MGA-71543_04 Datasheet, PDF (16/24 Pages) Agilent(Hewlett-Packard) – Low Noise Amplifier with Mitigated Bypass Switch

Applying the Device Voltage
Common to all methods of
biasing, voltage V_d is applied to
the MGA-71543 through the RF
output connection (Pin 2). The
bias line is capacitively bypassed
to keep RF from the DC supply
lines and prevent resonant dips or
peaks in the response of the
amplifier. Where practical, it may
be cost effective to use a length of
high impedance transmission line
(usually ^λ/₄ line) in place of the
RFC.
When using the gate bias method,
the applied device voltage, V_ds, is
equal to voltage V_d (at pin 2) since
V_s is zero.
V_d ~ +2.5 V
1
2
71
RF
Input
3
4
RF
Output
Vref = -0.5 V
Figure 9. DC Schematic for Gate Bias.
For source resistor biasing
method, the applied device
voltage, V_ds, is V_d – V_s. The bias
control voltage is V_s (Pin 4) which
is set by the external bias resistor.
A source resistor bias circuit is
shown in Figure 10.
V_d = +3 V
1
2
71
RF
Input
3
4
R_bias
RF
Output
Figure 10. DC Schematic for Source Bias.
Controlling the Switch
The device current controls the
state of the MGA-71543 (amplifier
or bypass mode). For device
currents greater than 3 mA, it
functions as an amplifier. If a
lower current is drawn, the gain of
the amplifier is significantly
reduced and the performance will
degrade. If the device current is
set to zero, the MGA-71543 is
switched into a bypass mode in
which the signal is routed around
the amplifier with a loss of about
5.6 dB.
The simplest way of switching the
MGA-71543 to the bypass mode is
to open-circuit the terminals at
Pins 1 and 4. The bypass mode is
also set by increasing the source
resistance R_bias to greater than
1 MΩ. With the DC ground con-
nection open, the internal control
circuit of the MGA-71543 auto-
switches from amplifier mode into
a bypass mode and the device
current drops to near zero. Typical
bypass mode current is 2 µA.
3
2
1
4
R_bias
Bypass Switch
Enable
Figure 11. MGA-71543 Amplifier/Bypass State
Switching.
A digital switch can be used to
control the amplifier and Bypass
State as shown in Figure 11.
Switching Speed
The speed at which the
MGA-71543 switches between
states is extremely fast. The
intrinsic switching speed is
typically around 10 ns. However in
practical circuits, the switching
speed is limited by the time
constants of the external bias
circuit components (current
setting resistor and bypass
capacitors). These external
components increase the switch-
ing time to around 100ns. Further-
more, the switching ON time is
slightly lower (faster) than the
switching OFF time (i.e. It
switches on faster).
Thermal issues
The Mean Time To Failure (MTTF)
of semiconductors is inversely
proportional to the operating
temperature.
When biased at 3V and 10 mA for
LNA applications, the power
dissipation is 3V x 10 mA = 30 mW.
The temperature increment from
the RFIC channel to its case is
then 30 mW x θ_jc = 0.030 watt x
240°C/watt = 7.2°C. Subtracting
the channel-to-case temperature
rise from the suggested maximum
junction temperature of 150°C, the
resulting maximum allowable case
temperature is 143°C.
The worst case thermal situation
occurs when the MGA-71543 is
operated at its maximum operat-
ing conditions in an effort to
maximize output power or achieve
minimum distortion. A similar
calculation for the maximum
operating bias of 4.2 volts and
50 mA yields a maximum allow-
able case temperature of 100°C.
(i.e. 210 mW x θ_jc = 0.210 watt x
240°C/watt = 50.4°C
150°C – 50.4°C = 100°C.)
This calculation assumes the
worst case of no RF power being
extracted from the device. When
operated in a saturated mode,
both power-added efficiency and
the maximum allowable case
temperature will increase.
Note: “Case” temperature for
surface mount packages such as
the SOT-343 refers to the interface
between the package pins and the
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