v00.0504
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
HMC346C8
Features
Wide Bandwidth: DC - 8 GHz
Low Phase Shift vs. Attenuation
30 dB Attenuation Range
Surface Mount Ceramic Package
GaAs MMIC SMT VOLTAGE-
VARIABLE ATTENUATOR, DC - 8 GHz
Typical Applications
The HMC346C8 is ideal for:
9
ATTENUATORS - SMT
• Basestation Infrastructure
• Fiber Optics & Broadband Telecom
• Microwave Radio & VSAT
• Military Radios, Radar, & ECM
• Test Instrumentation
Functional Diagram
General Description
The HMC346C8 is an absorptive Voltage Vari-
able Attenuator (VVA) in a non-hermetic surface-
mount ceramic package operating from DC - 8
GHz. It features an on-chip reference attenuator
for use with an external op-amp to provide simple
single voltage attenuation control, 0 to -3V. The
device is ideal in designs where an analog DC
control signal must control RF signal levels over
a 30 dB amplitude range. Applications include
AGC circuits and temperature compensation of
multiple gain stages in microwave radios and test
instrumentation.
Electrical Specifications,
T
A
= +25° C, 50 ohm system
Parameter
Insertion Loss
DC - 6 GHz
DC - 8 GHz
DC - 8 GHz
DC - 8 GHz
Min
Typical
1.9
2.1
30
10
Max
2.9
3.1
Units
dB
dB
dB
dB
Attenuation Range
Return Loss
Switching Characteristics
tRISE, tFALL (10/90% RF)
tON, tOFF (50% CTL to 10/90% RF)
Input Power for 0.25 dB Compression (0.5 - 8 GHz)
Min. Atten.
Atten. >2 dB
Input Third Order Intercept (0.5 - 8 GHz)
(Two-tone Input Power = -8 dBm Each Tone)
Min. Atten.
Atten. >2 dB
2
8
ns
ns
+8
-2
+25
+10
dBm
dBm
dBm
dBm
9 - 62
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
v00.0504
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
HMC346C8
GaAs MMIC SMT VOLTAGE-
VARIABLE ATTENUATOR, DC - 8 GHz
GaAs MMIC SUB-HARMONICALLY
Insertion Loss vs. Temperature
0
-0.5
INSERTION LOSS (dB)
-1
ATTENUATION (dB)
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
-3.5
-4
-4.5
-5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FREQUENCY (GHz)
+25C
+85C
-40C
Relative Attenuation, Control Voltage
PUMPED MIXER 17 - 25
Optimized for 4 GHz Operation
GHz
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FREQUENCY (GHz)
9
Return Loss vs. Attenuation
0
-5
RETURN LOSS (dB)
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FREQUENCY (GHz)
5dB
10dB
15dB
20dB
25dB
30dB
Relative Attenuation, Control Voltage
Optimized for 8 GHz Operation
0
-5
ATTENUATION (dB)
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FREQUENCY (GHz)
Relative Attenuation vs.
Control Voltage @ 4 GHz
0
CONTROL VOLTAGE (Vdc)
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
RELATIVE ATTENUATION (dB)
V1 +25C
V2 +25C
V1 +85C
V2 +85C
V1 -40C
V2 -40C
Relative Attenuation vs.
Control Voltage @ 8 GHz
0
CONTROL VOLTAGE (Vdc)
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
RELATIVE ATTENUATION (dB)
V1 +25C
V2 +25C
V1 +85C
V2 +85C
V1 -40C
V2 -40C
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
9 - 63
ATTENUATORS - SMT
v00.0504
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
HMC346C8
GaAs MMIC SMT VOLTAGE-
VARIABLE ATTENUATOR, DC - 8 GHz
GaAs MMIC
Relative Phase
140
RELATIVE PHASE (DEG)
SUB-HARMONICALLY
Input Third Order
PUMPED
Attenuation*
Intercept vs.
MIXER 17 -
30
Third Order Intercept Point (dBm)
25 GHz
9
ATTENUATORS - SMT
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
1
2
5dB
10dB
15dB
20dB
25dB
30dB
25
0 dB
3 dB
10 dB
6 dB
20
15
10
5
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FREQUENCY (GHz)
FREQUENCY (GHz)
Input Second Order
Intercept vs. Attenuation*
70
Second Order Intercept Point (dBm)
60
Second Harmonic vs. Attenuation
80
70
0 dB
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
SECOND HARMONIC (dBc)
60
50
6 dB
10 dB
0 dB
3 dB
6 dB
10 dB
40
30
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
FREQUENCY (GHz)
3 dB
FREQUENCY (GHz)
0.25 dB Compression vs. Attenuation
INPUT 0.25 dB COMPRESSION (dBm)
15
6 dB
1 dB Compression vs. Attenuation
20
18
16
input P1dB (dBm)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
6dB
0dB
10
0 dB (REF)
5
0
-5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FREQUENCY (GHz)
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
FREQUENCY (GHz)
*Two-tone input power = -8 dBm each tone.
9 - 64
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
v00.0504
HMC346C8
GaAs MMIC SMT VOLTAGE-
VARIABLE ATTENUATOR, DC - 8 GHz
Absolute Maximum Ratings
RF Input Power
Control Voltage Range
Channel Temperature
Thermal Resistance
Storage Temperature
Operating Temperature
+18 dBm
+1.0 to -5.0 Vdc
150 °C
190 °C/W
-65 to +150 °C
-40 to +85 °C
9
Outline Drawing
NOTES:
1. PACKAGE MATERIAL: ALUMINA LOADED BOROSILICATE GLASS.
2. LEAD, BASE, COVER MATERIAL: KOVAR™ (#7052 CORNING).
3. PLATING: ELECTROLYTIC GOLD 50 MICROINCHES MIN., OVER
ELECTROLYTIC NICKEL 50 MICROINCHES MIN.
4. DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES [MILLIMETERS].
5. TOLERANCES: ±.005 [0.13] UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.
6. ALL GROUND LEADS AND GROUND PADDLE MUST BE SOLDERED
TO PCB RF GROUND.
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com
9 - 65
ATTENUATORS - SMT
v00.0504
MICROWAVE CORPORATION
HMC346C8
GaAs MMIC SMT VOLTAGE-
VARIABLE ATTENUATOR, DC - 8 GHz
Pin Descriptions
Pin Number
Function
RF1, RF2
Description
This pin is DC coupled and matched to 50 Ohms. Blocking
capacitors are required if RF line potential is not equal to 0V.
Interface Schematic
9
ATTENUATORS - SMT
1, 8
2, 7
GND
This pin must be DC grounded.
3, 6
V2, V1
Control Input (Master).
4
I
Control Input (Slave).
5
O
This pin must have an external 500 Ohm resistor to ground.
Single-Line Control Driver
Note:
External op-amp control circuit maintains impedance
match while attenuation is varied. Input control ranges
from 0 Volts (min. attenuation) to -2.5 Volts (max.
attenuation.)
9 - 66
For price, delivery, and to place orders, please contact Hittite Microwave Corporation:
12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373
Order Online at www.hittite.com