GaAs IC 5 Bit Digital Attenuator

1 dB LSB Positive Control 0.52.5 GHz

AA101-80
Features

SSOP-16

Attenuation 1 dB Steps to 31 dB
with High Accuracy

0.197 (5.00 mm)

0.189 (4.80 mm)

0.025
(0.635 mm) TYP.

Single Positive Control (+3 to +5 V) for

Each Bit

PIN 16
0.244 (6.20 mm)
0.228 (5.80 mm)

Low DC Power Consumption

PIN 1

Small Low Cost SSOP-16 Plastic Package

Description
The AA101-80 is a 5 bit, single positive control GaAs IC
FET digital attenuator in a low cost SSOP-16 package.
This attenuator has an LSB of 1 dB and a total attenuation
of 31 dB. The attenuator requires external DC blocking
capacitors, positive supply voltage (VS) and five individual
bit control voltages (V1V5). The AA101-80 is particularly
suited where high attenuation accuracy, low insertion loss
and low intermodulation products are required. Typical
applications include base station, wireless data, and
wireless local loop gain level control circuits.

0.158 (4.00 mm)

0.150 (3.80 mm)

0.068
(1.73 mm) MAX.

0.0196 X 45
CHAMFER
R 0.008
MIN.

R 0.013/0.008

0.0098
(0.0075 mm)

5 -15
0.010
(0.25 mm) TYP.

0.010 (0.25 mm)

0.004 (0.10 mm)

8 MAX.

Electrical Specifications at -40C to +85C (0, +5 V)

Parameter1

Condition

Insertion Loss

Frequency

Min.

0.51.0 GHz
1.02.0 GHz
2.02.5 GHz

Attenuation Range
0.51.0 GHz
1.02.0 GHz
2.02.5 GHz
(I/O)3

Unit

2.4
3.0
3.3

dB
dB
dB

Rise, Fall (10/90% or 90/10% RF)

On, Off (50% CTL to 90/10% RF)
Video Feedthru

Input Power for 1 dB Compression

VS = +3 V
VS = +5 V

0.52.5 GHz
0.52.5 GHz

Intermodulation Intercept Point (IP3)

For Two-tone Input Power +5 dBm

VS = +3 V
VS = +5 V

0.52.5 GHz
0.52.5 GHz

dB

(0.2 + 3% of Attenuation
Setting in dB)
(0.3 + 5% of Attenuation
Setting in dB)
(0.3 + 6% of Attenuation
Setting in dB)

0.52.5 GHz

Switching Characteristics4

Control Voltages

Max.

2.0
2.6
2.9
31

Attenuation Accuracy2

VSWR

Typ.

1.5:1

dB
dB
dB

2.2:1

100
300
70

ns
ns
mV

+18
+23

+21
+27

dBm
dBm

+37
+39

+43
+45

dBm
dBm

VLow = 0 to 0.2 V @ 20 A Max.

VHigh = +3 V @ 100 A Max. to +5 V @ 200 A Max.
VS = VHigh 0.2 V

1. All measurements made in a 50 system, unless otherwise specified.

2. Attenuation referenced to insertion loss.

3. Input/output.
4. Video feedthru measured with 1 ns risetime pulse and 500 MHz bandwidth.

Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150 Fax [617] 824-4579 Email sales@alphaind.com www.alphaind.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. 10/00A

GaAs IC 5 Bit Digital Attenuator 1 dB LSB Positive Control 0.52.5 GHz

AA101-80

Typical Performance Data (0, +5 V)

2.50

-1.00

31 dB
2.25
-40C

-1.75

8 dB
4 dB 2 dB

2.00
+85C

-2.00
-2.25

+25C

1 dB

1.75
Ins. Loss
1.50

-2.50
1.25

-2.75

1.00

-3.00
0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

58

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Frequency (GHz)

Frequency (GHz)

Insertion Loss vs. Frequency

VSWR vs. Frequency (25C)

60

2.50
31 dB

-40C
2.25

56

16 dB

+85C

54

2.00

52

VSWR

IP3 (dBm)

16 dB

-1.50

VSWR

Insertion Loss (dB)

-1.25

50
48

+25C

8 dB

2 dB

1 dB

4 dB

1.75

Ins. Loss

1.50

46
44

1.25

42
40

1.00
0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Attenuation (dB)

Frequency (GHz)

IP3 vs. Attenuation and

Temperature (500 MHz)

VSWR vs. Frequency (85C)

Compression Point vs. Attenuation,

Voltage, and Temperature

2.50
31 dB
2.25

29.3

29.5

29.7

28.7

28.9

29.0

34.5

34.3

34.6

27.4

27.4

27.7

16

27.9

27.6

28.2

31

27.7

25.2

28.4

16 dB

2.00

VSWR

Input Power @ 1 dB Compression

Attenuation Control
State
Voltage (V) +25C (dBm) +85C (dBm) -40C (dBm)
Ins. Loss
5
29.4
29.2
29.6

8 dB

2 dB
1 dB
Ins. Loss

4 dB

1.75
1.50
1.25
1.00
0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Frequency (GHz)

VSWR vs. Frequency (-40C)

3.0

Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150 Fax [617] 824-4579 Email sales@alphaind.com www.alphaind.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. 10/00A

3.0

GaAs IC 5 Bit Digital Attenuator 1 dB LSB Positive Control 0.52.5 GHz

80
31 dB

0.75

Deviation from Nominal

Insertion Phase (Deg.)

Deviation from Nominal

Attenuation (dB)

1.00
16 dB

0.50

8 dB

0.25

2 dB
4 dB

0
-0.25

1 dB

-0.50
-0.75

60
50
40
31 dB

30

16 dB

20

8 dB

10
0
4 dB

1 dB

2 dB

-20
0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Frequency (GHz)

Frequency (GHz)

Attenuation Accuracy
vs. Frequency (25C)

Attenuation Phase Accuracy

vs. Frequency (25C)

1.00

3.0

80
31 dB

0.75

Deviation from Nominal

Insertion Phase (Deg.)

Deviation from Nominal

Attenuation (dB)

70

-10

-1.00

16 dB

0.50

8 dB
0.25
0
-0.25

1 dB

4 dB
-0.50
2 dB

-0.75

70
60
50

31 dB

40
30

16 dB

20

8 dB

10

4 dB

1 dB

2 dB

-10

-1.00

-20
0

1.00

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Frequency (GHz)

Attenuation Accuracy
vs. Frequency (85C)

Attenuation Phase Accuracy

vs. Frequency (85C)

31 dB

0.75
16 dB
0.50

8 dB

0.25
0
-0.25

0.5

Frequency (GHz)

Deviation from Nominal

Insertion Phase (Deg.)

Deviation from Nominal

Attenuation (dB)

AA101-80

-0.50

4 dB
2 dB

-0.75

1 dB

3.0

80
70
60
31 dB

50
40
30

16 dB

20

8 dB

10
0
4 dB

-10

2 dB

1 dB

2.0

2.5

-20

-1.00
0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

Frequency (GHz)

Frequency (GHz)

Attenuation Accuracy
vs. Frequency (-40C)

Attenuation Phase Accuracy

vs. Frequency (-40C)

Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150 Fax [617] 824-4579 Email sales@alphaind.com www.alphaind.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. 10/00A

3.0

GaAs IC 5 Bit Digital Attenuator 1 dB LSB Positive Control 0.52.5 GHz

AA101-80

Typical Performance Data (0, +3 V)

1.00

Insertion Loss (dB)

-1.25

Deviation from Nominal

Attenuation (dB)

-1.00
+85C

-1.50
-1.75
-2.00
+25C

-2.25
-2.50

-40C

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0
-0.25

4 dB

-0.50

2 dB
1 dB
0

3.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Frequency (GHz)

Frequency (GHz)

Insertion Loss vs. Frequency

Attenuation Accuracy
vs. Frequency (25C)

2.50

3.0

1.00
31 dB
16 dB

2.00

8 dB
4 dB

1.75

Deviation from Nominal

Attenuation (dB)

Ins. Loss

2.25

VSWR

8 dB

0.25

-1.00

-3.00

1 dB
2 dB

1.50
1.25
1.00

31 dB

0.75

16 dB

0.50

8 dB
0.25

4 dB

0
-0.25
-0.50

2 dB

-0.75

1 dB

-1.00
0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Frequency (GHz)

Frequency (GHz)

VSWR vs. Frequency (25C)

Attenuation Accuracy
vs. Frequency (85C)

80

1.00

70

0.75

3.0

31 dB

Deviation from Nominal

Attenuation (dB)

Deviation from Nominal

Insertion Phase (Deg.)

16 dB

0.50

-0.75

-2.75

60
31 dB

50
40
30

16 dB

20

8 dB

10
0
-10

1 dB

2 dB

4 dB

16 dB

0.50

8 dB

0.25

4 dB

0
-0.25
2 dB

-0.50

1 dB
-0.75
-1.00

-20
0

31 dB

0.75

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Frequency (GHz)

Frequency (GHz)

Attenuation Phase Accuracy

vs. Frequency (25C)

Attenuation Accuracy
vs. Frequency (-40C)

Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150 Fax [617] 824-4579 Email sales@alphaind.com www.alphaind.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. 10/00A

3.0

GaAs IC 5 Bit Digital Attenuator 1 dB LSB Positive Control 0.52.5 GHz

Compression Point vs. Attenuation,

Voltage, and Temperature

60
58
+85C

56

Input Power @ 1 dB Compression

Attenuation Control
State
Voltage (V) +25C (dBm) +85C (dBm) -40C (dBm)
Ins. Loss
3
23.1
23.3
24.3

IP3 (dBm)

54
52

-40C

50

23.5

23.3

24.2

22.7

22.7

23.7

33.8

33.2

33.8

42

31.7

31.7

22.7

40

16

20.2

20.5

21.4

31

21.9

20.6

23.6

48
46

+25C

44

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Attenuation (dB)

IP3 vs. Attenuation and

Temperature

Pin Out
CBL

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

Reference I.L.

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

1 dB

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

2 dB

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

4 dB

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

8 dB

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

VHigh

16 dB

31 dB Max. Atten.

V2
V3
V4

8 dB
4 dB

V5
GND

2 dB
1 dB

GND
GND

GND
GND
GND
GND

VHigh

V1

11 10

1 dB

15 14 13 12

2 dB

16 dB

J1

16

4 dB

8 dB

GND

16 dB

Attenuation
J1J2

GND

V5

V4

V3

V2

V1

Truth Table

AA101-80

CBL

J2

VS
10 k
DC blocking capacitors (CBL) and biasing resistor must be supplied externally
for positive voltage operation.
CBL = 47 pF for operation >500 MHz.

VHigh = +3 to +5 V (VS = VHigh 0.2 V).

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Characteristic
RF Input Power

Value
2 W > 500 MHz 0/8 V
0.75 W @ 50 MHz 0/8 V

Supply Voltage

+8 V

Control Voltage

-0.2 V, +8 V

Operating Temperature

-40C to +85C

Storage Temperature

-65C to +150C

Note: Exceeding these parameters may cause irreversible damage.

Alpha Industries, Inc. [781] 935-5150 Fax [617] 824-4579 Email sales@alphaind.com www.alphaind.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. 10/00A