REP022: 3.5GHz RF Upconverter from 900MHz Achieves 5dB Gain and 5dBm IIP3
Rapid Engineering
Prototypes are real circuits that Maxim application engineers have
built and measured in our labs. They can provide a starting point
for new RF designs. They
are not available as Evaluation Kits.
Objective: To develop a circuit that applies this downconverter
IC as an upconverter.
Characterized as an upconverter, the MAX2684 was tested for performance
converting from a 800MHz to a 900MHz IF input band (via the RF input pin),
using a 1.7GHz LO and observing the 3.5GHz output (from the differential
IF out pins). A balun was used to transform the output to a 50-ohm line.
An upconversion gain of 5dB was achieved, with linearity of +5dBm IIP3.
A set of S-parameters was also taken to support the design of matching
networks. The application is considered highly successful.
The MAX2684 is a high-performance low-powered downconverter intended
for the receive path of 3.5GHz wireless data transceivers. It offers 1dB
conversion gain with variable IIP3 up to 12dBm, from 800MHz to 3.5GHz,
using a low-side LO (approximately 2.7GHz LO). The MAX2684 features an
LO doubler for 1/2 frequency local oscillator input, which can be toggled
between fundamental mode and doubler mode. It operates from as low as
2.7VDC and is available in a 16-pin TSSOP package
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