PA2423U-EK1
RangeCharger
TM
2.4 GHz Bluetooth
TM
Power Amplifier Evaluation Kit
Application
Bluetooth
USB dongles
PCMCIA, flash cards
Access points
2.4 GHz cordless telephones
TM
Product Description
The PA2423U-EK1 evaluation kit provides an easy to
use, self-contained system for evaluating the RF
performance and DC parameters of the PA2423U
amplifier.
The PA2423U evaluation board requires minimal
board area and components and in addition, it has
been designed to allow the PA2423U to meet the
Bluetooth
tm
Class
1
wireless
technology
specifications, with particular attention to gain and
output power.
Each evaluation kit contains:
•
Pre-assembled evaluation board with input &
output matching networks.
Standard SMA
connectors for interconnection to test equipment
Test report of the delivered board
PA2423U datasheet
PA2423U-EK1 data sheet
Features
Easy evaluation of the PA2423U Power Amplifier
Low Cost Design – 8 components required
Minimum board space required – 340 mils x 220
mils
High Output Power – 22.5 dBm
Schematic and layout ready for production builds
Thin, lead free 6 pin QFN Package
•
•
•
Order Information
Part Number
PA2423U
PA2423U-R
PA2423U-EK1
Package
6 pin – QFN
(0.5 mm height)
6 pin – QFN
(0.5 mm height)
Evaluation Kit
Remark
Samples
Tape & Reel
Functional Block Diagram
SMA
RFIN
Input
Match
PA2423U
Header
Output
Match
SMA
RFOUT
PA2423U-EK1
Evaluation Board
GND
VRAMP
VCC
VCTL
Figure 1: PA2423U-EK1 Evaluation Board Block Diagram
131-DST-02
Rev 1.3
Apr-19-2006
Confidential
QA041906
1 of 8
PA2423U-EK1
RangeCharger
TM
2.4 GHz Bluetooth
TM
Power Amplifier Evaluation Kit
Evaluation Board Schematic
Figure 2: PA2423U Evaluation Board Schematic Diagram
Please Note: The RFOUT connector forms part of the output match of the power amplifier.
Pin
VCC
GND
VCC
VCTL
Pin Number
1
2
3
4
Description
Supply Voltage
Ground
Supply Voltage
Power and Gain Control Voltage
GND
VCC
VRAMP
GND
5
6
7
8
Ground
Supply Voltage
PA Enable Pin
Ground
Recommended setting
Connect to system supply voltage
Connect to system ground
Use this VCC to connect to VCTL signal
with a shorting link
Connect to 3.3 V (VCC) for maximum
gain and power output. For power
control connect to a variable voltage
source between 0 V and 3.3 V.
Provided as a ground connection for the
VCTL signal
Use this VCC to connect to VRAMP
signal with a shorting link
0 V – 1.5 V applied = Device Disabled
2 V – VCC applied = Device Enabled
Provided as a ground connection for the
VRAMP signal
Table 1: Power and Analog I/O Header (JP3)
Note: It is recommended to use proper engineering connection practices by making RF and digital connections prior
to turning on the power supply.
131-DST-02
Rev 1.3
Apr-19-2006
Confidential
QA041906
2 of 8
PA2423U-EK1
RangeCharger
TM
2.4 GHz Bluetooth
TM
Power Amplifier Evaluation Kit
Evaluation Board Bill of Materials
The following components are used in the design of the PA2423U-EK1 evaluation board. As a reference, potential
suppliers of these components are provided. SiGe Semiconductor does not endorse any specific vendor. In most
cases, similar components from other suppliers will provide satisfactory performance.
The minimum required components, as defined inside the heavy black box in the schematic (Figure 2), are
designated as ‘required components’. These components are detailed in Table 2. Please note, that all components
are dual sourced. Table 3 identifies an alternate supplier for the components.
Item
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Reference
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5,C6,C7
C8
C9,C13
C10
C11
C12
C14
JP1,JP2
JP3
L1
PCB1
U1
Qty
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Part
5.6pF
2.0pF
15pF
0.5pF
10pF
0.1uF
0.1uF
1000pF
0.1uF
1.5pF
10uF, 10V
SMA
8 HEADER
1.5nH
1301-04
PA2423U
Tolerance
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
80%/-20%
80%/-20%
10%
10%
5%
20%
-
-
10%
-
-
Footprint
0402
0402
0402
0402
0402
0603
0402
0402
0402
0402
-
-
-
0402
-
6-QFN
Type
NPO
NPO
NPO
NPO
NPO
Y5V
Y5V
X7R
X5R
NPO
Tantalum
-
-
Multilayer
-
-
Supplier
Murata
Murata
Murata
Murata
Murata
Murata
Murata
Murata
Murata
Murata
Panasonic
Johnson
8 Pin 0.1
inch Header
Toko
SiGe
SiGe
Supplier Part No
GRP1555C1H5R6DZ01
GRP1555C1H2R0CZ01
GRP1555C1H150JZ01
GRP1555C1HR50CZ01
GRP1555C1H100JZ01
GRM188F51E104ZA01
GRP155F51C104ZA01
GRP155R71H102KA01
GRP155R61C104KA01
GRP1555C1H1R5CZ01
ECS-T1AX106R
142-0701-886
-
LL1005-FHL1N5S
-
-
Table 2: PA2423U Bill of Materials
Alternate
Source
Phycomp
Phycomp
Phycomp
Phycomp
Phycomp
Phycomp
Phycomp
Phycomp
-
Phycomp
-
-
-
-
-
-
Alternate Source
Part No
0402CG569C9B200
0402CG209C9B200
0402CG150J9B200
0402CG508C9B200
0402CG100J9B200
06032F104Z8B20D
04022F104Z7B20D
04022R102K9B200
-
0402CG159C9B200
-
-
-
-
-
-
Item
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Reference
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5,C6,C7
C8
C9,C13
C10
C11
C12
C14
JP1,JP2
JP3
L1
PCB1
U1
Qty
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Part
5.6pF
2.0pF
15pF
0.5pF
10pF
0.1uF
0.1uF
1000pF
0.1uF
1.5pF
10uF, 10V
SMA
8 HEADER
1.5nH
1301-04
PA2423U
Tolerance
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
80%/-20%
80%/-20%
10%
10%
5%
20%
-
-
10%
-
-
Footprint
0402
0402
0402
0402
0402
0603
0402
0402
0402
0402
-
-
-
0402
-
6-QFN
Type
NPO
NPO
NPO
NPO
NPO
Y5V
Y5V
X7R
X5R
NPO
Tantalum
-
-
Multilayer
-
-
Table 3: PA2423U Bill of Materials Alternate Component Supplier
131-DST-02
Rev 1.3
Apr-19-2006
Confidential
QA041906
3 of 8
PA2423U-EK1
RangeCharger
TM
2.4 GHz Bluetooth
TM
Power Amplifier Evaluation Kit
Test Equipment Required
The following test equipment is recommended when using the PA2423U-EK1:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
One pulse generator capable of generating pulses up to 10 kHz, 0 V to 3.3 V.
Two power supplies capable of delivering 200 mA, 3.6 V for VCTL and VCC.
One RF signal generator with output signal up to 2.5 GHz, +6 dBm.
One spectrum analyzer that can measure signals up to 8 GHz.
Two SMA 3 dB pads
Two 20 dB couplers
One dual head power meter
Test Equipment Setup
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
Ensure that all power supplies are OFF and signal generator output is OFF.
Set the power meter frequency to 2.45 GHz and apply appropriate offsets compensating for test setup losses.
Set the power supply VCC and VCTL voltage to 3.3 V.
Connect the evaluation board to the test equipment as shown in Figure 3.
Turn ON power supply VCC and VCTL.
Pull up VRAMP to VCC by shorting Pin 2 and Pin 3 of JP3 with the female jumper.
Switch the RF output of the signal generator to ON and adjust the signal generator output power to get 0 dBm at
the input to the evaluation board.
The power meter should measure approximately 22.5 dBm.
Sweep the input power level from -25 dBm to 0 dBm to get a P
OUT
and I
CC
vs. P
IN
graph.
Pull VRAMP down to GND by shorting Pin 1 and Pin 2 of JP3 with the female jumper.
Measure I
STDBY
and |S
21
|
OFF .
nd
rd
With VRAMP pulled up to VCC, observe 2 and 3 harmonics generated by PA2423U.
Connect the SYNC output of the pulse generator to the trigger input of the spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope.
Connect VRAMP to the Pulse Generator with square wave output of 0-VCC pk-pk, use the oscilloscope to set the
waveform amplitude. See Figure 4 for the equipment setup.
Reduce span on the spectrum analyzer to 0 Hz, set the oscilloscope and spectrum analyser trigger to external
and reduce sweep time to 50 µsec.
With the RBW and VBW set to maximum on the spectrum analyser (if set too low this will limit the speed of the
rising and falling edges) the rising and falling times of the RF output signal pulse can be measured. Rising edge
and falling edges should be <1 µsec.
14)
15)
The RF input signal is applied to the RFIN SMA connector on the application board. It is recommended to keep this
signal level below +8 dBm to avoid possible PA damage. The PA output is taken from the board’s “RFOUT” SMA
connector. The amplifier evaluation board has been designed to interface directly with a 50 Ohm source and load im-
pedance for measurement. The matching components used on the application board are low-loss, high Q
components to minimize RF loss.
Note: Applying the wrong polarity to the evaluation board will damage the power amplifier.
131-DST-02
Rev 1.3
Apr-19-2006
Confidential
QA041906
4 of 8
PA2423U-EK1
RangeCharger
TM
2.4 GHz Bluetooth
TM
Power Amplifier Evaluation Kit
Power Supply
VCTL
Directional
Coupler
Signal
Generator
-20dB
VRAMP
VCC
RF OUT
Directional
Coupler
3dB
pad
-20dB
3dB
Pad
PA2423U-EK1
EVALUATION
BOARD
RF IN
Spectrum
Analyzer
Power Head
Power Meter
PowerHead
Power Meter
Figure 3: Test Equipment Setup for Static Measurement
Oscilloscope
Pulse
Generator
SYN
Power
Supply
Signal
Generator
-20dB
3dB
Pad
PA2423U-EK1
EVALUATION
BOARD
RF OUT
Directional
Coupler
VRAMP
RF IN
VCC VCTL
Directional
Coupler
3dB
pad
-20dB
Trigger in
Spectrum
Analyzer
Power Head
Power Meter
PowerHead
Power Meter
Figure 4: Test Equipment Setup for Dynamic Measurement
131-DST-02
Rev 1.3
Apr-19-2006
Confidential
QA041906
5 of 8