DATASHEET

HFA3101
®
Data Sheet
September 2004
Gilbert Cell UHF Transistor Array
Features
The HFA3101 is an all NPN transistor array configured as a
Multiplier Cell. Based on Intersil’s bonded wafer UHF-1 SOI
process, this array achieves very high fT (10GHz) while
maintaining excellent hFE and VBE matching characteristics
that have been maximized through careful attention to circuit
design and layout, making this product ideal for
communication circuits. For use in mixer applications, the
cell provides high gain and good cancellation of 2nd order
distortion terms.
• Pb-free Available as an Option
Ordering Information
• Pin to Pin Compatible to UPA101
PART NUMBER
(BRAND)
TEMP.
RANGE (°C)
PACKAGE
PKG.
DWG. #
HFA3101B
(H3101B)
-40 to 85
8 Ld SOIC
M8.15
HFA3101BZ
(H3101B) (Note)
-40 to 85
8 Ld SOIC
(Pb-free)
M8.15
HFA3101B96
(H3101B)
-40 to 85
8 Ld SOIC Tape
and Reel
M8.15
HFA3101BZ96
(H3101B) (Note)
-40 to 85
8 Ld SOIC Tape
M8.15
and Reel (Pb-free)
FN3663.5
• High Gain Bandwidth Product (fT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10GHz
• High Power Gain Bandwidth Product . . . . . . . . . . . . 5GHz
• Current Gain (hFE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
• Low Noise Figure (Transistor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5dB
• Excellent hFE and VBE Matching
• Low Collector Leakage Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <0.01nA
Applications
• Balanced Mixers
• Multipliers
• Demodulators/Modulators
• Automatic Gain Control Circuits
• Phase Detectors
NOTE: Intersil Pb-free products employ special Pb-free material
sets; molding compounds/die attach materials and 100% matte tin
plate termination finish, which is compatible with both SnPb and
Pb-free soldering operations. Intersil Pb-free products are MSL
classified at Pb-free peak reflow temperatures that meet or exceed
the Pb-free requirements of IPC/JEDEC J STD-020C.
• Fiber Optic Signal Processing
• Wireless Communication Systems
• Wide Band Amplification Stages
• Radio and Satellite Communications
• High Performance Instrumentation
Pinout
Q1 Q2
Q3 Q4
3
2
4
Q6
Q5
1
5
6
7
8
HFA3101
(SOIC)
TOP VIEW
NOTE: Q5 and Q6 - 2 Paralleled 3µm x 50µm Transistors
Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 - Single 3µm x 50µm Transistors
1
CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.
1-888-INTERSIL or 321-724-7143 | Intersil (and design) is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
Copyright © Intersil Americas Inc. 1998, 2004. All Rights Reserved
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
HFA3101
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Thermal Information
VCEO, Collector to Emitter Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0V
VCBO, Collector to Base Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.0V
VEBO, Emitter to Base Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5V
IC, Collector Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30mA
Thermal Resistance (Typical, Note 1)
Operating Conditions
Temperature Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40oC to 85oC
θJA (oC/W)
SOIC Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
185
Maximum Junction Temperature (Die) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175oC
Maximum Junction Temperature (Plastic Package) . . . . . . . . .150oC
Maximum Storage Temperature Range . . . . . . . . . . -65oC to 150oC
Maximum Lead Temperature (Soldering 10s) . . . . . . . . . . . . .300oC
(SOIC - Lead Tips Only)
CAUTION: Stresses above those listed in “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. This is a stress only rating and operation of the
device at these or any other conditions above those indicated in the operational sections of this specification is not implied.
NOTE:
1. θJA is measured with the component mounted on an evaluation PC board in free air.
TA = 25oC
Electrical Specifications
(NOTE 2)
TEST
LEVEL
MIN
TYP
MAX
UNITS
Collector to Base Breakdown Voltage, V(BR)CBO, Q1 thru Q6 IC = 100µA, IE = 0
A
12
18
-
V
Collector to Emitter Breakdown Voltage, V(BR)CEO,
Q5 and Q6
IC = 100µA, IB = 0
A
8
12
-
V
Emitter to Base Breakdown Voltage, V(BR)EBO, Q1 thru Q6
IE = 10µA, IC = 0
A
5.5
6
-
V
Collector Cutoff Current, ICBO, Q1 thru Q4
VCB = 8V, IE = 0
A
-
0.1
10
nA
Emitter Cutoff Current, IEBO, Q5 and Q6
VEB = 1V, IC = 0
A
-
-
200
nA
IC = 10mA, VCE = 3V
A
40
70
-
VCB = 5V, f = 1MHz
C
-
0.300
-
pF
-
0.600
-
pF
-
0.200
-
pF
-
0.400
-
pF
PARAMETER
TEST CONDITIONS
DC Current Gain, hFE, Q1 thru Q6
Collector to Base Capacitance, CCB
Q1 thru Q4
Q5 and Q6
Emitter to Base Capacitance, CEB
Q1 thru Q4
VEB = 0, f = 1MHz
B
Q5 and Q6
Current Gain-Bandwidth Product, fT
Q1 thru Q4
IC = 10mA, VCE = 5V
C
-
10
-
GHz
Q5 and Q6
IC = 20mA, VCE = 5V
C
-
10
-
GHz
Q1 thru Q4
IC = 10mA, VCE = 5V
C
-
5
-
GHz
Q5 and Q6
IC = 20mA, VCE = 5V
C
-
5
-
GHz
Available Gain at Minimum Noise Figure, GNFMIN,
Q5 and Q6
IC = 5mA,
VCE = 3V
f = 0.5GHz
C
-
17.5
-
dB
f = 1.0GHz
C
-
11.9
-
dB
Minimum Noise Figure, NFMIN, Q5 and Q6
IC = 5mA,
VCE = 3V
f = 0.5GHz
C
-
1.7
-
dB
f = 1.0GHz
C
-
2.0
-
dB
IC = 5mA,
VCE = 3V
f = 0.5GHz
C
-
2.25
-
dB
f = 1.0GHz
C
-
2.5
-
dB
Power Gain-Bandwidth Product, fMAX
50Ω Noise Figure, NF50Ω, Q5 and Q6
DC Current Gain Matching, hFE1/hFE2, Q1 and Q2,
Q3 and Q4, and Q5 and Q6
IC = 10mA, VCE = 3V
A
0.9
1.0
1.1
Input Offset Voltage, VOS, (Q1 and Q2), (Q3 and Q4),
(Q5 and Q6)
IC = 10mA, VCE = 3V
A
-
1.5
5
mV
Input Offset Current, IC, (Q1 and Q2), (Q3 and Q4),
(Q5 and Q6)
IC = 10mA, VCE = 3V
A
-
5
25
µA
Input Offset Voltage TC, dVOS/dT, (Q1 and Q2, Q3 and Q4,
Q5 and Q6)
IC = 10mA, VCE = 3V
C
-
0.5
-
µV/oC
Collector to Collector Leakage, ITRENCH-LEAKAGE
∆VTEST = 5V
B
-
0.01
-
nA
NOTE:
2. Test Level: A. Production Tested, B. Typical or Guaranteed Limit Based on Characterization, C. Design Typical for Information Only.
2
HFA3101
PSPICE Model for a 3 µm x 50 µm Transistor
.Model NUHFARRY NPN
+ (IS = 1.840E-16
XTI = 3.000E+00
EG = 1.110E+00
VAF = 7.200E+01
+ VAR = 4.500E+00
BF = 1.036E+02
ISE = 1.686E-19
NE = 1.400E+00
+ IKF = 5.400E-02
XTB = 0.000E+00
BR = 1.000E+01
ISC = 1.605E-14
+ NC = 1.800E+00
IKR = 5.400E-02
RC = 1.140E+01
CJC = 3.980E-13
+ MJC = 2.400E-01
VJC = 9.700E-01
FC = 5.000E-01
CJE = 2.400E-13
+ MJE = 5.100E-01
VJE = 8.690E-01
TR = 4.000E-09
TF = 10.51E-12
+ ITF = 3.500E-02
XTF = 2.300E+00
VTF = 3.500E+00
PTF = 0.000E+00
+ XCJC = 9.000E-01
CJS = 1.689E-13
VJS = 9.982E-01
MJS = 0.000E+00
+ RE = 1.848E+00
RB = 5.007E+01
RBM = 1.974E+00
KF = 0.000E+00
+ AF = 1.000E+00)
Common Emitter S-Parameters of 3 µm x 50 µm Transistor
FREQ. (Hz)
|S11|
PHASE(S11)
|S12|
PHASE(S12)
|S21|
PHASE(S21)
|S22|
PHASE(S22)
VCE = 5V and IC = 5mA
1.0E+08
0.83
-11.78
1.41E-02
78.88
11.07
168.57
0.97
-11.05
2.0E+08
0.79
-22.82
2.69E-02
68.63
10.51
157.89
0.93
-21.35
3.0E+08
0.73
-32.64
3.75E-02
59.58
9.75
148.44
0.86
-30.44
4.0E+08
0.67
-41.08
4.57E-02
51.90
8.91
140.36
0.79
-38.16
5.0E+08
0.61
-48.23
5.19E-02
45.50
8.10
133.56
0.73
-44.59
6.0E+08
0.55
-54.27
5.65E-02
40.21
7.35
127.88
0.67
-49.93
7.0E+08
0.50
-59.41
6.00E-02
35.82
6.69
123.10
0.62
-54.37
8.0E+08
0.46
-63.81
6.27E-02
32.15
6.11
119.04
0.57
-58.10
9.0E+08
0.42
-67.63
6.47E-02
29.07
5.61
115.57
0.53
-61.25
1.0E+09
0.39
-70.98
6.63E-02
26.45
5.17
112.55
0.50
-63.96
1.1E+09
0.36
-73.95
6.75E-02
24.19
4.79
109.91
0.47
-66.31
1.2E+09
0.34
-76.62
6.85E-02
22.24
4.45
107.57
0.45
-68.37
1.3E+09
0.32
-79.04
6.93E-02
20.53
4.15
105.47
0.43
-70.19
1.4E+09
0.30
-81.25
7.00E-02
19.02
3.89
103.57
0.41
-71.83
1.5E+09
0.28
-83.28
7.05E-02
17.69
3.66
101.84
0.40
-73.31
1.6E+09
0.27
-85.17
7.10E-02
16.49
3.45
100.26
0.39
-74.66
1.7E+09
0.25
-86.92
7.13E-02
15.41
3.27
98.79
0.38
-75.90
1.8E+09
0.24
-88.57
7.17E-02
14.43
3.10
97.43
0.37
-77.05
1.9E+09
0.23
-90.12
7.19E-02
13.54
2.94
96.15
0.36
-78.12
2.0E+09
0.22
-91.59
7.21E-02
12.73
2.80
94.95
0.35
-79.13
2.1E+09
0.21
-92.98
7.23E-02
11.98
2.68
93.81
0.35
-80.09
2.2E+09
0.20
-94.30
7.25E-02
11.29
2.56
92.73
0.34
-80.99
2.3E+09
0.20
-95.57
7.27E-02
10.64
2.45
91.70
0.34
-81.85
2.4E+09
0.19
-96.78
7.28E-02
10.05
2.35
90.72
0.33
-82.68
2.5E+09
0.18
-97.93
7.29E-02
9.49
2.26
89.78
0.33
-83.47
2.6E+09
0.18
-99.05
7.30E-02
8.96
2.18
88.87
0.33
-84.23
2.7E+09
0.17
-100.12
7.31E-02
8.47
2.10
88.00
0.33
-84.97
3-3
HFA3101
Common Emitter S-Parameters of 3 µm x 50 µm Transistor
(Continued)
FREQ. (Hz)
|S11|
PHASE(S11)
|S12|
PHASE(S12)
|S21|
PHASE(S21)
|S22|
PHASE(S22)
2.8E+09
0.17
-101.15
7.31E-02
8.01
2.02
87.15
0.33
-85.68
2.9E+09
0.16
-102.15
7.32E-02
7.57
1.96
86.33
0.33
-86.37
3.0E+09
0.16
-103.11
7.32E-02
7.16
1.89
85.54
0.33
-87.05
VCE = 5V and IC = 10mA
1.0E+08
0.72
-16.43
1.27E-02
75.41
15.12
165.22
0.95
-14.26
2.0E+08
0.67
-31.26
2.34E-02
62.89
13.90
152.04
0.88
-26.95
3.0E+08
0.60
-43.76
3.13E-02
52.58
12.39
141.18
0.79
-37.31
4.0E+08
0.53
-54.00
3.68E-02
44.50
10.92
132.57
0.70
-45.45
5.0E+08
0.47
-62.38
4.05E-02
38.23
9.62
125.78
0.63
-51.77
6.0E+08
0.42
-69.35
4.31E-02
33.34
8.53
120.37
0.57
-56.72
7.0E+08
0.37
-75.26
4.49E-02
29.47
7.62
116.00
0.51
-60.65
8.0E+08
0.34
-80.36
4.63E-02
26.37
6.86
112.39
0.47
-63.85
9.0E+08
0.31
-84.84
4.72E-02
23.84
6.22
109.36
0.44
-66.49
1.0E+09
0.29
-88.83
4.80E-02
21.75
5.69
106.77
0.41
-68.71
1.1E+09
0.27
-92.44
4.86E-02
20.00
5.23
104.51
0.39
-70.62
1.2E+09
0.25
-95.73
4.90E-02
18.52
4.83
102.53
0.37
-72.28
1.3E+09
0.24
-98.75
4.94E-02
17.25
4.49
100.75
0.35
-73.76
1.4E+09
0.22
-101.55
4.97E-02
16.15
4.19
99.16
0.34
-75.08
1.5E+09
0.21
-104.15
4.99E-02
15.19
3.93
97.70
0.33
-76.28
1.6E+09
0.20
-106.57
5.01E-02
14.34
3.70
96.36
0.32
-77.38
1.7E+09
0.20
-108.85
5.03E-02
13.60
3.49
95.12
0.31
-78.41
1.8E+09
0.19
-110.98
5.05E-02
12.94
3.30
93.96
0.31
-79.37
1.9E+09
0.18
-113.00
5.06E-02
12.34
3.13
92.87
0.30
-80.27
2.0E+09
0.18
-114.90
5.07E-02
11.81
2.98
91.85
0.30
-81.13
2.1E+09
0.17
-116.69
5.08E-02
11.33
2.84
90.87
0.30
-81.95
2.2E+09
0.17
-118.39
5.09E-02
10.89
2.72
89.94
0.29
-82.74
2.3E+09
0.16
-120.01
5.10E-02
10.50
2.60
89.06
0.29
-83.50
2.4E+09
0.16
-121.54
5.11E-02
10.13
2.49
88.21
0.29
-84.24
2.5E+09
0.16
-122.99
5.12E-02
9.80
2.39
87.39
0.29
-84.95
2.6E+09
0.15
-124.37
5.12E-02
9.49
2.30
86.60
0.29
-85.64
2.7E+09
0.15
-125.69
5.13E-02
9.21
2.22
85.83
0.29
-86.32
2.8E+09
0.15
-126.94
5.13E-02
8.95
2.14
85.09
0.29
-86.98
2.9E+09
0.15
-128.14
5.14E-02
8.71
2.06
84.36
0.29
-87.62
3.0E+09
0.14
-129.27
5.15E-02
8.49
1.99
83.66
0.29
-88.25
4
HFA3101
Application Information
The HFA3101 array is a very versatile RF Building block. It
has been carefully laid out to improve its matching
properties, bringing the distortion due to area mismatches,
thermal distribution, betas and ohmic resistances to a
minimum.
The cell is equivalent to two differential stages built as two
“variable transconductance multipliers” in parallel, with their
outputs cross coupled. This configuration is well known in
the industry as a Gilbert Cell which enables a four quadrant
multiplication operation.
Due to the input dynamic range restrictions for the input
levels at the upper quad transistors and lower tail transistors,
the HFA3101 cell has restricted use as a linear four quadrant
multiplier. However, its configuration is well suited for uses
where its linear response is limited to one of the inputs only,
as in modulators or mixer circuit applications. Examples of
these circuits are up converters, down converters, frequency
doublers and frequency/phase detectors.
Figure 1 shows the typical input waveforms where the
frequency of the carrier is higher than the modulating signal.
The output waveform shows a typical suppressed carrier
output of an up converter or an AM signal generator.
Carrier suppression capability is a property of the well known
Balanced modulator in which the output must be zero when
one or the other input (carrier or modulating signal) is equal
to zero. however, at very high frequencies, high frequency
mismatches and AC offsets are always present and the
suppression capability is often degraded causing carrier and
modulating feedthrough to be present.
Being a frequency translation circuit, the balanced modulator
has the properties of translating the modulating frequency
(ωM) to the carrier frequency (ωC), generating the two side
bands ωU = ωC + ωM and ωL = ωC - ωM. Figure 2 shows
some translating schemes being used by balanced mixers.
ωC - ωM
Although linearization is still an issue for the lower pair input,
emitter degeneration can be used to improve the dynamic
range and consequent linearity. The HFA3101 has the lower
pair emitters brought to external pins for this purpose.
In modulators applications, the upper quad transistors are
used in a switching mode where the pairs Q1/Q2 and Q3/Q4
act as non saturating high speed switches. These switches
are controlled by the signal often referred as the carrier
input. The signal driving the lower pair Q5/Q6 is commonly
used as the modulating input. This signal can be linearly
transferred to the output by either the use of low signal levels
(Well below the thermal voltage of 26mV) or by the use of
emitter degeneration. The chopped waveform appearing at
the output of the upper pair (Q1 to Q4) resembles a signal
that is multiplied by +1 or -1 at every half cycle of the
switching waveform.
ωC + ωM
ωC
FIGURE 2A. UP CONVERSION OR SUPPRESSED CARRIER AM
IF (ωC - ω M)
FOLDED BACK
ωM
ωC
CARRIER SIGNAL
+1
-1
FIGURE 2B. DOWN CONVERSION
MODULATING SIGNAL
ωC
BASEBAND
DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT
FIGURE 1. TYPICAL MODULATOR SIGNALS
3-5
ωM
FIGURE 2C. ZERO IF OR DIRECT DOWN CONVERSION
FIGURE 2. MODULATOR FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
HFA3101
The use of the HFA3101 as modulators has several
advantages when compared to its counterpart, the diode
doublebalanced mixer, in which it is required to receive
enough energy to drive the diodes into a switching mode and
has also some requirements depending on the frequency
range desired, of different transformers to suit specific
frequency responses. The HFA3101 requires very low
driving capabilities for its carrier input and its frequency
response is limited by the fT of the devices, the design and
the layout techniques being utilized.
Up conversion uses, for UHF transmitters for example, can be
performed by injecting a modulating input in the range of
45MHz to 130MHz that carries the information often called IF
(Intermediate frequency) for up conversion (The IF signal has
been previously modulated by some modulation scheme from a
baseband signal of audio or digital information) and by injecting
the signal of a local oscillator of a much higher frequency range
from 600MHz to 1.2GHz into the carrier input. Using the
example of a 850MHz carrier input and a 70MHz IF, the output
spectrum will contain a upper side band of 920MHz, a lower
side band of 780MHz and some of the carrier (850MHz) and IF
(70MHz) feedthrough. A Band pass filter at the output can
attenuate the undesirable signals and the 920MHz signal can
be routed to a transmitter RF power amplifier.
Down conversion, as the name implies, is the process used
to translate a higher frequency signal to a lower frequency
range conserving the modulation information contained in
the higher frequency signal. One very common typical down
conversion use for example, is for superheterodyne radio
receivers where a translated lower frequency often referred
as intermediate frequency (IF) is used for detection or
demodulation of the baseband signal. Other application uses
include down conversion for special filtering using frequency
translation methods.
An oscillator referred as the local oscillator (LO) drives the
upper quad transistors of the cell with a frequency called
ωC . The lower pair is driven by the RF signal of frequency
ωM to be translated to a lower frequency IF. The spectrum of
the IF output will contain the sum and difference of the
frequencies ωC and ωM. Notice that the difference can
become negative when the frequency of the local oscillator is
lower than the incoming frequency and the signal is folded
back as in Figure 2.
NOTE: The acronyms R F, IF and LO are often interchanged in the
industry depending on the application of the cell as mixers or
modulators. The output of the cell also contains multiples of the
frequency of the signal being fed to the upper quad pair of transistors
because of the switching action equivalent to a square wave
multiplication. In practice, however, not only the odd multiples in the
case of a symmetrical square wave but some of the even multiples
will also appear at the output spectrum due to the nature of the actual
switching waveform and high frequency performance. By-products of
the form M*ωC + N*ωM with M and N being positive or negative
integers are also expected to be present at the output and their levels
are carefully examined and minimized by the design. This distortion
is considered one of the figures of merit for a mixer application.
6
The process of frequency doubling is also understood by
having the same signal being fed to both modulating and
carrier ports. The output frequency will be the sum of ωC
and ωM which is equivalent to the product of the input
frequency by 2 and a zero Hz or DC frequency equivalent to
the difference of ωC and ωM . Figure 2 also shows one
technique in use today where a process of down conversion
named zero IF is made by using a local oscillator with a very
pure signal frequency equal to the incoming RF frequency
signal that contains a baseband (audio or digital signal)
modulation. Although complex, the extraction or detection of
the signal is straightforward.
Another useful application of the HFA3101 is its use as a high
frequency phase detector where the two signals are fed to the
carrier and modulation ports and the DC information is
extracted from its output. In this case, both ports are utilized in a
switching mode or overdrive, such that the process of
multiplication takes place in a quasi digital form (2 square
waves). One application of a phase detector is frequency or
phase demodulation where the FM signal is split before the
modulating and carrier ports. The lower input port is always 90
degrees apart from the carrier input signal through a high Q
tuned phase shift network. The network, being tuned for a
precise 90 degrees shift at a nominal frequency, will set the two
signals 90 degrees apart and a quiescent output DC level will
be present at the output. When the input signal is frequency
modulated, the phase shift of the signal coming from the
network will deviate from 90 degrees proportional to the
frequency deviation of the FM signal and a DC variation at the
output will take place, resembling the demodulated FM signal.
The HFA3101 could also be used for quadrature detection,
(I/Q demodulation), AGC control with limited range, low level
multiplication to name a few other applications.
Biasing
Various biasing schemes can be employed for use with the
HFA3101. Figure 3 shows the most common schemes. The
biasing method is a choice of the designer when cost,
thermal dependence, voltage overheads and DC balancing
properties are taken into consideration.
Figure 3A shows the simplest form of biasing the HFA3101.
The current source required for the lower pair is set by the
voltage across the resistor RBIAS less a VBE drop of the
lower transistor. To increase the overhead, collector resistors
are substituted by an RF choke as the upper pair functions
as a current source for AC signals. The bases of the upper
and lower transistors are biased by RB1 and RB2
respectively. The voltage drop across the resistor R2 must
be higher than a VBE with an increase sufficient to assure
that the collector to base junctions of the lower pair are
always reverse biased. Notice that this same voltage also
sets the VCE of operation of the lower pair which is important
for the optimization of gain. Resistors REE are nominally
zero for applications where the input signals are well below
25mV peak. Resistors REE are used to increase the linearity
HFA3101
compensation as the lower pair VBE drop at the rate of
-2mV/oC.
of the circuit upon higher level signals. The drop across REE
must be taken into consideration when setting the current
source value.
Figure 3C uses a split supply.
Figure 3B depicts the use of a common resistor sharing the
current through the cell which is used for temperature
VCC
VCC
RC
VCC
Q1 Q2
Q6
5
Q3 Q4
Q6
Q5
REE
RBIAS
RBIAS
6
R2
REE
4
3
2
1
REE
REE
7
5
6
8
1
4
3
RB1
4
R2
R2
2
Q5
Q3 Q4
3
Q6
REE
7
8
6
5
Q1 Q2
Q3 Q4
Q5
1
R1
2
Q1 Q2
LCH
RB1
R1
7
8
R1
LCH
LCH
RB1
REE
RBIAS
RB2
RB2
RB2
RE
RE
RE
VEE
FIGURE 3A.
FIGURE 3B.
FIGURE 3C.
FIGURE 3.
Design Example: Down Converter Mixer
Figure 4 shows an example of a low cost mixer for cellular
applications.
VCC
3V
0.1
LCH
390nH
0.01
IF OUT
5p TO 12p
5
VCC
6
8
825MHz
2K
51
7
LO IN
75MHz
0.01
Q1 Q2
Q3 Q4
Q6
3
330
2
0.01
1
Q5
RF IN
4
110
51
0.01
0.01
900MHz
220
27
FIGURE 4. 3V DOWN CONVERTER APPLICATION
3-7
The design flexibility of the HFA3101 is demonstrated by a
low cost, and low voltage mixer application at the 900MHz
range. The choice of good quality chip components with their
self resonance outside the boundaries of the application are
important. The design has been optimized to accommodate
the evaluation of the same layout for various quiescent
current values and lower supply voltages. The choice of RE
became important for the available overhead and also for
maintaining an AC true impedance for high frequency
signals. The value of 27Ω has been found to be the optimum
minimum for the application. The input impedances of the
HFA3101 base input ports are high enough to permit their
termination with 50Ω resistors. Notice the AC termination by
decoupling the bias circuit through good quality capacitors.
The choice of the bias has been related to the available
power supply voltage with the values of R1, R2 and RBIAS
splitting the voltages for optimum VCE values. For evaluation
of the cell quiescent currents, the voltage at the emitter
resistor RE has been recorded.
The gain of the circuit, being a function of the load and the
combined emitter resistances at high frequencies have been
kept to a maximum by the use of an output match network.
The high output impedance of the HFA3101 permits
HFA3101
broadband match if so desired at 50Ω (RL = 50Ω to 2kΩ) as
well as with tuned medium Q matching networks (L, T etc.).
Stability
The cell, by its nature, has very high gain and precautions
must be taken to account for the combination of signal
reflections, gain, layout and package parasitics. The rule of
thumb of avoiding reflected waves must be observed. It is
important to assure good matching between the mixer stage
and its front end. Laboratory measurements have shown
some susceptibility for oscillation at the upper quad
transistors input. Any LO prefiltering has to be designed
such the return loss is maintained within acceptable limits
specially at high frequencies. Typical off the shelf filters
exhibits very poor return loss for signals outside the
passband. It is suggested that a “pad” or a broadband
resistive network be used to interface the LO port with a
filter. The inclusion of a parallel 2K resistor in the load
decreases the gain slightly which improves the stability
factor and also improves the distortion products (output
intermodulation or 3rd order intercept). The employment of
good RF techniques shall suffice the stability requirements.
Evaluation
The evaluation of the HFA3101 in a mixer configuration is
presented in Figures 6 to 11, Table 1 and Table 2. The layout
is depicted in Figure 5.
setup as in Table 1. S22 characterization is enough to assure
the calculation of L, T or transmission line matching
networks.
TABLE 1. S22 PARAMETERS FOR DOWN CONVERSION,
LCH = 10µH
FREQUENCY
RESISTANCE
REACTANCE
10MHz
265Ω
615Ω
45MHz
420Ω
- 735Ω
75MHz
122Ω
- 432Ω
100MHz
67Ω
- 320Ω
TABLE 2. TYPICAL PARAMETERS FOR DOWN
CONVERSION, LCH = 10µH
LO LEVEL
VCC = 3V,
IBIAS = 8mA
Power Gain
-6dBm
8.5dB
TOI Output
-6dBm
11.5dBm
NF SSB
-6dBm
14.5dB
Power Gain
0dBm
8.6dB
TOI Output
0dBm
11dBm
NF SSB
0dBm
15dB
LO LEVEL
VCC = 4V,
IBIAS = 19mA
PARAMETER
PARAMETER
Power Gain
-6dBm
10dB
TOI Output
-6dBm
13dBm
NF SSB
-6dBm
20dB
Power Gain
0dBm
11dB
TOI Output
0dBm
12.5dBm
NF SSB
0dBm
24dB
TABLE 3. TYPICAL VALUES OF S22 FOR THE OUTPUT PORT.
LCH = 390nH IBIAS = 8mA (SET UP OF FIGURE 11)
FREQUENCY
RESISTANCE
REACTANCE
300MHz
22Ω
-115Ω
600MHz
7.5Ω
-43Ω
900MHz
5.2Ω
-14Ω
1.1GHz
3.9Ω
0Ω
TABLE 4. TYPICAL VALUES OF S22. LCH = 390nH, IBIAS = 18mA
FIGURE 5. UP/DOWN CONVERTER LAYOUT, 400%;
MATERIAL G10, 0.031
The output matching network has been designed from data
taken at the output port at various test frequencies with the
8
FREQUENCY
RESISTANCE
REACTANCE
300MHz
23.5Ω
-110Ω
600MHz
10.3Ω
-39Ω
900MHz
8.7Ω
-14Ω
1.1GHz
8Ω
0Ω
HFA3101
Up Converter Example
An application for a up converter as well as a frequency
multiplier can be demonstrated using the same layout, with
an addition of matching components. The output port S22
must be characterized for proper matching procedures and
depending on the frequency desired for the output,
transmission line transformations can be designed. The
return loss of the input ports maintain acceptable values in
excess of 1.2GHz which can permit the evaluation of a
frequency doubler to 2.4GHz if so desired.
The addition of the resistors REE can increase considerably
the dynamic range of the up converter as demonstrated at
Figure 13. The evaluation results depicted in Table 5 have
been obtained by a triple stub tuner as a matching network
for the output due to the layout constraints. Based on the
evaluation results it is clear that the cell requires a higher
Bias current for overall performance.
VCC 3V
LCH
S11 LOG MAG
0dB
5dB/DIV
0.1
2K
5
6
7
8
4V
3V
Q6
4
2
1
Q5
Q3 Q4
3
Q1 Q2
100MHz
FIGURE 6. OUTPUT PORT S22 TEST SET UP
0dB
10dB/DIV
FIGURE 7. LO PORT RETURN LOSS
S22 LOG MAG
S11 LOG MAG
0dB
5dB/DIV
100MHz
110MHz
10MHz
1.1GHz
FIGURE 8. RF PORT RETURN LOSS
FIGURE 9. IF PORT RETURN LOSS, WITH MATCHING
NETWORK
RF = 901MHz - 25dBm
LO = 825MHz -6dBm
10dB/
DIV
1.1GHz
RF = 900MHz -25dBm
LO = 825MHz -6dBm
10dB/
DIV
-17dBm
-26dBm
-36dBm
-53dBm
64M
11*LO - 10RF
76MHz
IF
88M
12RF - 13LO
FIGURE 10. TYPICAL IN BAND OUTPUT SPECTRUM, VCC = 3V
3-9
-58dBm
SPAN
40MHz
SPAN
500MHz
675 750
LO - 2RF
825
900
975
LO + 2RF
FIGURE 11. TYPICAL OUT OF BAND OUTPUT SPECTRUM
HFA3101
Design Example: Up Converter Mixer
TABLE 5. TYPICAL PARAMETERS FOR THE UP
CONVERTER EXAMPLE
Figure 12 shows an example of an up converter for cellular
applications.
VCC = 3V,
IBIAS = 8mA
VCC = 4V,
IBIAS = 18mA
Power Gain, LO = -6dBm
3dB
5.5dBm
Power Gain, LO = 0dBm
4dB
7.2dB
RF Isolation, LO = 0dBm
15dBc
22dBc
LO Isolation, LO = 0dBm
28dBc
28dBc
PARAMETER
Conclusion
The HFA3101 offers the designer a number of choices and
different applications as a powerful RF building block.
Although isolation is degraded from the theoretical results for
the cell due to the unbalanced, nondifferential input schemes
being used, a number of advantages can be taken into
consideration like cost, flexibility, low power and small outline
when deciding for a design.
VCC 3V
0.1
47-100pF
LO IN
0.01
390nH
825MHz
0.01
5.2nH
900MHz
51
5
6
3V
7
VCC
8
11p
0.01
110
Q1 Q2
Q5
0.01
Q3 Q4
Q6
REE
4
3
2
1
0.01
330
REE
RF IN
75MHz
51
0.01
220
27
FIGURE 12. UP CONVERTER
OUTPUT WITHOUT EMITTER DEGENERATION
890
2LO - 10RF
901
912
12RF
OUTPUT WITH EMITTER DEGENERATION REE = 4.7Ω
SPAN
50MHz
EXPANDED SPECTRUM REE = 4.7Ω
825
RF = 76MHz
LO = 825MHz
FIGURE 13. TYPICAL SPECTRUM PERFORMANCE OF UP CONVERTER
10
900
976
HFA3101
Typical Performance Curves for Transistors
140
70
VCE = 5V
IB = 1mA
120
IB = 800µA
100
IB = 600µA
80
60
hFE
IC (mA)
50
40
IB = 400µA
60
30
40
IB = 200µA
20
20
10
0
0
10-10
0
2.0
4.0
10-8
10-6
6.0
VCE (V)
FIGURE 14. IC vs VCE
100
12
VCE = 3V
10-2
10
10-4
8
fT (GHz)
10-6
6
10-8
4
10-10
2
0.40
0.60
VBE (V)
0.80
0
10-4
1.0
10-3
NOISE FIGURE (dB)
FIGURE 16. GUMMEL PLOT
FIGURE 17. fT vs IC
4.8
20
4.6
18
4.4
16
4.2
14
4.0
12
3.8
10
3.6
8
3.4
6
3.2
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
4
3.0
FREQUENCY (GHz)
FIGURE 18. GAIN AND NOISE FIGURE vs FREQUENCY
NOTE: Figures 14 through 18 are only for Q5 and Q6.
3-11
10-2
IC (A)
|S21| (dB)
IC AND IB (A)
10-2
FIGURE 15. HFE vs IC
100
10-12
0.20
10-4
IC (A)
10-1
HFA3101
Die Characteristics
PROCESS
PASSIVATION:
UHF-1
Type: Nitride
Thickness: 4kÅ ±0.5kÅ
DIE DIMENSIONS:
SUBSTRATE POTENTIAL (Powered Up):
53 mils x 52 mils x 14 mils
1340µm x 1320µm x 355.6µm
Floating
METALLIZATION:
Type: Metal 1: AlCu(2%)/TiW
Thickness: Metal 1: 8kÅ ±0.5kÅ
Type: Metal 2: AlCu(2%)
Thickness: Metal 2: 16kÅ ±0.8kÅ
Metallization Mask Layout
HFA3101
7
7
6
6
8
5
8
5
1
4
1
4
2
2
3
3
All Intersil semiconductor products are manufactured, assembled and tested under ISO9000 quality systems certification.
Intersil semiconductor products are sold by description only. Intersil Corporation reserves the right to make changes in circuit design and/or specifications at any time without
notice. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned to verify that data sheets are current before placing orders. Information furnished by Intersil is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by Intersil or its subsidiaries for its use; nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from
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