Hittite Microwave Corp., the world class supplier of complete MMIC based solutions for communication & military markets, has released a new receiver (Rx) and transmitter (Tx) radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chipset which is ideal for frequency conversion applications in wireless infrastructure equipment such as base transceiver stations, remote radio units, small cells and repeaters from 700 to 3500 MHz.

The HMC1190LP6GE is a high linearity Dual Channel Downconverter with Integrated PLL/VCO which operates from 700 to 3500 MHz and is designed specifically for multi-standard receiver applications that require a compact and low power solution. The HMC1190LP6GE delivers 8 dB conversion gain, with excellent IP3 and input P1dB performance of +24 dBm and +11 dBm respectively. In support of high IF receivers and antenna diversity architectures, 2 x 2 spurious products are typically below -70 dBc. The HMC1190LP6GE RF and LO inputs are single-ended while an enable/disable pin makes it possible to reduce power consumption dynamically as conditions allow. Balanced high linearity passive mixer cores combined with high-linearity IF amplifiers deliver excellent LO-to-RF, LO-to-IF, and RF-to-IF isolations.

For transmit applications, the HMC1197LP7FE is a low noise, high linearity Direct Quadrature Modulator with integrated Fractional-N PLL/VCO which is rated for operation from 100 to 4000 MHz. This wideband transmitter solution delivers very high output IP3 of +30 dBm, with up to +10.5 dBm of output power and a very low noise floor of -160 dBm/Hz. The single-ended RF output port is matched to 50 Ohms with no external components while the auxiliary LO output enables the HMC1197LP7FE to distribute identical frequency and phase signals to multiple destinations within the transmitter or receiver. An integrated programmable bandwidth Low Pass Filter (LPF) in the LO path ensures little or no LO contribution to modulator sideband rejection. Sixteen programmable LPF bands enable true wideband operation and allow agile LO frequency filtering for different band plans during and after deployment.

Both the HMC1190LP6GE and HMC1197LP7FE incorporate a feature-rich, industry leading PLL and wideband VCO. The PLL features a very low Figure of Merit (FOM) of -230 dBm/Hz in integer mode, while the internal VCO section can generate frequencies from 50 to 4100 MHz. The integrated Phase Detector (PD) and delta-sigma modulator within the HMC1190LP6GE and HMC1197LP7FE  are capable of operating at up to 100 MHz permitting wider loop-bandwidths with excellent spectral performance. The PLL/VCO section can phase adjust and synchronize multiple Hittite Tx and Rx RFICs enabling scalable MIMO and beam-forming radio architectures. Additional PLL/VCO features include a configurable output mute function, and an Exact Frequency Mode that enables both products to generate fractional frequencies with 0 Hz frequency error and the ability to synchronously change frequencies without changing the phase of the output signal.

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.