RF3146D 0 DUAL-BAND GSM900/DCS POWER AMP MODULE Typical Applications • 3V Dual-Band GSM Handsets • EGSM900/DCS Products • Commercial and Consumer Systems • GPRS Class 12 Compatible • Portable Battery-Powered Equipment • Power StarTM Module Product Description -A- The RF3146 is a high-power, high-efficiency power amplifier module with integrated power control. The device is a self-contained 7mmx7mmx0.9mm lead frame module (LFM) with 50Ω input and output terminals. The power control function is also incorporated, eliminating the need for directional couplers, detector diodes, power control ASICs and other power control circuitry; this allows the module to be driven directly from the DAC output. The device is designed for use as the final RF amplifier in EGSM900 and DCS handheld digital cellular equipment and other applications in the 880MHz to 915MHz and 1710MHz to 1785MHz bands. On-board power control provides over 50dB of control range with an analog voltage input; and, power down with a logic “low” for standby operation. Optimum Technology Matching® Applied 9 Si BJT GaAs HBT Si Bi-CMOS SiGe HBT InGaP/HBT GaN HEMT 7.00 TYP 0.10 C A 2 PLCS 0.08 C 0.90 0.85 0.70 0.65 6.75 TYP 0.05 0.00 0.10 C B 2 PLCS 2 PLCS 0.10 C B -B- 3.37 TYP 3.50 TYP 2 PLCS 0.10 C A -C- SEATING PLANE Dimensions in mm. 0.10M C A B 0.60 TYP 0.24 0.30 0.18 0.50 0.60 TYP 0.24 2.20 1.90 Shaded lead is pin 1. 0.30 0.50 TYP 0.30 5.25 4.95 Package Style: LFM, 48-Pin, 7mm x7mmx0.9mm GaAs MESFET 9Si CMOS SiGe Bi-CMOS 3146 Features • Integrated VREG • Complete Power Control Solution • +35dBm GSM Output Power at 3.5V DCS IN 37 31 DCS OUT BAND SELECT 40 • 60% GSM and 55% DCS EFF TX ENABLE 41 VBATT 42 • +33dBm DCS Output Power at 3.5V • 7mmx7mmx0.9mm Package Size Fully Integrated Power Control Circuit VBATT 43 Ordering Information VRAMP 45 GSM IN 48 Functional Block Diagram Rev A11 060719 6 GSM OUT RF3146D RF3146D SB RF3146DPCBA-41X Dual-Band GSM900/DCS Power Amp Module Power Amp Module 5-Piece Sample Pack Fully Assembled Evaluation Board RF Micro Devices, Inc. 7628 Thorndike Road Greensboro, NC 27409, USA Tel (336) 664 1233 Fax (336) 664 0454 http://www.rfmd.com 2-491 RF3146D Absolute Maximum Ratings Parameter Supply Voltage Power Control Voltage (VRAMP) Input RF Power Max Duty Cycle Output Load VSWR Operating Case Temperature Storage Temperature Parameter Rating Unit -0.3 to +6.0 -0.3 to +1.8 +10 50 10:1 -20 to +85 -55 to +150 VDC V dBm % °C °C Specification Min. Typ. Max. Caution! ESD sensitive device. RF Micro Devices believes the furnished information is correct and accurate at the time of this printing. However, RF Micro Devices reserves the right to make changes to its products without notice. RF Micro Devices does not assume responsibility for the use of the described product(s). Unit Condition Overall Power Control VRAMP Power Control “ON” Power Control “OFF” VRAMP Input Capacitance VRAMP Input Current Turn On/Off Time TX Enable “ON” TX Enable “OFF” GSM Band Enable DCS/PCS Band Enable 0.2 15 1.5 0.25 20 10 2 1.4 0.5 0.5 1.4 V V pF μA μs V V V V Max. POUT, Voltage supplied to the input Min. POUT, Voltage supplied to the input DC to 2MHz VRAMP =VRAMP MAX VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP MAX V V μA Specifications Nominal operating limits PIN <-30dBm, TX Enable=Low, Temp=-20°C to +85°C VRAMP =0.2V, TX Enable=High Overall Power Supply Power Supply Voltage 3.0 Power Supply Current 3.5 5.5 1 mA Overall Control Signals Band Select “Low” Band Select “High” Band Select “High” Current TX Enable “Low” TX Enable “High” TX Enable “High” Current 2-492 0 1.4 0 1.4 0 2.0 20 0 2.0 1 0.5 3.0 50 0.5 3.0 2 V V μA V V μA Rev A11 060719 RF3146D Parameter Specification Min. Typ. Max. Unit Temp=+25 °C, VBATT =3.5V, VRAMP =VRAMP MAX, PIN =3dBm, Freq=880MHz to 915MHz, 25% Duty Cycle, Pulse Width=1154μs Overall (GSM900 Mode) Operating Frequency Range Maximum Output Power Total Efficiency Input Power Range Condition +34 880 to 915 MHz dBm 32 dBm 53 0 Output Noise Power Forward Isolation 1 Forward Isolation 2 Cross Band Isolation 2f0 Second Harmonic Third Harmonic All Other Non-Harmonic Spurious Input Impedance Input VSWR Output Load VSWR Stability 8:1 Output Load VSWR Ruggedness 10:1 58 +3 +5 % dBm -86 -80 dBm -88 -84 dBm -45 -30 -35 -15 -15 -10 -15 -36 dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm -15 -25 Temp = 25°C, VBATT =3.5V, VRAMP =VRAMP MAX Temp=+85 °C, VBATT =3.0V, VRAMP =VRAMP MAX At POUT MAX, VBATT =3.5V Maximum output power guaranteed at minimum drive level RBW=100kHz, 925MHz to 935MHz, POUT > +5dBm RBW=100kHz, 935MHz to 960MHz, POUT > +5dBm TXEnable=Low, PIN =+5dBm TXEnable=High, VRAMP =0.2V, PIN =+5dBm VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP =VRAMP_RP VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP =VRAMP_RP VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP =VRAMP_RP VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP MAX Ω 50 50 Ω VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP MAX Spurious<-36dBm, RBW=3MHz Set VRAMP where POUT <34dBm into 50Ω load Set VRAMP where POUT <34dBm into 50Ω load. No damage or permanent degradation to part. Load impedance presented at RF OUT pad Power Control Range 50 Notes: VRAMP MAX =0.4*VBATT +0.06<1.5V VRAMP_RP =VRAMP set for 34dBm at nominal conditions dB VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP MAX Output Load Impedance 2.5:1 Power Control VRAMP Rev A11 060719 2-493 RF3146D Parameter Specification Min. Typ. Max. Unit Temp=25°C, VBATT =3.5V, VRAMP =VRAMP MAX, PIN =3dBm, Freq=1710MHz to 1785MHz, 25% Duty Cycle, pulse width=1154μs Overall (DCS Mode) Operating Frequency Range Maximum Output Power Total Efficiency Input Power Range +31.5 1710 to 1785 MHz dBm 29.5 dBm 52 +3 +5 % dBm Output Noise Power -85 -80 dBm Forward Isolation 1 Forward Isolation 2 Second Harmonic Third Harmonic All Other Non-Harmonic Spurious Input Impedance Input VSWR Output Load VSWR Stability -50 -25 -15 -20 -35 -15 -7 -15 -36 dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm 8:1 Output Load VSWR Ruggedness 10:1 Output Load Impedance Condition 44 0 Ω 50 Ω VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP MAX Spurious<-36dBm, RBW=3MHz Set VRAMP where POUT <31.5dBm into 50Ω load Set VRAMP where POUT <31.5dBm into 50Ω load. No damage or permanent degradation to part. Load impedance presented at RF OUT pin dB VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP MAX, PIN =+5dBm 2.5:1 50 Temp=25°C, VBATT =3.5V, VRAMP =VRAMP MAX Temp=+85°C, VBATT =3.0V, VRAMP =VRAMP MAX At POUT MAX, VBATT =3.5V Maximum output power guaranteed at minimum drive level RBW=100kHz, 1805MHz to 1880MHz, POUT > 0dBm, VBATT =3.5V TXEnable=Low, PIN =+5dBm TXEnable=High, VRAMP =0.2V, PIN =+5dBm VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP =VRAMP_RP VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP =VRAMP_RP VRAMP =0.2V to VRAMP MAX Power Control VRAMP Power Control Range 50 Notes: VRAMP MAX =0.4*VBATT +0.06<1.5V VRAMP_RP =VRAMP set for 31.5dBm at nominal conditions 2-494 Rev A11 060719 RF3146D Pin 1 2 3 4 5 6 Function Description Interface Schematic Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. NC VCC2 GSM Controlled voltage input to the GSM driver stage. This voltage is part of VCC2 the power control function for the module. This node must be connected to VCC OUT. This pin should be externally decoupled. NC GND GND GSM900 OUT 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 GND NC NC NC NC NC NC NC NC NC NC VCC3 GSM 19 VCC OUT 20 VCC OUT 21 VCC3 DCS 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NC NC NC NC NC NC NC NC GND Rev A11 060719 Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internally connected to the package base. Internally connected to the package base. RF output for the GSM band. This is a 50Ω output. The output matching circuit and DC-block are internal to the package. VCC3 Output Match RF OUT Internally connected to the package base. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. No internal or external connection. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Controlled voltage input to the GSM output stage. This voltage is part of the power control function for the module. This node must be connected to VCC OUT. This pin should be externally decoupled. Controlled voltage output to feed VCC2 and VCC3. This voltage is part of the power control function for the module. It cannot be connected to any pins other than VCC2 and VCC3. Controlled voltage output to feed VCC2 and VCC3. This voltage is part of the power control function for the module. It cannot be connected to any pins other than VCC2 and VCC3. Controlled voltage input to the DCS output stage. This voltage is part of the power control function for the module. This node must be connected to VCC OUT. This pin should be externally decoupled. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. VCC3 See pin 18. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. No internal or external connection. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internally connected to the package base. 2-495 RF3146D Pin 31 Function DCS OUT 32 33 34 35 GND NC GND VCC2 DCS 36 NC 37 DCS IN Description Interface Schematic RF output for the DCS band. This is a 50Ω output. The output matching circuit and DC-block are internal to the package. Internally connected to the package base. See pin 6. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Internally connected to the package base. Controlled voltage input to the DCS driver stage. This voltage is part of the power control function for the module. This node must be connected to VCC OUT. This pin should be externally decoupled. No internal connection. Connect to ground plane close to the package pin. RF input to the DCS band. This is a 50Ω output. See pin 2. VCC1 RF IN 38 NC 39 VCC1 DCS 40 BAND SEL No internal connection. Connect to ground plane close to the package pin. Controlled voltage on the GSM and DCS preamplifier stages. This voltage is applied internal to the package. This pin should be externally decoupled. Allows external control to select the GSM or DCS bands with a logic high or low. A logic low enables the GSM bands, whereas a logic high enables the DCS/PCS bands. VCC1 BAND SEL GSM CTRL TX EN DCS CTRL 41 TX ENABLE This signal enables the PA module for operation with a logic high. Both bands are disabled with a logic low. VBATT TX EN 42 VBATT 43 VBATT 44 45 NC VRAMP Power supply for the module. This pin should be externally decoupled and connected to the battery. Power supply for the module. This pin should be externally decoupled and connected to the battery. Internal circuit node. Do not externally connect. Ramping signal from DAC. A simple RC filter may be required depending on the selected baseband. VRAMP 46 VCC1 GSM 47 GND1 GSM 48 GSM850/ GSM900 IN GND Pkg Base 2-496 TX ON Internally connected to VCC1 (pin 39). No external connection required. Ground connection for the GSM preamplifier stage. Connect to ground plane close to the package pin. RF input to the GSM band. This is a 50Ω input. + See pin 39. See pin 37. Connect to ground plane with multiple via holes. See recommended footprint. Rev A11 060719 RF3146D GSM900 IN GND1 GSM vcc1 GSM VRAMP NC VBATT VBATT TX ENABLE BAND SEL VCC1 DCS NC DCS IN Pin Out 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 NC NC 1 VCC2 GSM 2 35 34 GND NC 3 GND 4 33 NC GND 5 32 GND 31 DCS OUT GSM900 OUT 6 30 GND GND 7 Rev A11 060719 VCC2 DCS 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 NC NC NC 25 NC VCC3 DCS NC 12 VCC OUT 26 NC VCC OUT NC 11 VCC3 GSM 27 NC NC NC 10 NC 28 NC NC NC 9 NC 29 NC NC NC 8 2-497 RF3146D Application Schematic TX EN BAND SEL VBATT VRAMP VCC1 4.7 μF 15 kΩ 1 nF GSM900 IN DCS IN 48 1 1 nF 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 From VCC1 VCC 2 35 3 34 4 33 Fully Integrated Power Control Circuit 5 GSM900 OUT 1 nF 32 6 31 7 30 8 29 9 28 10 27 11 26 12 DCS OUT 25 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 100 pF 10 nF 2-498 Rev A11 060719 RF3146D Evaluation Board Schematic TX EN BAND SEL R2 100 kΩ R3 100 kΩ VRAMP R4 100 kΩ 50 Ω μstrip R1 15 kΩ GSM900 IN 48 1 C9 1 nF 47 46 45 VBATT VCC1 C6 1 nF C2 4.7 μF 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 50 Ω μstrip DCS IN 37 36 From VCC1 VCC 2 35 3 34 4 33 5 32 6 31 7 30 8 29 9 28 10 27 11 26 12 25 13 14 15 16 17 18 C13 100 pF Rev A11 060719 C8 1 nF 50 Ω μstrip 50 Ω μstrip GSM900 OUT C4 DNP 19 20 21 22 23 DCS OUT 24 C10 10 nF 2-499 RF3146D Evaluation Board Layout Board Size 2.0” x 2.0” Board Thickness 0.032”, Board Material FR-4, Multi-Layer 2-500 Rev A11 060719 RF3146D Theory of Operation Overview The RF3146 is a dual-band EGSM900 and DCS1800 power amplifier module that incorporates an indirect closed loop method of power control. This simplifies the phone design by eliminating the need for the complicated control loop design. The indirect closed loop appears as an open loop to the user and can be driven directly from the DAC output in the baseband circuit. Theory of Operation The indirect closed loop is essentially a closed loop method of power control that is invisible to the user. Most power control systems in GSM sense either forward power or collector/drain current. The RF3146 does not use a power detector. A high-speed control loop is incorporated to regulate the collector voltage of the amplifier while the stage are held at a constant bias. The VRAMP signal is multiplied by a factor of 2.65 and the collector voltage for the second and third stages are regulated to the multiplied VRAMP voltage. The basic circuit is shown in the following diagram. VBATT TX ENABLE VRAMP H(s) RF IN RF OUT TX ENABLE By regulating the power, the stages are held in saturation across all power levels. As the required output power is decreased from full power down to 0dBm, the collector voltage is also decreased. This regulation of output power is demonstrated in Equation 1 where the relationship between collector voltage and output power is shown. Although load impedance affects output power, supply fluctuations are the dominate mode of power variations. With the RF3146 regulating collector voltage, the dominant mode of power fluctuations is eliminated. 2 P dBm ( 2 ⋅ V CC – V SAT ) = 10 ⋅ log ------------------------------------------–3 8 ⋅ R LOAD ⋅ 10 (Eq. 1) There are several key factors to consider in the implementation of a transmitter solution for a mobile phone. Some of them are: • • • • • • • • • • Current draw and system efficiency Power variation due to Supply Voltage Power variation due to frequency Power variation due to temperature Input impedance variation Noise power Loop stability Loop bandwidth variations across power levels Burst timing and transient spectrum trade offs Harmonics Rev A11 060719 2-501 RF3146D Output power does not vary due to supply voltage under normal operating conditions if VRAMP is sufficiently lower than VBATT. By regulating the collector voltage to the PA the voltage sensitivity is essentially eliminated. This covers most cases where the PA will be operated. However, as the battery discharges and approaches its lower power range the maximum output power from the PA will also drop slightly. In this case it is important to also decrease VRAMP to prevent the power control from inducing switching transients. These transients occur as a result of the control loop slowing down and not regulating power in accordance with VRAMP. The switching transients due to low battery conditions are regulated by incorporating the following relationship limiting the maximum VRAMP voltage (Equation 2). Although no compensation is required for typical battery conditions, the battery compensation required for extreme conditions is covered by the relationship in Equation 2. This should be added to the terminal software. V RAMPMAX = 0.4 ⋅ V BATT + 0.06 ≤ 1.5V (Eq. 2) Due to reactive output matches, there are output power variations across frequency. There are a number of components that can make the effects greater or less. The components following the power amplifier often have insertion loss variation with respect to frequency. Usually, there is some length of microstrip that follows the power amplifier. There is also a frequency response found in directional couplers due to variation in the coupling factor over frequency, as well as the sensitivity of the detector diode. Since the RF3146 does not use a directional coupler with a diode detector, these variations do not occur. Input impedance variation is found in most GSM power amplifiers. This is due to a device phenomena where CBE and CCB (CGS and CSG for a FET) vary over the bias voltage. The same principle used to make varactors is present in the power amplifiers. The junction capacitance is a function of the bias across the junction. This produces input impedance variations as the Vapc voltage is swept. Although this could present a problem with frequency pulling the transmit VCO off frequency, most synthesizer designers use very wide loop bandwidths to quickly compensate for frequency variations due to the load variations presented to the VCO. The RF3146 presents a very constant load to the VCO. This is because all stages of the RF3146 are run at constant bias. As a result, there is constant reactance at the base emitter and base collector junction of the input stage to the power amplifier. Noise power in PA's where output power is controlled by changing the bias voltage is often a problem when backing off of output power. The reason is that the gain is changed in all stages and according to the noise formula (Equation 3), F2 – 1 F3 – 1 F TOT = F1 + ---------------- + ------------------G1 G1 ⋅ G2 (Eq. 3) the noise figure depends on noise factor and gain in all stages. Because the bias point of the RF3146 is kept constant the gain in the first stage is always high and the overall noise power is not increased when decreasing output power. Power control loop stability often presents many challenges to transmitter design. Designing a proper power control loop involves trade-offs affecting stability, transient spectrum and burst timing. In conventional architectures the PA gain (dB/ V) varies across different power levels, and as a result the loop bandwidth also varies. With some power amplifiers it is possible for the PA gain (control slope) to change from 100dB/V to as high as 1000dB/V. The challenge in this scenario is keeping the loop bandwidth wide enough to meet the burst mask at low slope regions which often causes instability at high slope regions. The RF3146 loop bandwidth is determined by internal bandwidth and the RF output load and does not change with respect to power levels. This makes it easier to maintain loop stability with a high bandwidth loop since the bias voltage and collector voltage do not vary. 2-502 Rev A11 060719 RF3146D An often overlooked problem in PA control loops is that a delay not only decreases loop stability it also affects the burst timing when, for instance the input power from the VCO decreases (or increases) with respect to temperature or supply voltage. The burst timing then appears to shift to the right especially at low power levels. The RF3146 is insensitive to a change in input power and the burst timing is constant and requires no software compensation. Switching transients occur when the up and down ramp of the burst is not smooth enough or suddenly changes shape. If the control slope of a PA has an inflection point within the output power range or if the slope is simply too steep it is difficult to prevent switching transients. Controlling the output power by changing the collector voltage is as earlier described based on the physical relationship between voltage swing and output power. Furthermore all stages are kept constantly biased so inflection points are nonexistent. Harmonics are natural products of high efficiency power amplifier design. An ideal class “E” saturated power amplifier will produce a perfect square wave. Looking at the Fourier transform of a square wave reveals high harmonic content. Although this is common to all power amplifiers, there are other factors that contribute to conducted harmonic content as well. With most power control methods a peak power diode detector is used to rectify and sense forward power. Through the rectification process there is additional squaring of the waveform resulting in higher harmonics. The RF3146 address this by eliminating the need for the detector diode. Therefore the harmonics coming out of the PA should represent the maximum power of the harmonics throughout the transmit chain. This is based upon proper harmonic termination of the transmit port. The receive port termination on the T/R switch as well as the harmonic impedance from the switch itself will have an impact on harmonics. Should a problem arise, these terminations should be explored. The RF3146 incorporates many circuits that had previously been required external to the power amplifier. The shaded area of the diagram below illustrates those components and the following table itemizes a comparison between the RF3146 Bill of Materials and a conventional solution. Component Power Control ASIC Directional Coupler Buffer Attenuator Various Passives Mounting Yield (other than PA) Total Conventional Solution $0.80 $0.20 $0.05 $0.05 $0.05 $0.12 RF3146 $1.27 $0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 14 2 13 3 12 4 11 5 10 6 9 7 8 From DAC *Shaded area eliminated with Indirect Closed Loop using RF3146 Rev A11 060719 2-503 RF3146D PCB Design Requirements PCB Surface Finish The PCB surface finish used for RFMD’s qualification process is electroless nickel, immersion gold. Typical thickness is 3μinch to 8μinch gold over 180μinch nickel. PCB Land Pattern Recommendation PCB land patterns are based on IPC-SM-782 standards when possible. The pad pattern shown has been developed and tested for optimized assembly at RFMD; however, it may require some modifications to address company specific assembly processes. The PCB land pattern has been developed to accommodate lead and package tolerances. PCB Metal Land Pattern A = 0.64 x 0.28 (mm) Typ. B = 0.28 x 0.64 (mm) Typ. C = 5.65 (mm) Sq. 5.50 Typ. Dimensions in mm. 0.50 Typ. Pin 48 B B B B B B B B B B B B Pin 1 0.50 Typ. A A A A A A A A A A A C A 0.55 Typ. Pin 36 A A A A A A A A A A 2.75 5.50 Typ. A A B B B B B B B B B B B B Pin 24 0.55 Typ. 2.75 Figure 1. PCB Metal Land Pattern (Top View) 2-504 Rev A11 060719 RF3146D PCB Solder Mask Pattern Liquid Photo-Imageable (LPI) solder mask is recommended. The solder mask footprint will match what is shown for the PCB metal land pattern with a 2mil to 3mil expansion to accommodate solder mask registration clearance around all pads. The center-grounding pad shall also have a solder mask clearance. Expansion of the pads to create solder mask clearance can be provided in the master data or requested from the PCB fabrication supplier. A = 0.74 x 0.38 (mm) Typ. B = 0.38 x 0.74 (mm) Typ. C = 5.25 x 2.20 (mm) 5.50 Typ. Dimensions in mm. 0.50 Typ. Pin 48 B B B B B B B B B B B B Pin 1 0.50 Typ. 0.55 Typ. A A A A A A A A A A A A C Pin 36 A A A A A A A A A A A A 1.95 5.50 Typ. B B B B B B B B B B B B Pin 24 0.55 Typ. 2.75 Figure 2. PCB Solder Mask Pattern (Top View) Thermal Pad and Via Design Thermal vias are required in the PCB layout to effectively conduct heat away from the package. The via pattern has been designed to address thermal, power dissipation and electrical requirements of the device as well as accommodating routing strategies. The via pattern used for the RFMD qualification is based on thru-hole vias with 0.203mm to 0.330mm finished hole size on a 0.5mm to 1.2mm grid pattern with 0.025mm plating on via walls. If micro vias are used in a design, it is suggested that the quantity of vias be increased by a 4:1 ratio to achieve similar results. Rev A11 060719 2-505 RF3146D 2-506 Rev A11 060719