HMC-ALH444 v03.0410 AMPLIFIERS - LOW NOISE - CHIP 1 GaAs HEMT MMIC LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER, 1 - 12 GHz Typical Applications Features This HMC-ALH444 is ideal for: Noise Figure: 1.75 dB @ 10 GHz • Wideband Communication Systems Gain: 17 dB • Surveillance Systems P1dB Output Power: +19 dBm @ 5 GHz • Point-to-Point Radios Supply Voltage: +5V @ 55 mA • Point-to-Multi-Point Radios Die Size: 2.64 x 1.64 x 0.1 mm • Military & Space • Test Instrumentation * VSAT General Description Functional Diagram The HMC-ALH444 is a GaAs MMIC HEMT Low Noise Wideband Amplifier die which operates between 1 and 12 GHz. The amplifier provides 17 dB of gain, 1.5 dB noise figure and +19 dBm of output power at 1 dB gain compression while requiring only 55 mA from a +5V supply voltage. Electrical Specifi cations*, TA = +25° C, Vdd= +5V Parameter Min. Frequency Range Gain Gain Variation over Temperature Typ. Max. 1 - 12 15 Units GHz 17 dB 0.02 dB / °C Noise Figure 1.5 2 dB Input Return Loss 10 Output Return Loss 14 dB Output IP3 28 dBm Output Power for 1 dB Compression 19 dBm Supply Current (Idd) (Vdd = 5V, Vgg1 = -0.5V Typ., Vgg2 = 1.5V Typ) 55 mA dB *Unless otherwise indicated, all measurements are from probed die 1 - 186 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 [email protected] HMC-ALH444 v03.0410 GaAs HEMT MMIC LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER, 1 - 12 GHz 20 2.5 18 NOISE FIGURE (dB) 16 GAIN (dB) 14 12 10 8 6 2 1.5 1 0.5 4 2 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 FREQUENCY (GHz) FREQUENCY (GHz) Input Return Loss vs. Frequency Output Return Loss vs. Frequency 0 0 RETURN LOSS (dB) RETURN LOSS (dB) -5 -5 -10 -15 -10 -15 -20 -25 -30 AMPLIFIERS - LOW NOISE - CHIP 1 Noise Figure vs. Frequency Linear Gain vs. Frequency -35 -20 -40 0 2 4 6 8 FREQUENCY (GHz) 10 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 FREQUENCY (GHz) 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 [email protected] 1 - 187 HMC-ALH444 v03.0410 GaAs HEMT MMIC LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER, 1 - 12 GHz AMPLIFIERS - LOW NOISE - CHIP 1 Absolute Maximum Ratings Drain Bias Voltage +5.5 Vdc RF Input Power 12 dBm Gate Bias Voltage Vgg1 -1 to 0.3 Vdc Gate Bias Voltage Vgg2 0 to 2.5 Vdc Thermal Resistance (channel to die bottom) 109 °C/W Channel Temperature 180 °C Storage Temperature -65 to +150 °C Operating Temperature -55 to +85 °C ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICE OBSERVE HANDLING PRECAUTIONS Outline Drawing Die Packaging Information [1] NOTES: 1. ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MM]. Standard Alternate GP-1 (Gel Pack) [2] [1] Refer to the “Packaging Information” section for die packaging dimensions. [2] For alternate packaging information contact Hittite Microwave Corporation. 1 - 188 2. TYPICAL BOND PAD IS .004” SQUARE. 3. BACKSIDE METALLIZATION: GOLD. 4. BACKSIDE METAL IS GROUND. 5. BOND PAD METALLIZATION: GOLD. 6. CONNECTION NOT REQUIRED FOR UNLABELED BOND PADS. 7. OVERALL DIE SIZE ±.002” 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 [email protected] HMC-ALH444 v03.0410 GaAs HEMT MMIC LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER, 1 - 12 GHz Pad Number Function Description 1 RFIN This pad is AC coupled and matched to 50 Ohms. 2 RFOUT This pad is AC coupled and matched to 50 Ohms. 3 Vdd Power Supply Voltage for the amplifier. See assembly for required external components. 4, 5 Vgg1, Vgg2 Gate control for amplifier. Please follow “MMIC Amplifier Biasing Procedure” application note. See assembly for required external components. Die bottom GND Die bottom must be connected to RF/DC ground. Interface Schematic 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 [email protected] AMPLIFIERS - LOW NOISE - CHIP 1 Pad Descriptions 1 - 189 HMC-ALH444 v03.0410 GaAs HEMT MMIC LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER, 1 - 12 GHz Assembly Diagram AMPLIFIERS - LOW NOISE - CHIP 1 Note 1: Bypass caps should be 100 pF (approximately) ceramic (single-layer) placed no farther than 30 mils from the amplifier. Note 2: Best performance obtained from use of <10 mil (long) by 3 by 0.5mil ribbons on input and output. 1 - 190 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 [email protected] HMC-ALH444 v03.0410 GaAs HEMT MMIC LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER, 1 - 12 GHz The die should be attached directly to the ground plane eutectically or with conductive epoxy (see HMC general Handling, Mounting, Bonding Note). 50 Ohm Microstrip transmission lines on 0.127mm (5 mil) thick alumina thin film substrates are recommended for bringing RF to and from the chip (Figure 1). If 0.254mm (10 mil) thick alumina thin film substrates must be used, the die should be raised 0.150mm (6 mils) so that the surface of the die is coplanar with the surface of the substrate. One way to accomplish this is to attach the 0.102mm (4 mil) thick die to a 0.150mm (6 mil) thick molybdenum heat spreader (moly-tab) which is then attached to the ground plane (Figure 2). 0.102mm (0.004”) Thick GaAs MMIC Wire Bond 0.076mm (0.003”) RF Ground Plane Microstrip substrates should be placed as close to the die as possible in order to minimize bond wire length. Typical die-to-substrate spacing is 0.076mm to 0.152 mm (3 to 6 mils). 0.127mm (0.005”) Thick Alumina Thin Film Substrate Figure 1. Handling Precautions Follow these precautions to avoid permanent damage. Storage: All bare die are placed in either Waffle or Gel based ESD protective containers, and then sealed in an ESD protective bag for shipment. Once the sealed ESD protective bag has been opened, all die should be stored in a dry nitrogen environment. Cleanliness: Handle the chips in a clean environment. DO NOT attempt to clean the chip using liquid cleaning systems. Static Sensitivity: strikes. 0.102mm (0.004”) Thick GaAs MMIC Wire Bond 0.076mm (0.003”) RF Ground Plane Follow ESD precautions to protect against ESD Transients: Suppress instrument and bias supply transients while bias is applied. Use shielded signal and bias cables to minimize inductive pick-up. 0.150mm (0.005”) Thick Moly Tab AMPLIFIERS - LOW NOISE - CHIP 1 Mounting & Bonding Techniques for Millimeterwave GaAs MMICs 0.254mm (0.010”) Thick Alumina Thin Film Substrate Figure 2. General Handling: Handle the chip along the edges with a vacuum collet or with a sharp pair of bent tweezers. The surface of the chip has fragile air bridges and should not be touched with vacuum collet, tweezers, or fingers. Mounting The chip is back-metallized and can be die mounted with AuSn eutectic preforms or with electrically conductive epoxy. The mounting surface should be clean and flat. Eutectic Die Attach: A 80/20 gold tin preform is recommended with a work surface temperature of 255 °C and a tool temperature of 265 °C. When hot 90/10 nitrogen/hydrogen gas is applied, tool tip temperature should be 290 °C. DO NOT expose the chip to a temperature greater than 320 °C for more than 20 seconds. No more than 3 seconds of scrubbing should be required for attachment. Epoxy Die Attach: Apply a minimum amount of epoxy to the mounting surface so that a thin epoxy fillet is observed around the perimeter of the chip once it is placed into position. Cure epoxy per the manufacturer’s schedule. Wire Bonding RF bonds made with 0.003” x 0.0005” ribbon are recommended. These bonds should be thermosonically bonded with a force of 40-60 grams. DC bonds of 0.001” (0.025 mm) diameter, thermosonically bonded, are recommended. Ball bonds should be made with a force of 40-50 grams and wedge bonds at 18-22 grams. All bonds should be made with a nominal stage temperature of 150 °C. A minimum amount of ultrasonic energy should be applied to achieve reliable bonds. All bonds should be as short as possible, less than 12 mils (0.31 mm). 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 [email protected] 1 - 191