The HMC307QS16G is a broadband 5-bit GaAs IC digital attenuator mounted in a 16 lead QSOP surface mountable plastic package. This attenuator covers a frequency range from DC to 4 GHz with a typical insertion loss of less than 2 dB. It also achieves excellent attenuation accuracy with a typical ± 0.5 dB at an IIP3 of up to 44 dBm. The attenuator provides 32 (25 ) states of attenuation from 1 dB (LSB) to 16 dB (MSB) for a total attenuation of 31 dB. Five bit control voltage input, toggled between 0 and -5V, is used to select each attenuation state at less than 50 uA current consumption each. A single Vee bias of -5V allows operation down to DC. However, implementation of a “Floating Ground” on the PCB allows for positive bias operation. This product note will discuss implementation of this modification.
