New-Tech Europe Magazine | July 2016 | Digital edition

loss should be approximately equal to the fixed attenuation value being removed from the system. Further, as discussed earlier, adding equalizers prior to gain stages creates dispersion in limiting dynamic range vs frequency. To minimize this effect, substitute the minimum number of equalizers possible. Finally, equalizers can be added to the device output. Output equalization reduces output power, but will not create limiting dynamic range dispersion. Output equalization does create a slightly positive output power slope, but this slope is offset by high frequency package and connector loss. A completed four stage limiting

10 dBm, for a limiting dynamic range of 40 dB. The unit was tested over an operational temperature range of -40 to 85°C. A photograph of the HMC7891 is shown in Figure 19. Though the HMC7891 was primarily designed as a limiting amplifier the small size and superior RF performance enable utility in various applications including use as a frequency tripler or as an LO amplifier. The design technique described herein can be used for future limiting amplifier designs with modifications to spec requirement such as frequency, output power, gain, NF, or limiting dynamic range. “Thermopad” is a registered trademark of EMC Technology, Inc.

amplifier layout is illustrated in Figure 9. Figure 10 illustrates the output power vs temperature simulation result for ADI’s HMC7891. The final design achieves 40 dB limiting dynamic range and has a simulated worst case output power variation of 3 dB under all operating conditions. ADI Limiting Amplifier Test Results Test results for the HMC7891 are illustrated in Figures 11–18. Results demonstrate the design was able to achieve 47 dB gain with a saturated output power of 13 dBm. The amplifier’s input power range is -30 to

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