Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/12163-hittite-s-mmic-bandpass-filter-chip-tunes-from-19-to-38-ghz

Hittite's MMIC Bandpass Filter Chip Tunes from 19 to 38 GHz

December 14, 2011

Hittite Microwave Corp. has introduced a new tunable MMIC bandpass filter, which is ideal for hybrid and microwave integrated circuit (MIC) applications in wideband test and measurement equipment, communication systems and electronic warfare (EW) subsystems to 38 GHz. This analog voltage tuned, solid-state MMIC filter is insensitive to environmental conditions, and represents a space saving alternative to mechanically tuned and MEMS based filter solutions.

The HMC899 tunable MMIC bandpass filter (BPF) features a user selectable passband frequency range of 19 and 38 GHz. The 3 dB filter bandwidth is approximately 18 percent, while the 20 dB bandwidth is approximately 35 percent. The pass band center frequency of the HMC899 is controlled by an analog tune voltage between 0 and 14 V with a tuning speed of 200 ns. The HMC899 exhibits excellent microphonic immunity due to the monolithic design, and provides a dynamically adjustable filtering solution in advanced communications applications.

Compared to physically large switched filter banks and cavity tuned filters the HMC899 can reduce the required filtering circuit area by up to 90 percent. Return losses for the HMC899 are typically 10 dB, while residual phase noise is as low as -157 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset. For applications which a require a surface mount compatible solution, this same filter is available in a RoHS compliant 4 x 4 mm QFN SMT package as the HMC899LP4E.

Samples and evaluation PC boards for all SMT packaged products are available from stock and can be ordered via the company's e-commerce site or via direct purchase order.