Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/15905-vva-products-h712-and-h812

VVA products H712 and H812

January 17, 2011


High Linearity, Wide Range VVAs Target Microwave & VSAT Radios. Die & SMT Voltage Variable Attenuators Operate from 5 to 30 GHz.

Chelmsford, MA, 6/26/09 – Hittite Microwave Corporation, the world class supplier of complete MMIC based solutions for communication & military markets, announces three new high linearity, wide range GaAs MMIC analog Voltage Variable Attenuator (VVAs) products that operate in the 5 to 30 GHz frequency band. These absorptive VVA products are an ideal choice for use in a wide range of military, space and commercial applications including point-to-point/multi-point and VSAT microwave radios, ECM, radar, microwave sensors, and test instrumentation.

The HMC712 VVA die operates from 5 to 30 GHz, and is specified for operation over the -55 to +85ºC temperature range. This VVA provides +28 dBm input P1 dB over a 30 dB attenuation range. The HMC712LP3CE VVA is housed in a 3x3 mm QFN leadless plastic package, operates from 5 to 26.5 GHz, and exhibits +28 dBm input P1 dB over a 28 dB attenuation range. The HMC812LC4 operates from 5 to 30 GHz, and is housed in a 4X4 mm QFN leadless ceramic package. This VVA exhibits +25 dBm input P1 dB over a 30 dB attenuation range. Both the HMC712LP3CE and the HMC812LC4 are specified for operation from -40 to +85C.

All three VVAs feature two shunt-type attenuators which are controlled by two analog voltages, Vctrl1 and Vctrl2. Optimum linearity performance of these attenuators is achieved by first varying Vctrl1 of the first attenuation stage from -3V to 0V with Vctrl2 fixed at -3V. The control voltage of the second attenuation stage, Vctrl2, may then be varied from -3V to 0V, with Vctrl1 fixed at 0V.

HMC712 die samples are available from stock and can be ordered on-line. Samples and evaluation PC boards for the HMC712LP3CE and the HMC812LC4 are available from stock and can be ordered on-line or via direct purchase order. Released data sheets are available on-line at www.hittite.com.