Hittite Microwave Corp., a supplier of complete MMIC-based solutions for communication & military markets, announces three new high linearity, wide range GaAs MMIC analog voltage variable attenuator (VVA) 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 +85°C temperature range. This VVA provides +28 dBm input P1dB 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 P1dB 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 P1dB over a 30 dB attenuation range. Both the HMC712LP3CE and the HMC812LC4 are specified for operation from -40° to +85°C.

All three VVAs feature two shunt-type attenuators that 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 -3 to 0 V with Vctrl2 fixed at -3 V. The control voltage of the second attenuation stage, Vctrl2, may then be varied from -3 to 0 V, with Vctrl1 fixed at 0 V.