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Phone: 978-250-3343
Fax: 978-250-3373
Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
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HMC909LP4E
v02.0511
RMS POWER DETECTOR
SINGLE-ENDED, DC - 5.8 GHz
RF Input Interface
The IN+ and IN- pins are differential RF inputs, which are externally configured for wideband with single ended input.
Power match components are placed at these input terminals, along with Dc blocking capacitors. the coupling
capacitor values also set the lower spectral boundary of the input signal bandwidth. the inputs can be reactively
matched (refer to input return loss graphs), but a resistor network should be sufficient for good wideband performance.
Wideband Single-Ended Input Interface:
Choose the input decoupling capacitor (C3, C4) values by
first determining the lowest spectral component the power
detector is required to sense, L.
Input decoupling capacitor value
1
P x L x 3.2
≈
, Farads, where L is in Hertz
ex. If the power detector needs to sense down to 10MHz, the
decoupling capacitor value should be
1/(π*10E6*3.2) = 10nF
A DC bias (Vcc-1.2V) is present on the IN+ and IN- pins, and
should not be overridden
RMS Output Interface and Transient Response
The HMC909LP4E features digital input pins (SCI1-SCI4) that control the internal integration time constant. Output
transient response is determined by the digital integration controls, and output load conditions.
Shortest integration time is for SCI=0000, allowed longest integration time is for SCI=1100 (1101, 1110 and 1111 SCI
settings are forbidden states).
Using larger values of scI will narrow the operating bandwidth of the integrator, resulting in a longer averaging time
interval and a more filtered output signal; however it will also slow the power detector’s transient response. A larger
scI value favors output accuracy over speed. For the fastest possible transient settling times set scI to 0000. this
configuration will operate the integrator at its widest possible bandwidth, resulting in short averaging time-interval and
an output signal with little filtering. Most applications will choose a SCI setting that maintains balance between speed
and accuracy. Furthermore, error performance over modulation bandwidth is dependent on the scI setting.
For example modulations with relatively low frequency components and high crest factors may require higher scI
(integration) settings.