74
46.7
-5.86
-115.3
14
-6.20
-95.6
-13.10
-8.1
-13.19
-7.7
-7.30
-150.7
16
-6.78
-126.0
-13.60
-60.1
-13.41
-59.8
-10.21
175.2
18
-7.73
-151.5
-13.88
-113.4
-13.55
-113.2
-17.10
142.1
20
-8.76
-172.7
-14.32
-167.4
-14.31
-167.6
-27.30
-78.3
22
-9.99
166.5
-15.36
138.6
-15.49
138.7
-14.32
-103.7
24
-12.10
148.4
-16.59
84.8
-16.42
84.9
-10.57
-129.9
26
-15.52
135.5
-17.65
32.0
-17.23
32.1
-9.06
-156.0
28
-20.66
134.9
-18.59
-19.7
-18.57
-19.1
-9.05
176.8
30
-20.36
178.8
-19.68
-72.6
-19.38
-72.9
-9.43
149.7
32
-15.81
-177.1
-20.60
-127.5
-20.15
-128.3
-10.93
115.0
34
-12.49
172.3
-21.70
177.9
-21.85
177.7
-14.17
69.5
36
-10.17
151.7
-23.16
122.6
-22.76
122.0
-16.34
-7.0
38
-8.90
129.3
-24.30
62.1
-23.75
60.9
-13.69
-82.6
40
-8.01
97.7
-25.88
-0.2
-26.17
-3.5
-10.76
-131.7
42
-8.54
63.5
-28.12
-64.0
-28.13
-65.7
-9.37
-170.3
44
-19.54
-160.6
-31.87
-163.0
-30.84
-159.6
-10.51
174.9
46
-0.14
91.4
-45.47
-81.4
-48.12
-107.4
-0.44
129.9
48
-1.73
11.0
-34.72
173.4
-36.37
173.9
-1.55
49.4
50
-3.65
-27.5
-35.09
97.1
-36.54
102.4
-4.82
-18.549
1840 GHz Surface Mount Voltage Variable Attenuator
AV850M2-A2
4
Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150
Fax [617] 824-4579
Email sales@alphaind.com
www.alphaind.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. 6/00A
"Alpha Two" Surface Mount Package
Handling and Mounting
Millimeterwave components require careful mounting
design to maintain optimal performance. The Alpha Two
surface mount package (patent pending) provides a
rugged and repeatable electrical connection using
standard solder techniques.
Handling
The Alpha Two surface mount package is very rugged.
However, due to ceramic's brittle nature, one should
exercise care when handling with metal tools. Do not apply
heavy pressure to the lid. Vacuum tools may be used to
pick and place this part.
Only personnel trained in both ESD precautions and
handling precautions should be allowed to handle these
packages.
Package Construction
The Alpha Two surface mount package consists of a base
and a lid. The package base is ceramic with filled vias and
plated castellations. The package lid is unplated alumina.
The lid seal is epoxy.
Mounting Design
The Alpha Two surface mount package is installed on top
of a printed circuit board on a specially designed footprint.
Mounting footprint geometry will be supplied by Alpha
Industries in electronic formats or paper drawing.
Mounting the Package
The Alpha Two surface mount package is compatible with
high-volume surface mount installation using solder. RF
and DC connections are accomplished with metallized
edge castellations that hold solder fillets. Ground
connections are accomplished by both metallized edge
castellations and filled vias to the bottom of the package.
Care should be taken to ensure that there are no voids
or gaps in the solder so that a good RF, DC, and ground
contact is maintained.
Alpha Two Surface Mount Package Installation
Printed Ccircuit Board
Rogers 4003
0.008" (0.20 mm) Thick
Electrically & Thermally
Conductive Ground Plane
RF In
RF Out
DC Lines
Solder Fillets
Footprint Geometry for Alpha Two
Surface Mount Package
RF In
RF Out
DC Connections
DC Connections
64 Via Holes
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